Gorakhanath S. Jadhav , Makarand M. Ghangrekar , Gourav D. Bhowmick
{"title":"Bioelectric toilet for sustainable on-site wastewater management","authors":"Gorakhanath S. Jadhav , Makarand M. Ghangrekar , Gourav D. Bhowmick","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mounting global water scarcity, environmental degradation, and a lack of centralized wastewater management infrastructure in widespread and remote areas of developing countries invite innovative and sustainable approaches for on-site wastewater management. To address the above concern, a bioelectrochemically assisted on-site toilet waste treatment stands out as a cutting-edge and innovative technology, uniquely capable of addressing the intricate issues posed by poor on-site wastewater management. A “Bioelectric Toilet” treats human wastewater on-site using microbial fuel cells (MFCs)-based system while simultaneously harvesting bioelectricity. Further, under anaerobic conditions, this system converts the organic substrate to carbon dioxide instead of methane, ammonia to nitrogen, and sulphide to elemental sulfur, providing a convincing avenue for attaining global environment-friendly sanitation and sustainability goals, at the same time avoiding odor problem. This review explores the design concept, operational mechanism, and implications of Bioelectric Toilets. Furthermore, it assesses the potential benefits, obstacles, and future possibilities of widespread adoption of Bioelectric Toilets in various socioeconomic circumstances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100639"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144562945","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":"Understanding the pathways, pollution and potential solutions pertaining to pesticides: Circular engineering for persistent chemicals","authors":"Manish Kumar , Siddhant Dash , Jürgen Mahlknecht , Alan Kolok , Shiwangi Dogra , Keisuke Kuroda , Tomohiro Tobino , Abrahan Mora , Absar Ahmad Kazmi , Rajesh Singh , Pravin Kumar Mutiyar , Rajesh Roshan Dash , Futoshi Kurisu","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper offers a comprehensive examination of the global footprint of pesticides consumption, revealing the disproportionate usage in high-income countries and highlighting the severe environmental and health risks posed by chemicals such as organochlorines and organophosphates. While numerous studies have been conducted on assessing the fate and transport of pesticides in the natural environment in developed nations, however, there is pressing need for similar research in developing regions, within South-East Asia, Latin America, and the African Union. Due to the cumulative nature of pesticides and the duration of exposure, it was expected that biota would show higher average, minimum, and maximum concentrations, along with increased variability. Water appears to be slightly more contaminated than sediment, but the most concerning revelation is the prevalence of pesticides in the air. Emphasizing the urgency of sustainable practices, the paper proposes microcosmic understanding on the degradation of pesticides, their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, and the development of environmentally friendly alternatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100638"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534178","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}
Maria Luiza Cunha e Souza Ferreira , Marko D. Prokić , Lilian Lund Amado
{"title":"Amphibians in ecotoxicology: Recent advances across diverse regions","authors":"Maria Luiza Cunha e Souza Ferreira , Marko D. Prokić , Lilian Lund Amado","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the past decade, amphibians have increasingly been used as model organisms to study a variety of environmental factors and contaminants, along with their effects at different developmental stages. Significant advancements, such as the standardization of research techniques, the development of specific biomarkers, and the introduction of new species for experimental purposes, have greatly enhanced the field of amphibian ecotoxicology. This review discusses recent advancements in ecotoxicological studies on amphibians, with particular emphasis on species from South America, methodological aspects, and the latest effect assessments of metals, pesticides, and other emerging pollutants (micro/nanoplastics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100633"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144229586","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":"The health burden of wildfire smoke in a changing climate: Exposure, risks, and strategies for mitigation","authors":"Myriam Lopes , Alexandra Monteiro , Petros Mouzourides , Panayiotis Κouis","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wildfires are projected to become more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting under climate change, substantially elevating population exposure to wildfire smoke. Future projections suggest that health impacts of wildfire smoke will peak during the mid-21st century under high-emission scenarios; however, persistent uncertainties in exposure assessment and concentration-response relationships need to be addressed. Effective mitigation of increasing health impacts requires long-term planning, based on the integration of climate modelling, exposure assessment, and evidence from epidemiology. Wildfire smoke exposure reduction approaches including early warning systems, indoor air filtration, and other measures can be embedded within a broader public health and climate adaptation policy framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100631"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144213222","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}
Paulo Pereira , Miguel Inacio , Damia Barcelo , Wenwu Zhao
{"title":"Impacts of agriculture intensification on biodiversity loss, climate change and ecosystem services","authors":"Paulo Pereira , Miguel Inacio , Damia Barcelo , Wenwu Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural intensification harms biodiversity and contributes to climate change and ecosystem services (ES) degradation. Therefore, this opinion study aims to assess the impacts of agricultural intensification in three key aspects. Agricultural intensification causes biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and an increase in the severity and frequency of extreme events. This will negatively impact all regulating and cultural ES (except for knowledge systems) and all provisioning ES in the long term. Sustainable agriculture practices are not enough to ensure food security in a world with a growing demand for food. Ensuring food security without compromising the environment is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Although it is necessary to ensure food security, without healthy ecosystems, this is not possible. A transformational change in our society and policy is needed to halt this process. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that a shift in consumption habits is necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100637"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144481230","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}
Ainoa Míguez González, Andreia Oliveira Rodrigues, Raquel Cela Dablanca, Ana Barreiro, Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez, María J. Fernández-Sanjurjo, Avelino Núñez-Delgado
{"title":"Alternatives to face anticoccidial ionophore antibiotics as emerging environmental pollutants","authors":"Ainoa Míguez González, Andreia Oliveira Rodrigues, Raquel Cela Dablanca, Ana Barreiro, Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez, María J. Fernández-Sanjurjo, Avelino Núñez-Delgado","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This short review/opinion text includes a selection of recently published papers dealing with environmental pollution caused by anticoccidial antibiotics (with an especial focus on ionophores) and on remediation alternatives to retain/remove these contaminants from affected areas. More in-depth details and comments are provided for those works that the authors of the review considered of higher relevance in this field. As scientific search tools, the authors used Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. These tools provided results for selected lags of time to focus on those being more recent, as well as for not limited time periods, thus allowing both time-specific and more extended views. The overall results indicated that the assessment of environmental pollution due to anticoccidial antibiotics is an underdeveloped and emerging field of research, with many aspects still needing to be further explored and subjected to more detailed scrutiny in the coming future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100629"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169876","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":"Carbon-based catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for sulfonamide degradation: Environmental challenges and innovations","authors":"Md Abdullah Al Masud , Hasara Samaraweera","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread presence of sulfonamide (SFA) antibiotics in the environment, due to their extensive use in medicine, poses significant ecological and health risks, including bioaccumulation and the promotion of antibiotic resistance. Various techniques for removing SFA antibiotics from water and wastewater have been investigated, encompassing biological, physical, and chemical methods. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), noted for their rapid reaction rates and potent oxidation capabilities, have been increasingly recognized as effective for degrading SFA in aquatic environments. In this review paper, the potential of carbocatalytic remediation is highlighted, showcasing an innovative approach that utilizes carbon-based catalysts for the degradation of SFA. In AOPs, the role of a carbocatalyst is crucial for the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electron transfer, which contribute to the efficient breakdown of SFA. The study further identifies and delineates multiple research gaps, proposing them as key areas for future investigational directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100628"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169877","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}
Jawer David Acuña-Bedoya, Fátima Borja-Maldonado, Marcela Herrera-Domínguez, Miguel Ángel López Zavala
{"title":"Current situation of emerging contaminants in Mexican waters and treatment perspectives","authors":"Jawer David Acuña-Bedoya, Fátima Borja-Maldonado, Marcela Herrera-Domínguez, Miguel Ángel López Zavala","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging contaminants (ECs) in water represent a significant environmental and public health challenge, with compounds such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors posing substantial risks. In Mexico, the detection of ECs has intensified, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to increased pharmaceutical consumption. This review highlights the most frequently detected ECs, including naproxen, carbamazepine, 17-β estradiol, Bisphenol A, and triclosan, which are prioritized for regulation based on their high concentrations and adverse effects on both aquatic ecosystems and human health. Despite Mexico's efforts to monitor these contaminants, the country faces significant challenges in terms of regulation and removal. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are insufficient to eliminate ECs, requiring the implementation of advanced technologies such as advanced oxidation processes. However, a lack of political intervention, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and limited public awareness hinder progress. This review underscores the need for stronger governmental action, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public education to mitigate EC pollution. The development of new regulations and the integration of advanced treatment technologies into existing infrastructure are crucial to preventing long-term environmental damage and safeguarding public health. Additionally, promoting awareness among consumers about the risks of ECs could lead to more sustainable product choices and reduce contamination of water sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100636"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144313204","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":"Microbial enzyme-based water treatment in smart cities: A synoptic review","authors":"Manoj Kumar , Abhinav Rohilla , Disha Singh , Anjali Panwar , Suvendu Manna","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In many countries, governments are emphasizing the development of smart cities to establish economic growth and provide a quality of life to the inhabitants. Reutilization of wastewater after treatment can prevent water scarcity in smart cities. However, the presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater poses serious health concerns. Traditional contaminant removal technologies have high operational costs, energy and carbon-intensive natures, and the generation of non-biodegradable and hazardous byproducts. In this context, microbial enzymes promise to provide a sustainable and low-cost approach for the removal of ECs. Various microbial enzymes, such as laccase, tyrosinase, amylase, lipase, etc., are being studied for ECs’ removal from wastewater. This review will discuss the concept of water management strategies in smart cities. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the issue of ECs in treated wastewater and the benefits of utilizing microbial enzymes for efficient EC removal. The review further discusses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to enzymatic water treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100640"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144556816","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":"Fate and toxicity of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), substituted PAHs and heterocyclic PAHs in water","authors":"Nageshwari Krishnamoorthy , Prasenjit Ghosh , Suparna Mukherji","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Contamination by polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), substituted PAHs (SPAHs) and heterocyclic PAHs (HPAHs) is widely reported in rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Substituted PAHs (SPAHs) are a subclass of PAHs characterized by the presence of various substituent groups, such as alkyl, nitro, and oxy groups. In contrast, heterocyclic PAHs (HPAHs) are in-ring substituted PAHs where nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O) replace one of the carbon (C) in the aromatic ring. These compounds are primarily produced through anthropogenic activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels, biomass burning, and industrial processes. The enhanced physicochemical complexity of SPAHs and HPAHs caused by side chain or in-ring substitution, respectively, modifies key properties such as water solubility, hydrophobicity, and environmental persistence, ultimately influencing their behavior, transformation, and bioavailability. Alkyl substitution in SPAHs generally increases hydrophobicity, while polar substituents enhance water solubility and increase the toxicity. PAHs and their derivatives undergo transformations such as photolysis, microbial degradation, and chemical oxidation in aquatic systems. Toxicity of PAHs, SPAHs, and HPAHs varies with the molecular structure. Nitrated PAHs (NPAHs) and HPAHs containing nitrogen in the ring (PANHs) depict high acute toxicity, mutagenicity without metabolic activation, and adverse effects caused by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Future research must focus on improving detection and quantification, assessing ecotoxicity and human health impacts, exploring environmental fate, and developing effective removal techniques, and regulatory strategies for the SPAHs and HPAHs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 100646"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144631995","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}