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Umeh OR, Ophori DU, Ibo EM, Eke CI, Oyen TP. Groundwater systems under siege: The silent invasion of microplastics and cock-tails worldwide. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 356:124305. [PMID: 38830527 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) contamination is one of the significant escalating environmental concerns worldwide, and this stems from the increasing production and unlawful disposal of plastic materials. Regretfully, the synthesis of plastic materials is expected to triple in the upcoming years. Nevertheless, MPs pollution in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial settings has received much attention, unlike in groundwater systems. This study exhaustively reviewed varying degrees of recent publications in various search engines and provided a detailed state of current knowledge and research progress vis-à-vis MPs and cock-tail pollution in groundwater systems. Evidently, groundwater sources are severely contaminated as a result of growing anthropogenic activities and vertical movement of MPs and cock-tails from the atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic environments, however, fewer researchers have fixated their attention on estimating the occurrence of MPs in groundwater resources, while sufficient information regarding their sources, sampling methods, abundance, transport pathways, fate, modeling techniques, appropriate and adequate data, sorption properties, separation from other environmental media, toxicity, and remedial measures are extensively lacking. In addition, MPs may combine with other toxic emerging contaminants to improve migration and toxicity; however, no research has been conducted to fully understand cock-tail migration mechanisms and impacts in groundwater systems. Over time, groundwater may be regarded as the primary sink for MPs, if effective actions are neglected. Overall, this study detected a lack of concern and innumerable voids in this field; hence, vital and nascent research gaps were identified for immediate, advanced, and interdisciplinary research investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odera R Umeh
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA.
| | - Duke U Ophori
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA.
| | - Eziafakaego M Ibo
- Department of Environmental Management, Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute, Ibadan, Oyo State, 200002, Nigeria.
| | - Chima I Eke
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA.
| | - Toritseju P Oyen
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA.
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Martynova A, Valluzzi L, Omar MS, Duarte CM. Discernible decline in macroplastic litter inputs to the central eastern Red Sea shoreline during the COVID-19 lockdown. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116264. [PMID: 38492266 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Plastic debris accumulating on beaches pose a major threat to marine ecosystems. Unexpected events affecting human operations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted governments to implement safety measures and restrictions, can serve as an unplanned investigation of anthropogenic pressure on the marine environment. This study aimed to explore deviations in macroplastic delivery rates to the central eastern Red Sea shoreline during three distinct population mobility periods: before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions, spanning from January 2019 to June 2022. We observed a 50 % reduction in the estimated macroplastic delivery rates during the lockdown, followed by a 25 % increase after restrictions were eased. Seasonal variations in delivery rates were also observed, with higher values during the winter monsoon. Reduced shoreline litter delivery during the pandemic highlights human operations as a cause of macroplastic litter and suggests the potential of temporary measures to reduce plastic pollution in the coastal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Martynova
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Letizia Valluzzi
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed S Omar
- Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia; KAUST Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
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Castañeda-Juárez M, Linares-Hernández I, Martínez-Miranda V, Teutli-Sequeira EA, Castillo-Suárez LA, Sierra-Sánchez AG. SARS-CoV-2 pharmaceutical drugs: a critical review on the environmental impacts, chemical characteristics, and behavior of advanced oxidation processes in water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:67604-67640. [PMID: 35930148 PMCID: PMC9362221 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22234-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes research data on the pharmaceutical drugs used to treat the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, their characteristics, environmental impacts, and the advanced oxidation processes (AOP) applied to remove them. A literature survey was conducted using the electronic databases Science Direct, Scopus, Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Springer. This complete research includes and discusses relevant studies that involve the introduction, pharmaceutical drugs used in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: chemical characteristics and environmental impact, advanced oxidation process (AOP), future trends and discussion, and conclusions. The results show a full approach in the versatility of AOPs as a promising solution to minimize the environmental impact associated with these compounds by the fact that they offer different ways for hydroxyl radical production. Moreover, this article focuses on introducing the fundamentals of each AOP, the main parameters involved, and the concomitance with other sources and modifications over the years. Photocatalysis, sonochemical technologies, electro-oxidation, photolysis, Fenton reaction, ozone, and sulfate radical AOP have been used to mineralize SARS-CoV-2 pharmaceutical compounds, and the efficiencies are greater than 65%. According to the results, photocatalysis is the main technology currently applied to remove these pharmaceuticals. This process has garnered attention because solar energy can be directly utilized; however, low photocatalytic efficiencies and high costs in large-scale practical applications limit its use. Furthermore, pharmaceuticals in the environment are diverse and complex. Finally, the review also provides ideas for further research needs and major concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monserrat Castañeda-Juárez
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México.
| | - Ivonne Linares-Hernández
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México
| | - Verónica Martínez-Miranda
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México
| | - Elia Alejandra Teutli-Sequeira
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México
- Cátedras CONACYT-IITCA, Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Col. Crédito Constructor, Alcaldía Benito Juárez, Ciudad de Mexico, C.P 03940, México
| | - Luis Antonio Castillo-Suárez
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México
- Cátedras COMECYT. Consejo Mexiquense de Ciencia Y Tecnología COMECYT, Paseo Colón núm.: 112-A, col. Ciprés, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P. 50120, México
| | - Ana Gabriela Sierra-Sánchez
- Instituto Interamericano de Tecnología Y Ciencias de Agua (IITCA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km.14.5, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Toluca, Estado de México, C.P 50200, México
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Ly NH, Kim MK, Lee H, Lee C, Son SJ, Zoh KD, Vasseghian Y, Joo SW. Advanced microplastic monitoring using Raman spectroscopy with a combination of nanostructure-based substrates. JOURNAL OF NANOSTRUCTURE IN CHEMISTRY 2022; 12:865-888. [PMID: 35757049 PMCID: PMC9206222 DOI: 10.1007/s40097-022-00506-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollutants have not only impacted human health directly, but are also associated with numerous chemical contaminants that increase toxicity in the natural environment. Most recent research about increasing plastic pollutants in natural environments have focused on the toxic effects of MNPs in water, the atmosphere, and soil. The methodologies of MNP identification have been extensively developed for actual applications, but they still require further study, including on-site detection. This review article provides a comprehensive update on the facile detection of MNPs by Raman spectroscopy, which aims at early diagnosis of potential risks and human health impacts. In particular, Raman imaging and nanostructure-enhanced Raman scattering have emerged as effective analytical technologies for identifying MNPs in an environment. Here, the authors give an update on the latest advances in plasmonic nanostructured materials-assisted SERS substrates utilized for the detection of MNP particles present in environmental samples. Moreover, this work describes different plasmonic materials-including pure noble metal nanostructured materials and hybrid nanomaterials-that have been used to fabricate and develop SERS platforms to obtain the identifying MNP particles at low concentrations. Plasmonic nanostructure-enhanced materials consisting of pure noble metals and hybrid nanomaterials can significantly enhance the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra signals of pollutant analytes due to their localized hot spots. This concise topical review also provides updates on recent developments and trends in MNP detection by means of SERS using a variety of unique materials, along with three-dimensional (3D) SERS substrates, nanopipettes, and microfluidic chips. A novel material-assisted spectral Raman technique and its effective application are also introduced for selective monitoring and trace detection of MNPs in indoor and outdoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyễn Hoàng Ly
- Department of Chemistry, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120 Republic of Korea
| | - Moon-Kyung Kim
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul, 02713 Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolmin Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul, 02713 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jun Son
- Department of Chemistry, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Duk Zoh
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Yasser Vasseghian
- Department of Chemistry, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Woo Joo
- Department of Chemistry, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978 Republic of Korea
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