Lara T.M. Costa , Guy Smagghe , Luis O. Viteri Jumbo , Gil R. Santos , Raimundo W.S. Aguiar , Eugenio E. Oliveira
{"title":"Selective actions of plant-based biorational insecticides: Molecular mechanisms and reduced risks to non-target organisms","authors":"Lara T.M. Costa , Guy Smagghe , Luis O. Viteri Jumbo , Gil R. Santos , Raimundo W.S. Aguiar , Eugenio E. Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-based biorational insecticides such as essential oils and extracts are complex mixtures of molecules that exhibit selective toxicity toward insect pests while minimizing harm to nontarget organisms (NTOs) such as pollinators, parasitoids, and predators. Recent investigations using clove (<em>Syzygium aromaticum</em>), Negramina (<em>Siparuna guianensis</em>), and common fig (<em>Ficus carica</em>) indicate that their essential oils and extracts generally exhibit lower toxicity to beneficial organisms than to target pests, potentially due to ecological factors like application timing. This review focuses on physiological selectivity, which involves preferential interactions between plant compounds and targets in pests versus NTOs. Advances in computational methods and genetic engineering enable the prediction of these interactions, revealing that plant compounds (e.g. β-caryophyllene, psoralen, sesquirosefuran, and eugenol) bind more effectively to specific enzymes and receptors in pest insects. By exploring these mechanisms, we highlight the potential of plant-based insecticides to reduce risks to NTOs and their role in sustainable pest management programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100601"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Cheng , Xuehao Zheng , Cuihua Hu , Qing Luo , Xingyi Liu , Shoujiang Liu , Peng He , Keke Chang , Fengxia Yang , Yongzhen Ding
{"title":"A review of organophosphorus esters in soil: Pollution status, migration, risks, and transformation","authors":"Yu Cheng , Xuehao Zheng , Cuihua Hu , Qing Luo , Xingyi Liu , Shoujiang Liu , Peng He , Keke Chang , Fengxia Yang , Yongzhen Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organophosphorus esters (OPEs) are extensively used as flame retardants and plasticizers in various industrial products. However, their release into the environment and associated toxicity have garnered increasing research attention. This study provides an overview of OPEs in soil, focusing on pollution sources, distribution, migration, risks, and transformation. Existing studies suggest that OPEs are widely present in soil, with concentrations ranging from non-detectable levels to 80,300 ng/g. These compounds can migrate to other environmental media through processes such as adsorption, desorption, volatilization, and bioaccumulation. OPEs exhibit reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity to soil fauna. In soil, OPEs can undergo hydrolysis and photolysis to degrade into diesters or monoesters, or they can biodegrade through specific enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Finally, this study discusses unresolved issues and future research directions on OPEs in soil, aiming to provide valuable references for related fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100599"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143445851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phan Nhu Nguyet , Tran Le Luu , Nguyen Ai Le , Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan , Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang
{"title":"Groundwater arsenic pollution in Vietnam: Current opinion on the mobilization and remediation","authors":"Phan Nhu Nguyet , Tran Le Luu , Nguyen Ai Le , Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan , Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic, the 20th most abundant element in the Earth's crust, is a significant environmental and health concern, prominently featured on priority lists of hazardous substances. Due to its high mobilization and persistence in both natural and anthropogenic environments, chronic exposure to arsenic in groundwater has posed severe public health risks. This review focuses on the current status of arsenic contamination, the release mechanism, the mobilization, and remediation of arsenic-polluted groundwater in major river deltas in Vietnam. The most arsenic-polluted regions in Vietnam are the Red River Delta (up to 3050 μg/L) and the Mekong River Delta (up to 1351 μg/L), far exceeding the permissible limit value of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for arsenic in groundwater at 10 μg/L. Arsenic levels are unevenly distributed due to the differences in the geochemical composition of the aquifer and hydrological flow patterns. Utilizing natural laterite adsorption is proposed as a remediation strategy to limit the risks of arsenic spread in groundwater and its impact on public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100596"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143347175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Md Refat Jahan Rakib , Mehnaj Mohiuddin , Md Abdullah Al Masud , Mohammed Fahim Murshed , Venkatramanan Senapathi , Md Aminul Islam , Md Jakariya
{"title":"Exploring the impact of microplastics in groundwater on human health: A comprehensive review","authors":"Md Refat Jahan Rakib , Mehnaj Mohiuddin , Md Abdullah Al Masud , Mohammed Fahim Murshed , Venkatramanan Senapathi , Md Aminul Islam , Md Jakariya","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing presence of microplastics (MP) in drinking water worldwide has highlighted its potential adverse health effects and the need to summarize existing data to assess knowledge gaps. In this review, thirteen studies on microplastics in groundwater were methodically analyzed. Concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 6832 particles per microliter were found, mainly in open and drilled wells, containing the common polymers PVC, PET, PE, PA and PS. Most studies focus on Europe and North America, suggesting a geographical bias. This report calls for further research in underrepresented regions such as Asia, Africa and South America and highlights the need for standardized sampling methods. It suggests expanding research to better understand MP pollution levels, sources and public health impacts, particularly in groundwater near urban and industrial areas. Improvements in ecological assessment models are also advocated to improve understanding of MPs impacts of MP on ecosystems and groundwater quality to support the development of effective management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100605"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143579336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rare earth elements in the age of climate change: Ecotoxicological insights and future directions","authors":"Camilla Mossotto , Mahdi Banaee , Antonia Concetta Elia , Marino Prearo , Paolo Pastorino , Caterina Faggio","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential in several industries, particularly green technologies, but their increasing use is raising environmental concerns. This review examines the impact of REEs on ecosystems under climate change stressors. A bibliometric analysis revealed a scarcity of ecotoxicological studies, with a major focus on aquatic organisms due to the high vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems. Results indicate that some REEs may induce oxidative stress and disrupt physiological processes. Future research should prioritize interactions between REEs and other contaminants, improve experimental relevance, and increase species diversity to fully understand ecological effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100600"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143455002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regenerative resource recovery from wastewater: State-of-the-art bio-based soft technology","authors":"Prabhakar Sharma , Simranjeet Singh , Praveen C. Ramamurthy , Joginder Singh , Jayanta Kumar Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The wastewater treatment consists of a resource recovery approach driven by the growing demand for sustainable solutions to address environmental pollution and resource scarcity. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of regenerative resource recovery from wastewater using bio-based soft technologies. It highlights the current state-of-the-art methodologies and stresses their significance in promoting sustainable wastewater management. The paper outlines various bio-based soft technologies, their principles, successful applications, and case studies. It also reports the advantages and limitations of these technologies, offering insights into their integration with existing systems and potential future advancements in promoting these technologies for effective wastewater management. It has the potential to revolutionize wastewater treatment with more efficient resource recovery, improved scalability, and broader integration into global wastewater management systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100587"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abhishek Kumar , Wasim Akram Shaikh , Hakim Mudasir Maqsood , Sanjai J. Parikh , Jayanta Kumar Biswas
{"title":"Harnessing sustainable biochar-based composites for effective PFAS removal from wastewater","authors":"Abhishek Kumar , Wasim Akram Shaikh , Hakim Mudasir Maqsood , Sanjai J. Parikh , Jayanta Kumar Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered significant attention because of their persistence and detrimental environmental impacts, posing major challenges in wastewater treatment. Yet, traditional treatment methods fall short of providing a sustainable solution. This study argues that biochar-based composites represent the most promising innovative solution for PFAS remediation. Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of organic materials, possesses beneficial properties such as high porosity, surface area, and surface functionality, making it highly effective in removing various environmental pollutants. Recent advancements in biochar technology, such as incorporating materials like metal oxides, nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks, and functionalized polymers, have only increased its efficacy. This article explores the latest developments in biochar-based PFAS removal, including adsorption mechanisms, while critically addressing the current limitations. The findings indicate that biochar-based composites offer a scalable, practical, and effective approach to mitigating PFAS contamination, and should be prioritized over conventional treatment methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100594"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guorong Yi , Xuan Wu , Kuok Ho Daniel Tang , Ronghua Li
{"title":"Microbial degradation of bisphenol A – A mini-review","authors":"Guorong Yi , Xuan Wu , Kuok Ho Daniel Tang , Ronghua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging organic contaminant, which is widely used in plastic production and has estrogenic activity, but its accumulation in the environment is increasing due to the extensive use of BPA-containing products. In the natural environment, specific bacteria or fungi can metabolize BPA, converting it into non-toxic or less harmful substances. However, the biodegradation of BPA is a complex and variable process, with its efficiency being influenced by environmental conditions, microbial species, and their activities. This paper analyzes the efficiency of microbial BPA degradation, reviews current research, summarizes the mechanisms and metabolic pathways involved, and provides insights for future research directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100595"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Feng Wang , Chenxin Zhao , Xiong Shi , Yang Wu , Jingyang Luo
{"title":"Warning the environmental risks of emerging contaminants on low-carbon sludge anaerobic digestion treatment","authors":"Feng Wang , Chenxin Zhao , Xiong Shi , Yang Wu , Jingyang Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100592","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100592","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging contaminants (ECs) in waste-activated sludge (WAS) pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Anaerobic digestion (AD), a microbial-driven waste management technology, is particularly vulnerable to interference from ECs. This review comprehensively explores the effects of various ECs, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and microplastics, on AD processes and their underlying mechanisms. ECs typically inhibit sludge digestion by disrupting extracellular polymeric substance structures, altering enzyme activity, and affecting microbial communities and metabolic functions. However, at low concentrations, some microorganisms can adapt and restore methane production. Addressing the synergistic and antagonistic interactions of multiple ECs, which complicate treatment outcomes, is critical. Additionally, ECs alter the removal of resistance genes during AD by reshaping microbial host structures, enhancing horizontal gene transfer, and activating reaction pathways, increasing ecological risks. AD also demonstrates limited efficiency in degrading ECs, reducing the quality of digestate as biofertilizer and potentially impacting human health via the food chain. To improve AD efficiency in the presence of ECs, strategies such as source control, pretreatment, and novel green technologies are proposed. This review provides key insights into optimizing AD performance and resilience for EC-laden organic waste, emphasizing integrated and adaptive approaches to meet evolving challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100592"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Md Tabish Noori , Priyanka Gupta , Klaus Hellgardt , Booki Min
{"title":"Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): An emerging environmental challenge and (microbial)bioelectrochemical treatment strategies","authors":"Md Tabish Noori , Priyanka Gupta , Klaus Hellgardt , Booki Min","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil, sediment, and water poses significant public health risks due to their persistence and potential toxicity. PFAS compound possesses strong C – F bonds that require very high energy to break, making current technology unsustainable and challenging for large-scale treatment. Recent mechanistic insights into microbial degradation of PFAS offer promising solutions for their sustainable degradation. Specifically, bioelectrochemical systems can effectively break the strong C – F bonds in PFAS using high-energy electrons generated from electroactive microbes at a conductive anode electrode, achieving an astonishing removal efficiency of up to 96 %. However, these systems are still experimental, requiring further optimization for successful large-scale applications. This concise yet detailed review aims to enhance understanding of the emergence of PFAS as a pervasive potent chemical, microbe-assisted degradation mechanisms, and microbial community analysis, guiding future research and policy development for improved public health and environmental management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100588"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}