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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 13201

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. André Pereira

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Guest Editor

LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: food additives; food contaminants; risk assessment; pharmaceuticals; heavy metals; mycotoxins; food dyes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Liliana J.G. Silva

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Guest Editor

LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: environmental and food safety; mycotoxins, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants in foods and biological fluids; human exposure evaluation; biomonitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Angelina Pena

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Guest Editor

LAQV, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Polo III, Azinhaga de Stª Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: food and environmental safety: food additives and contaminants; human and environmental risk assessment and human health surveillance: biomonitoring studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Potential risks associated with the release of emerging contaminants into the environment have become an increasingly important issue in environmental health. This concern has been driven by the widespread detection of emerging contaminants in the environment. Most of these contaminants are continuously introduced in the environment and, albeit detected at trace levels, they are of concern as they can promote deleterious consequences at low concentrations, namely in the aquatic biota.

There is a lack of knowledge on emerging contaminants’ source, fate, occurrence, toxicity and environmental risk assessment, important issues for a proper risk evaluation and management.

Therefore, this Special Issue will tackle the source, fate, occurrence, toxicity and risk assessment of emerging contaminants in the environment.

Dr. André Pereira
Dr. Liliana J.G. Silva
Dr. Angelina Pena
Guest Editors

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Keywords

environmental contaminants
emerging contaminants
source
environmental risk assessment
toxicity
occurrence
fate

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 14750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Assessment of High-Throughput Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing in Sediment Resistome Profiling

by Nazima Habibi, Saif Uddin, Montaha Behbehani, Hanan A. Al-Sarawi, Mohamed Kishk, Waleed Al-Zakri, Nasreem AbdulRazzack, Anisha Shajan and Farhana Zakir

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11229; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011229 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

Prolonged and excessive use of antibiotics has resulted in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is considered an emerging global challenge that warrants a deeper understanding of the antibiotic-resistant gene elements (ARGEs/resistomes) involved in its rapid dissemination. Currently, advanced molecular methods such as high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS) are commonly applied for the surveillance and monitoring of AMR in the environment. Although both methods are considered complementary to each other, there are some appreciable differences that we wish to highlight in this communication. We compared both these approaches to map the ARGEs in the coastal sediments of Kuwait. The study area represents an excellent model as it receives recurrent emergency waste and other anthropogenic contaminants. The HT-qPCR identified about 100 ARGs, 5 integrons, and 18 MGEs (total—122). These ARGs coded for resistance against the drug classes of beta-lactams > aminoglycoside > tetracycline, macrolide lincosamide streptogramin B (MLSB) > phenicol > trimethoprim, quinolone, and sulfonamide. The SMS picked a greater number of ARGs (402), plasmid sequences (1567), and integrons (168). Based on the evidence, we feel the SMS is a better method to undertake ARG assessment to fulfil the WHO mandate of “One Health Approach.” This manuscript is a useful resource for environmental scientists involved in AMR monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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15 pages, 5271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Effect of Twelve Pharmaceuticals on Germination and Growth Parameters of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

by Francesco De Mastro, Gennaro Brunetti, Andreina Traversa, Claudio Cacace and Claudio Cocozza

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6759; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116759 - 1 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1575

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals (PhACs) are chemical substances that, after their use, can reach wastewater treatment plants, but the resulting treated wastewater (TWW) can still contain these contaminants. If TWWs are used for irrigation, PhACs can contaminate crops and also hinder their growth. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of 12 PhACs and their mixture at different doses on basil germination and early growth and on its photosynthetic pigment content. The germination percentage was not affected by PhACs even when applied at the highest doses. The results showed that the germination speed cannot be considered as an index of vigor of future seedlings as not all seeds that germinated first developed the best. PhACs between 25 and 100 ppb did not show negative effects on early growth and photosynthetic pigments of basil; in fact, in some cases the seeds even benefitted from their application as if it were a chemical treatment developed for the seeds. The highest assessed dose of PhACs always caused a reduction in growth parameters and the photosynthetic pigment content of basil, especially with climbazole, naproxen, triclosan, and the mixture of PhACs. In general, basil can be considered a species tolerant to PhACs after taking into account their average content in wastewater; however, more studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of PhACs and their translocation to edible parts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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12 pages, 1586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmaceuticals Removal from Wastewater with Microalgae: A Pilot Study

by André Pereira, Etiele Greque de Morais, Liliana Silva, Angelina Pena, Andreia Freitas, Margarida Ribau Teixeira, João Varela and Luísa Barreira

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6414; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116414 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Urban wastewaters contain pharmaceuticals that are not appropriately removed in conventional wastewater treatments, limiting treated water reuse. Microalgae have been shown to remove pharmaceuticals from urban wastewater in laboratory trials, but few studies have been conducted under natural conditions. In this work, pharmaceutical removal was assessed in a pilot-scale microalgal tertiary wastewater treatment in real conditions. Even after secondary treatment, the water contained measurable amounts of pharmaceuticals (an average of 218.4 ng/L) that significantly decreased to 39.83 ng/L at the exit of the microalgal system. Pharmaceuticals’ average removal rates were slightly higher in the summer (79.1%) than in autumn (71.1%). Antibiotics and antipsychotics were better removed (88.8 and 86.4%, respectively) than antihypertensives (75.3%) and others (Bezafibrate and Diclofenac; 64.0%). Physicochemical characteristics of the wastewater influenced pharmaceutical removal; significant positive correlations were observed between anti-hypertensive drug removal and ammonium concentration (r = 0.53; p < 0.05), total nitrogen and total pharmaceutical removal (r = 0.46; p < 0.05), and total nitrogen and antipsychotic drug removal (r = 0.47; p < 0.05). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of microalgal tertiary treatment in the removal of pharmaceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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15 pages, 1246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmaceuticals in Coastal Waters: An UHPLC-TOF-MS Multi-Residue Approach

by Sara Leston, Andreia Freitas, João Rosa, Ana Sofia Vila Pouca, Jorge Barbosa, Patrick Reis-Santos, Vanessa F. Fonseca, Miguel A. Pardal and Fernando Ramos

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5975; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105975 - 12 May 2023

Viewed by 2331

Abstract

Anthropogenic chemical contamination represents a key stressor of natural environments with pharmaceuticals comprising a particular group of emerging pollutants with the potential to induce biological responses in non-target organisms. Therefore, an analytical method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF-MS) was developed for estuarine and seawaters, targeting 63 globally used pharmaceuticals (including amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and venlafaxine included in the Surface Water Watch List) from 8 therapeutic groups: antibiotics, analgesic, NSAIDs, antidepressants, β-blockers, lipid regulators, anticonvulsants and antihypertensive drugs. The method presents high selectivity and sensitivity, with the limits of detection ranging from 0.01 to 8.92 ng/L and the limits of quantification from 0.02 to 29.73 ng/L. Considering precision, the highest value was achieved for amoxicillin (20.9%) and the lower for ofloxacin (2.6%), while recoveries ranged from 80.6 to 112.6%. Overall, the quantification method was highly efficient for multi-residues quantification in such complex environmental samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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14 pages, 1400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrence and Degradation of Free and Conjugated Estrogens in a River Receiving Feedlot Animal Discharge

by Hao-Shen Hung, Kuei-Jyum C. Yeh, Chi-Ying Hsieh and Ting-Chien Chen

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 11961; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122311961 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

This study analyzed concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estriol (E3), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), diethylstilbestrol (DES), 17β-estradiol-3-sulfate (E2-3S), estrone-3-sulfate (E1-3S), 17β-estradiol-3-glucuronide (E2-3G), and estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3G) in river water, received from intensive feedlot operations wastewater in WuLo Creek, Taiwan. Moreover, the estrogen degradation in situ was analyzed. The average concentrations were 54.15 ± 31.42, 9.71 ± 6.42 and 3.55 ± 2.41 ng/L for E1, E2 and E3, respectively. The concentrations and order were similar to the polluted river and higher than most rivers’ concentrations. The conjugated estrogen concentrations ranged from ND to 13.2 ng/L (E1-3S), ND to 10.4 ng/L (E2-3S), ND to 10.0 ng/L (E1-3G), and ND to 3.6 ng/L (E2-3G), and the detection rates were 76%, 71%, 56%, and 15%, respectively. In the present study, the high detection rates of conjugate estrogen were more elevated than the water receiving STP effluent, suggesting that the source was the river water close to the animal wastewater discharge. In the degradation test, the DES concentrations slightly declined after 24 h, but E1-3G did not significantly change over time (p > 0.05). The degradation of free estrogen occurred during the first 12 h period, and residual concentration was not further decreased after 24 h. In the environment, E1 had higher concentrations than E2 and E3, suggesting that E1 was more resistant to degradation than E2 and E3 at low concentrations. However, the degradation test in the present study suggested that E1 rapidly degraded at high ambient concentrations due to the high degradation constant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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Review

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35 pages, 3046 KiB

Open AccessReview

Chemicals from Brominated Flame Retardants: Analytical Methods, Occurrence, Transport and Risks

by Christian Ebere Enyoh, Tochukwu Oluwatosin Maduka, Md. Sohel Rana, Sochi Chinaemerem Osigwe, Stanley Chukwuemeka Ihenetu and Qingyue Wang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7892; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177892 - 5 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1563

Abstract

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are synthetic chemicals widely used to reduce the flammability of consumer products, including electronics, textiles, and furniture. Despite their effectiveness in fire prevention, BFRs pose significant environmental and health risks due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive examination of BFRs, focusing on recent advancements in analytical methods for their detection and quantification in environmental and biological samples. The study explored the physicochemical properties that influence BFR distribution and transport in various matrices, including soil, water, air, sediments, and biota. The review also summarizes current knowledge on the occurrence and environmental fate of BFRs, highlighting their mobility and long-range transport. Furthermore, the study discusses the health risks associated with BFR exposure, emphasizing their endocrine-disrupting effects and impact on reproductive and neurological functions. By integrating findings from recent studies, this review aims to enhance the understanding of BFR behavior and inform regulatory strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants in Environment)

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