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}
Punniyakotti Elumalai , Xuke Gao , Punniyakotti Parthipan , Junyu Luo , Jinjie Cui
{"title":"Agrochemical pollution: A serious threat to environmental health","authors":"Punniyakotti Elumalai , Xuke Gao , Punniyakotti Parthipan , Junyu Luo , Jinjie Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past two decades, global consumption of agrochemicals has risen considerably. These chemicals are hazardous to air, soil, freshwater, marine microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans. This review examines worldwide agrochemical consumption trends from 2001 to 2021. It discusses environmental emissions of nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, and ammonia from nitrogen fertilizers. The review highlights the impact of various pesticide residues on air, soil, water, animals, and human health. This review also explores the influence of agrochemical pollution on climatic change, including its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and its effects on temperature and rainfall patterns. Finally, we outline the global actions undertaken by organizations such as UNFAO, UNEP, WHO, and EC to address agrochemical pollution and promote control strategies. This review underscores the negative effects of agrochemical pollution on ecosystems and suggests that reducing agrochemical usage, implementing integrated pest management, and promoting organic farming can help mitigate its environmental impact.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100597"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096875","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":"Unintended effects of Bacillus thuringiensis spores and Cry toxins used as microbial insecticides on non-target organisms","authors":"Raphaël Rousset , Armel Gallet","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> (<em>Bt</em>) microbial insecticides owe their effectiveness mostly to Cry toxins that target specific insects. <em>Bt</em> products are made of spores of <em>Bt</em> and crystals of toxins, Cry toxins being also used in genetically modified crops. Although widely used in agriculture, data on their long-term effects are scarce. Because microbial insecticides are essential to the development of sustainable agriculture, more research is needed to understand the unintended effects of <em>Bt</em> products and to improve <em>Bt</em> products and applications, ultimately leading to safer agricultural practices. In this review, we focus on recent studies dealing with the persistence and unintended effects of the main components of <em>Bt</em> insecticidal products, namely Cry toxins, spores and vegetative cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100598"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143218874","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}
{"title":"Dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in soil-crop systems: Mechanisms and influencing factors","authors":"Yuanye Zeng , Fengxia Yang , Zulin Zhang , Haixin Guo , Yongzhen Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural soil fertility increases when livestock manure is used as an organic fertilizer. However, it spreads antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across agricultural land, endangering food safety and the environment. The processes of ARG diffusion in soil-crop systems were examined in the present study, along with the effects of plant root exudates and soil physicochemical characteristics. Effects of soil moisture, pH, and REDOX potential on microbial communities and ARG dynamics were analyzed, along with the ARG transfer to plants through root uptake and endophytic colonization. Furthermore, the implications of ARG dissemination for soil health, crop safety, and human health were examined, highlighting the necessity for a thorough understanding of these interactions to formulate effective ARG mitigation strategies. This review will aid future research on the long-term environmental impact of ARGs and assist in developing effective control measures to promote sustainable agricultural development and food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 100593"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096872","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}
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":"2025-01-31","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}
{"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":"2025-01-31","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}
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":"2025-01-28","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":"2025-01-15","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}
Karina Dias Amaral , Cidália Gabriela Santos Marinho , Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia
{"title":"Non-target ants and bioinsecticides: A short review","authors":"Karina Dias Amaral , Cidália Gabriela Santos Marinho , Terezinha Maria Castro Della Lucia","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2024.100586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chemical insecticides are in many cases the only efficient and large-scale method available for pest control. However, insecticidal compounds can have negative impacts on the environment and non-target organisms. Ants, although acting as pests in various crops and environments, provide vital ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, predation, and seed dispersal. The impact of bioinsecticides on these insects is frequently overlooked and underreported. This brief review examines key studies on the effects of bioinsecticides on non-target ants, explores hypotheses for the scarcity of research on this topic, and summarizes the important ecological roles of ants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"42 ","pages":"Article 100586"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142659269","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}