Search Results (1,442)

Groundwater nitrate contamination is delayed, spatially heterogeneous and difficult to screen with sparse monitoring, especially when exceedance probability and exposure concern must be considered together. We analysed 157 shallow groundwater samples from Handan City, China, collected in 2023, and 14 environmental predictors to map NO₃⁻ exceedance above 50 mg/L. Random forest, support vector machine (SVM) and XGBoost classifiers were evaluated by repeated stratified testing and spatial block cross-validation, with SHAP used to interpret model responses. Ordinary kriging and the USEPA non-carcinogenic risk framework estimated adult and child hazard quotients (HQs), and exceedance probability was cross-classified with child HQ in a probability–HQ matrix. Thirty-one samples (19.7%) exceeded the threshold. Although SVM achieved the highest ROC-AUC, XGBoost was retained for early-warning mapping because it better controlled missed exceedances. High-probability zones were concentrated in central-western and urban-fringe Handan. SHAP responses indicated that hydroclimatic, hydrogeological, land-use, terrain and soil factors jointly shaped model discrimination, without implying source attribution. Children had higher HQs than adults. At P = 0.5, general protection, exceedance-warning, concentration-verification and priority-intervention zones occupied 81.26%, 18.40%, 0.01% and 0.33% of the area, respectively. The framework supports targeted monitoring and drinking-water verification rather than fixed contamination boundaries. Full article

Chromium contamination in aquatic systems represents a significant environmental concern due to its toxicity and complex geochemical behaviour. This study analyzes the spatial distribution of total chromium (Cr) in sediments from streams and surface waters of the Iron Quadrangle (IQ), one of the world’s most important mining provinces, with the aim of establishing regional reference values and identifying anomalous concentrations. A total of 487 samples were collected, corresponding to an average sampling density of one sample per 14.37 km². Statistical approaches, including the Upper Inner Fence (UIF) method, were applied to distinguish background levels, elevated concentrations, and anomalies, while contamination factor and enrichment factor indices were used to assess contamination and enrichment patterns. The results indicate a wide range of Cr concentrations, with sediments reaching up to 2581 mg·kg⁻¹ and surface waters up to 384.7 μg·L⁻¹. Although most samples reflect natural background conditions, significant anomalies were identified, particularly in areas associated with mafic–ultramafic lithologies and mining activities. Approximately 73.3% and 42.3% of sediment samples exceeded TEL and PEL thresholds, respectively, while 35.3% of surface water samples surpassed drinking water limits. The results highlight the need for continuous environmental monitoring and reinforce the importance of integrating geochemical mapping with risk assessment approaches to better understand contamination dynamics in complex mining regions. Full article

Groundwater is a vital resource for drinking water supply, agriculture, and industrial activities. However, contamination by organic pollutants may pose significant threats to both ecosystem integrity and human health. This study assessed the environmental and human health risks associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater collected from 27 localities in the central–northeastern Romanian Plain. The concentrations of naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno [1,2,3-cd]pyrene were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. Benzo[a]pyrene concentrations ranged from <LOD to 0.08 ng/L, while total concentrations varied between 2.56 to 11.2 ng/L. The environmental risk associated with groundwater contamination was classified as low to moderate, with total risk coefficients ranged from 0.2 to 2.3. Potential contamination sources were identified using the diagnostic ratio method, complemented by multivariate statistical analysis, indicating predominantly pyrogenic and mixed pyrogenic–petrogenic sources. Human health risk assessment indicated that groundwater ingestion posed neither non-carcinogenic risks (Hazard Index, HI < 1) nor unacceptable carcinogenic risks. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values ranged from 5.7 × 10⁻⁹ to 2.2 × 10⁻⁸ for infants, 2.7 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ for children, and 1.5 × 10⁻⁹ to 6.1 × 10⁻⁹ for adults. Full article

Despite societal benefits derived from the many uses of plastics in our daily lives, plastic pollution has become another One Health crisis that has resulted in microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) contamination of all aspects of our global food production system and requires urgent attention. According to Plastic Europe, 99% of all plastics are made from fossil fuels but only 9% are recycled, which has created a major environmental injustice problem associated with geographic disparities for disposal. Plastic polymers slowly degrade to MPs and NPs in the environment and adsorb and transport other toxic environmental contaminants that compound their detrimental effects on all components of ecosystems and human health. Our global food system represents the culmination of MP contamination in the environment and is the major route of human exposure to MPs and NPs, but there are no comprehensive guidelines to avoid unhealthy consumption of contaminated food and drinking water; numerous analytical, data interpretation, and risk assessment challenges; and no international treaties to end plastic pollution. This comprehensive review is intended to provide a synthesis of disparate threads of vast amounts of scientific information across multiple disciplines to improve our understanding and action for addressing this complex One Health problem. Full article

Emerging micropollutants in drinking water sources represents a growing challenge for water treatment systems. Bisphenol-A (BPA) and 17β-estradiol (E2) are endocrine disruptors widely detected in aquatic matrices that are not efficiently removed by conventional treatment. This study evaluated, at the bench scale, operational performance and rejection of BPA and E2 by three nanofiltration membranes—NFM1, NFM2 and NFM3—operating at 8 bar and using ultrafiltered water from the Lago Norte Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Brasília/DF, Brazil, spiked with both compounds at 150–250 µg/L, as the feed matrix. Hydraulic parameters, such as permeate flux and water permeability, were assessed alongside rejection. NFM1 exhibited the highest permeate fluxes (136.1 and 171.7 L/h·m²); however, it showed the lowest rejection (E2: 57–73%; BPA: 28–60%). The NFM2 membrane showed intermediate rejection behavior (E2: 86–89%; BPA: 67–91%) but presented the lowest permeate flux (51.2 to 63.3 L/h·m²). The NFM3 membrane presented the highest rejection and greatest operational stability (E2: 90–95%; BPA: 95–97%), with a permeate flux of 59.1 to 67.0 L/h·m². Size exclusion was the predominant removal mechanism, though adsorption also contributed during the initial hours of operation. The results confirm a trade-off between permeate production and contaminant rejection, with no single membrane outperforming all others across all criteria. Full article

Unsafe water sources contaminated with fecal bacteria and antibiotic-resistant pathogens represent a critical public health challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study investigates the occurrence, distribution, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of Escherichia coli across interconnected water sources in Guwahati, India, including river water, wells, municipal supply, and groundwater. A total of 87 samples were analyzed using membrane filtration, biochemical identification, and automated confirmation, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing and phenotypic detection of β-lactamase production. Total coliforms were detected in 64.4% of samples, while E. coli was confirmed in 51.7%. According to World Health Organization risk thresholds, 93.3% of river water samples and 50% of groundwater samples fell within the very-high-risk category (>1000 CFU/100 mL), indicating widespread fecal contamination in sources used for domestic purposes. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli was identified across all water types, with 14.1% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (MAR index > 0.2). Notably, 20.6% of isolates produced β-lactamases, including one extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producer, while no carbapenemase-producing strains were detected. The co-occurrence of multidrug-resistant E. coli across surface and groundwater systems is consistent with the interconnected nature of urban water contamination and suggests the potential for widespread exposure through drinking water pathways, though direct transfer between water systems was not experimentally confirmed in this study. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved wastewater management, protection of groundwater resources, and strengthened antibiotic stewardship within a One Health framework to mitigate the environmental dissemination of AMR. Full article

Lead-ion (Pb²⁺) contamination in drinking water poses a serious threat to public health, but conventional laboratory-based methods rely on bulky equipment and are unsuitable for on-site monitoring. Here, we develop a wireless monitoring system based on a dual-channel liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator probe (TENG probe) for detecting Pb²⁺ in drinking water. Based on the dynamic contact electrification at the liquid–solid interface, the sliding of a water droplet containing Pb²⁺ on the FEP surface is converted into an electrical signal for Pb²⁺ detection. A wireless acquisition circuit transmits the electrical signals via Wi-Fi to a computer, enabling remote and wireless detection. By integrating a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D CNN) deep learning model, the TENG probe achieved a detection accuracy of 99.62% and was capable of detecting Pb²⁺ in drinking water at the ppb level, exceeding the national standard. This work opens a way for safeguarding drinking-water quality. Full article

Background: The global nutrition crisis continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations’ health in regions where artisanal mining is high. Objective: This study assessed the nutritional status of children, adolescents, and women living in the Revuè sub-basin, who are potentially exposed to heavy metal contaminants. Methods: An observational and cross-sectional design was used to combine anthropometric and sociodemographic data with laboratory analysis for the assessment of heavy metal contaminants in drinking water sources. Results: Results indicated a high prevalence of stunting among children under five (28.4% of boys and 19.9% of girls) while female adolescents were underweight (25.7%), particularly during the rainy season. In contrast, 19% of women were overweight and 3.1% were obese. A modified Poisson regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between mercury exposure (RR = 0.77, p = 0.02) and stunting in children, whereas higher educational attainment among husbands was protective for women (RR = 0.76, p = 0.03). The assessment of mercury exposure through water consumption showed statistically significant variations across regions and seasons (p < 0.001). Water analyses identified high concentrations of arsenic (0.03 mg/L, 95% CI: 0.02–0.10) and mercury (0.09 mg/L (95% CI: 0.003–0.009), exceeding safety standards. Conclusion: Overall, these findings highlight the nutritional and health risks potentially linked to artisanal mining. Full article

Pesticide use remains important in modern agriculture, vector control, and household pest management. However, exposure to pesticide active ingredients and residues remains a persistent public health concern. In addition to active ingredients, people may also be exposed to other constituents of commercial pesticide formulations, such as adjuvants and solvents, which can influence overall toxicity and health outcomes. These exposures may occur among direct applicators and may also affect other populations through contaminated air, water, soil, food, clothing, and household surfaces. This narrative review examines pesticide exposure from a community health perspective, emphasizing occupational, para-occupational, residential, dietary, drinking-water, airborne, and cumulative exposure pathways. It highlights vulnerable groups, including agricultural workers, children, pregnant women, women in agricultural communities, older adults, people with chronic illness, and marginalized rural populations. Evidence reviewed in this article links pesticide exposure with acute poisoning, respiratory effects, neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental outcomes, cancer-related risks, reproductive and developmental effects, endocrine and metabolic disruption, cardiovascular outcomes, dermatological reactions, immune dysregulation, and biomarker-based subclinical changes. Beyond disease endpoints, pesticide exposure may also affect household income, education, mental well-being, food security, livelihoods, and intergenerational health. Major challenges include weak exposure assessment, underreporting, limited biomonitoring in low- and middle-income settings, and inconsistent community-level indicators. Strengthening surveillance, risk communication, integrated pest management, safer storage and disposal, protective regulation, and community-centered biomonitoring is essential to reduce pesticide-related health burdens. Full article

Repeat breeding syndrome (RBS), characterized by repeated artificial insemination failure, is associated with ovarian dysfunction in ruminants and causes economic losses. Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as bisphenol F (BPF), may contribute to RBS, but the relationship between BPF exposure and RBS in cows remains unclear. In this study, we conducted an epidemiological investigation and clinical examinations in 111 adult Simmental cows, including 7 cows diagnosed with RBS, from two local farms, and measured the BPF levels in the drinking water, feed, and the serum samples. We further evaluated the protective effects of phillyrin, a bioactive compound derived from Forsythia suspensa, against BPF-induced ovarian toxicity using cow granulosa cells (CGCs). RBS mainly occurred in young cows with two or more parities. RBS cows showed signs of potential liver dysfunction, kidney injury, anemia, and fecal abnormalities suggestive of altered gut health, together with higher serum BPF levels and lower estradiol levels. Detectable BPF contamination in the drinking water and feed suggested environmental exposure as a possible contributor to RBS in cows. In vitro, BPF induced inflammatory and apoptotic responses in CGCs by upregulating pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic mediators, whereas phillyrin pretreatment markedly alleviated these effects. These findings suggest that BPF exposure might be associated with RBS in cows and phillyrin could be used as a promising natural agent for mitigating BPF-related reproductive toxicity. Full article

This systematic review addresses the critical public health concern regarding the pervasive contamination of drinking water by microplastics (MPs). With global plastic production escalating, the degradation of waste into MPs has led to their ubiquity in freshwater sources. This review synthesizes recent findings on the occurrence of MPs in tap and bottled water and evaluates the associated toxicological risks to human health. Results indicate that humans ingest tens of thousands of particles annually, with drinking water being a significant vector. The review highlights that particles, particularly those in the nanoplastic range, can breach biological barriers, leading to bioaccumulation in secondary organs such as the liver and placenta. Toxicological impacts include oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic disruption. Full article

Urban water security in many cities in the Global South is increasingly challenged by ageing infrastructure and the presence of persistent chemical contaminants. This study investigated the Harare metropolitan water continuum between 2020 and 2024 using a longitudinal, systems-oriented observational framework encompassing wastewater discharge, surface water reservoirs, drinking water treatment, and municipal distribution networks. A three-stage approach was employed, comprising qualitative screening for selected pharmaceuticals at the Lake Chivero water–sediment interface in 2020, spatial assessment of physicochemical stability across the treatment and distribution system in 2021, and targeted qualitative evaluation of pharmaceutical and agrochemical occurrence in wastewater-impacted matrices in 2024. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were qualitatively identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while atrazine was confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). These analyses indicated the continued presence of pharmaceutical and agrochemical residues within wastewater-impacted aquatic compartments associated with the Harare water supply. Physicochemical monitoring revealed elevated ammonia concentrations and reduced free residual chlorine across sections of the distribution network. These conditions coincided with detectable heterotrophic bacterial regrowth at distal consumer endpoints. Phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates recovered at the source interface showed limited inhibition responses to sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim under the experimental conditions used. While the observational nature of this study precludes causal inference, the co-occurrence of chemical residues, physicochemical instability, and bacterial isolates exhibiting reduced inhibition responses highlights conditions of potential relevance for antimicrobial resistance risk within wastewater-influenced urban water systems. These findings underscore the importance of integrated water management strategies addressing wastewater control, source water protection, and distribution system integrity within a One Health context. Full article

(1) Background: This study examines the toxicologic effects of gadolinium in the context of the growing number of industrial and medical applications that use gadolinium compounds. Furthermore, understanding the cellular effects on aquatic organisms is a growing concern regarding emerging pollutants, as gadolinium is found in aquatic environments and drinking water as a pollutant. (2) Methods: The microplate-based experiments were designed to assess lethal effects (LC₅₀) and analyze the cytological mechanisms in the larval stages of Artemia. Two gadolinium-containing compounds were comparatively analyzed: gadoteric acid (GA), an ionic compound, and gadoteridol (GD), a nonionic compound. Fluorescence analysis enabled detailed imaging and observations of the dynamics of the processes. Three fluorochromes were used for labeling: acridine orange (nuclear configuration), neutral red (lysosomal inclusions), and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled (cytoskeleton). (3) Results show that the effects became evident after more than 48 h of exposure. Cytotoxicity was higher for the nonionic macrocyclic compound GD (LC₅₀ = 60 µmol/mL ± 0.00462 compared with GA (LC₅₀ = 170 µmol/mL ± 0.01. The altered phenotype demonstrates the interference of the tested compounds at both the nuclear level (chromatin fragmentation, pyknotic nuclei) and the cytoplasmic level (enlarged lysosomal vesicles), as well as disorganized or condensed cytoskeleton. (4) Conclusions: Both compounds have effects on larvae, affecting their overall morphology and viability in 24–72 h after exposure. Identifying effects at the nuclear and cytoplasmic levels, as well as disruptions in cytoskeletal polymerization, helps to determine the factors that influence larval survival in an environment contaminated with such rare metals and to understand the cellular mechanisms induced by gadolinium compound poisoning. Full article

Freshwater fish are important bioindicators of environmental pollution and provide a pathway for human exposure to toxic elements. We aimed to determine the concentrations of 29 elements in the muscle tissue of European chub collected from the Pek River (impacted by mining activities and untreated wastewater), the Ibar River (affected by treated wastewater), and the Kruščica Reservoir (an unpolluted drinking water source). Elemental analysis was conducted using ICP-OES, and the results were compared to maximum allowed concentrations (MACs) for fish meat, alongside a human health risk assessment. No significant spatial differences were observed for most elements; elevated Pb levels were found in several individuals from Kruščica and Ibar, while isolated cases of increased Cd were recorded at all sites. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess structural changes in muscle tissue, particularly in collagen. A red shift in collagen emission maxima was observed along the pollution gradient (Kruščica < Ibar < Pek), indicating structural modifications. These findings are consistent with the elevated metal burden detected in Pek. Overall, despite localized contamination, consumption of chub appears safe. The strong correlation between elemental composition and fluorescence responses demonstrated the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy as a rapid tool for detecting pollution-induced tissue alterations. Full article

Access to safe drinking water remains a global public health concern due to its role in the transmission of infectious diseases. Despite the 20th-century achievement of chlorine-based disinfection, drinking water systems face threats from aging infrastructure, climate-induced stressors, and emerging pathogens that evade traditional treatment. This bibliometric review maps three decades of research on microbial contamination in drinking water systems to explain its historical developments, current knowledge, and important updates. Only original and review articles retrieved on 13 April 2026 were screened for inclusion, requiring a focus on detecting, monitoring, or mitigating microbial contamination in drinking water systems. Analysis of 93 records identified a linear growth pattern, shifting from acute enteric pathogen monitoring to the management of opportunistic pathogens (OPs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and disinfection by-products (DBPs). Additionally, traditional fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), such as Escherichia coli, may not fully predict the presence of resilient pathogens protected within biofilms or free-living amoebae (FLA), which serve as environmental reservoirs for infection. To address these limitations, this review presents a conceptualization of waterborne pathogens by proposing formal case definitions and diagnostic criteria for critical contamination events (CCE) and chronic low-level exposure (CLLE). Lastly, knowledge gaps and open research questions relevant to future studies on microbial contamination in drinking water systems were identified and discussed. Full article