Search Results (505)

Degraded groundwater quality, characterized by elevated salinity and nitrate concentrations, poses significant public health concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children. High content of nitrate in drinking water may lead to non-carcinogenic health risks, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management strategies to protect both human health and environmental integrity. This study assesses the suitability of groundwater resources in the Regueb Basin for irrigation and drinking purposes, with particular attention paid to nitrate contamination. The Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) indicates considerable spatial variability in groundwater quality, with values varying between 15.86 and 89.55 and a median of 41.69, reflecting differing levels of suitability for irrigation across the basin. Similarly, the Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) ranges from 149.16 to 982.42, with a median value of 445.71, suggesting significant concerns regarding groundwater suitability for drinking purposes. The health risk assessment (HHRA) based on the Nitrate Pollution Index (NPI) and the nitrate hazard quotient (HQ__nitrate) reveal substantial risks to human health. NPI values vary between 0.45 and 5.5, with a median of 1.65 indicating varying levels of nitrate pollution. The HQ__nitrate results show that all groundwater samples (100%) pose health risks for children (HQ > 1). For women, 75.61% of HQ values exceed the safe threshold, affecting approximately 80% of the study area, whereas for men, 48.48% of HQ values exceed 1, impacting about 36.67% of the area. Overall, these findings highlight the urgent need for effective groundwater management strategies to mitigate nitrate contamination and ensure the safe and sustainable use of the groundwater resources in the Regueb Basin. Full article

Sustainable groundwater management is essential for water security and human health protection. Fluoride contamination is a serious concern for the sustainable drinking water supply in many parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan, where arid climate conditions and geological formations support the enrichment of fluoride. The toxic nature of fluoride contamination has resulted in negative health impacts on the local population. Conventional geostatistical techniques are usually ineffective to delineate the nonlinear relationships that affect the distribution of fluoride. This study aims to develop a machine learning-driven spatial modelling framework for classifying the spatial distribution of fluoride contamination in groundwater across the study area. The model will help to understand the spatial variability of fluoride contamination and its controlling factors, essential for effective mitigation and early warning systems. Physiochemical elements were used as predictive features in this study, utilizing a unified feature importance framework combining hydrogeochemical analysis, spatial distribution assessment, and ensemble SHAP-based interpretation to identify consistent predictors. Model performance was evaluated using a nested cross-validation framework, followed by validation on an independent geology-informed spatial holdout test set to ensure realistic generalization. Among machine learning models, the Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), XGBoost (XGB), Decision Tree (DT), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), and K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) were evaluated. Support Vector Classifier (SVC) demonstrated a high predictive performance. On the independent spatial holdout dataset, SVC achieved an overall accuracy of 0.75 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.821. In addition to classification, a human health risk assessment was conducted using chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) calculations for children and adults, identifying several high-risk water supply schemes. The prediction maps successfully delineated high-risk fluoride points across specific areas, offering a tool for sustainable groundwater management. This study helps to achieve a Sustainable Development Goal (Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG#6) and promotes long-term sustainable planning in water-stressed areas by integrating spatial machine learning mapping and health risk assessment. Full article

Spontaneous fermentation processes can promote uncontrolled microbial growth and increase the risk of foodborne contamination, making the characterization of artisanal beverages essential for consumer safety. This study investigated the microbial composition of quinoa-based rejuvelac, a homemade fermented drink often perceived as a functional food, with the objective of identifying potential microbiological hazards associated with its preparation. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3–V4 region was combined with shotgun metagenomics to profile bacterial communities and recover metagenome-assembled genomes. The analysis revealed a strong dominance of Pseudomonadales, mainly Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Burkholderiales, while lactic acid bacteria typically responsible for stable and safe fermentations were not detected. Shotgun metagenomics recovered medium- to high-quality genomes from Burkholderiaceae and Clostridiales, supporting the overrepresentation of non-beneficial taxa and indicating deviations from expected fermentation microbiota. These results show that the spontaneous preparation of rejuvelac may favor bacterial groups associated with environmental contamination rather than fermentative pathways, underscoring the importance of hygiene practices, controlled starter cultures and monitoring strategies to mitigate microbiological risk. The study highlights the need for improved safety standards in artisanal fermented foods to prevent unintended microbial contamination and protect consumers. Full article

Risk-based management of water quality in drinking water supply systems requires decision-support tools that extend beyond parameter-level hazard assessment and enable prioritization at the level of physical system objects. In this context, hazard assessment refers specifically to drinking water quality parameters and their possible operational and health-related implications, particularly in facilities serving sensitive user groups. This study proposes a class-based extension of the FPOR (Fuzzy Priority of Objects at Risk) framework to support object-level operational prioritization under conditions of limited data availability. Hazard importance is adopted from prior hazard prioritization using the Fuzzy Priority Index (FPI), while priority premises (PP) are represented as object classes reflecting typical functional and operational characteristics. Class-based profiles of local hazard relevance and object vulnerability are defined using expert-informed fuzzy representations and aggregated into FPOR scores to produce a relative ranking of priority premises classes. The results demonstrate how hazard prioritization can be systematically propagated to object-level decision units without reliance on site-specific monitoring data. The proposed framework provides a transparent and scalable basis for early-stage risk-based planning and supports the operational implementation of object-oriented management strategies in drinking water systems, while maintaining a clear conceptual separation from health risk assessment addressed in subsequent studies. Full article

In this study, the contamination of two drinking water catchments in Australia by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was investigated. PFASs in water and sediment were found at hazardous concentrations in waterways affected by transport accidents 24 and 33 years earlier. The exact cause(s) of the PFAS pollution remains unclear due to large data gaps. Both locations experienced burning fuel tankers suppressed using PFAS foam. PFAS contamination of a Blue Mountains water supply triggered the closure of two drinking water reservoirs 3–5 km downstream of the accident site. PFAS contamination of Central Coast’s Ourimbah Creek was concentrated in two floodplain wetlands adjacent to the accident site. The Ourimbah PFAS-affected wetlands are within 500 m of a drinking water groundwater bore field and 1.2 km from a raw water offtake used as part of Central Coast’s drinking water supply. The Blue Mountains contamination has impaired the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exceeding aquatic ecosystem protection guidelines by 100 times. The mean PFOSs in stream water near the area of the Blue Mountains road accident were 2.16 µg L⁻¹ and 213.3 µg kg⁻¹ in stream sediment. This research demonstrates how spillages of small quantities of PFASs can cause major harm due to their extreme persistence, and their levels have exceedance of environmental and health guidelines for decades, with major adverse implications for drinking water supplies and conservation areas. Full article

The effect of alcohol on health is a controversial topic when it comes to the moderate or conscious consumption of fermented beverages. The recent claim by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Heart Network (EHN) that the safe level of alcohol consumption is zero has compromised the efforts of the fermentation scientific community in developing healthier and more sustainable beverages. Therefore, the objective of this review was to assess the scientific background for such a claim that appears to be the result of recent scientific evidence. Using the meta-analytic data supporting WHO and EHN guidelines, it was possible to demonstrate that fermented beverages (e.g., wine and beer) have lower effects compared to spirits, that some population ethnicities have higher sensitivity to alcohol, and that drinking patterns influence the outcomes. Moreover, higher relative risks associated with younger individuals are mostly related to injuries (e.g., car accidents, self-inflicted injuries) and not with diseases. Sequential WHO studies produced significantly higher limits and emphasized that preventive policies should be tailored to populations at higher risk. In conclusion, the statement that “all alcohol is hazardous” has no scientific background and should be understood under the perspective that “one drink is too many and one thousand is never enough” used in alcoholism prevention. Fermentation researchers should continue their efforts on the promotion of healthier lifestyles, sustainable development and on the preservation of cultural heritage under the responsible drinking perspective. Full article

Fungicide contamination is an increasing global environmental concern, due to the harm they may pose to non-target organisms, their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, and the potential risks to human health when drinking water (DW) sources are impacted. Many fungicides used in agriculture are chiral and may exist as racemates, or a combination of diastereoisomers and/or enantiomers. Since enantiomers can differ in environmental fate, distribution, and toxicity, enantioselective analysis of chiral fungicides is crucial. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an analytical method for the determination of azole chiral and achiral fungicides in DW using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation of one achiral fungicide and five chiral fungicides was achieved using a polysaccharide chromatographic column under reverse elution mode. The validated method demonstrated high sensitivity with method detection limits (MDL) below 0.86 ng L⁻¹ and was successfully applied to 13 DW samples collected from various supply networks across Portugal. Seven out of the 15 targeted analytes were found at trace concentrations (>MDL). Fluconazole was the most frequently detected (~87% of the samples). The hazard quotients (HQs) for individual compounds for each individual fungicide (sum of the enantiomers for those chiral) and the hazard index (HI, sum of the individual HQ values) were calculated in each DW sample, indicating no significant health risks to consumers, since it is well below 0.1 for all compounds. Full article

Freshwater ecosystems play an important role in human survival, ecosystem functioning, and biodiversity conservation, yet industrialisation and urbanisation dump over 80% of untreated sewage into them. This inadequate wastewater management leads to enteric pathogens like Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Legionella pneumophila that are responsible for a wide range of waterborne human diseases globally with extensive morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 2 billion individuals drink water contaminated with pathogens, resulting in illnesses like cholera, dysentery, and diarrhoea, and approximately 50,000 diarrheal deaths annually. Classical epidemiology approaches are the basis for determining disease burden in public health, but they are limited in their capacity to predict future health risks. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) addresses this by estimating the potential health risks of any exposure to microbial pathogens in any environment using four key elements, which include the identification of the microbial hazards, human exposure to the hazard through diverse activities, dose–response relationships, and the estimated risk of the infection. This review summarises information on freshwater pathogens, their occurrence, sources and health implications. The methodological approaches of QMRA in freshwater systems are reviewed with examples drawn from recreational activities, drinking water, and wastewater-impacted environments. Global QMRA studies indicate a wide range of infection risk estimates, reflecting differences in water sources, pathogens, and exposure conditions. Thus, QMRA is known to be a valuable public health tool for freshwater ecosystems, linking microbial contamination dynamics to health risk estimates that support proactive management and policy-relevant decision-making. Full article

Heavy metal contamination of surface waters poses serious environmental and public health concerns, particularly in industrialized river basins. This study presents an integrated assessment of heavy metal pollution and associated human health risks in the Nilüfer Stream (Bursa, Türkiye) based on a five-year monitoring dataset (2020–2024). Seasonal water samples collected from 15 stations along the main stream and its tributaries were analyzed for total concentrations of As, Al, B, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Pollution levels were evaluated using the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), and Degree of Contamination (Cd), while non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks for adults and children were assessed via ingestion exposure following USEPA guidelines. Mean concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, As, and Ni exceeded international drinking water guideline values, indicating significant contamination within the basin. All indices classified the Nilüfer Stream as severely polluted (HPI = 274.32; HEI = 49.59; Cd = 49.59), with higher values during summer and autumn due to reduced dilution. Principal component analysis revealed strong associations among Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, and Cu, suggesting a common origin likely related to cumulative anthropogenic inputs, while arsenic exhibited a distinct pattern linked to toxicological risk. Health risk assessment showed that the hazard index exceeded safe thresholds for both age groups, with children being more vulnerable. Arsenic and nickel were the main contributors to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, with arsenic posing an unacceptable lifetime cancer risk. Overall, the results indicate severe cumulative heavy metal pollution and associated health risks, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring, effective pollution control, and integrated river basin management. Full article

Scientific concern regarding the widespread occurrence of micropollutants (MPs) in aquatic environments has been growing. Background/Objectives: Since conventional wastewater and drinking water (DW) treatment plants are generally unable to completely remove MPs, their presence in DW may occur, potentially posing adverse effects on public health. Highly sensitive analytical methods are crucial, as MPs may occur at very low concentrations in DW, usually at ng L⁻¹ levels. Methods: An offline solid-phase extraction ultra-high performance liquid-chromatography coupled to tandem mass-spectrometry (SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS) method was optimized and validated for the determination of 23 MPs in DW, including 12 pharmaceuticals, 9 pesticides, and 2 UV-filters, listed in the 2 most recent European Union (EU) Decisions (2022/1307 and 2025/439) for surface water monitoring, and in the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (2024/3019). The validated method was applied to 50 DW samples collected across Portugal. Results: The optimized SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method showed high analytical sensitivity, achieving method detection limits below 1.50 ng L⁻¹. Up to 3 MPs were detected per sample, with quantifiable concentrations of each ranging from 0.28 to 98.8 ng L⁻¹. However, benzotriazole and dimoxystrobin exceeded the upper limits of their calibration curves (i.e., concentrations higher than 133 and 117 ng L⁻¹, respectively) in one and 3 of the collected samples, respectively. Considering all analyzed samples, 4 (fluconazole, irbesartan, dimoxystrobin, and benzotriazole) of the 23 target compounds were detected. Hazard quotient values for all detected MPs were well below 0.1. Conclusions: The validated SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method is suitable for the sensitive determination of MPs in DW. Some MPs were detected, with concentrations indicating no expected human health risks under the conditions evaluated. Further monitoring campaigns should be conducted in the future, with compounds exceeding the limits of the calibration curves requiring special attention. Full article

In this study, the metal accumulation (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and toxicity status in the brain, eye, skeleton, and skin tissues of Carassius gibelio species of fish fed with wastewater treated with secondary treatment were investigated, and the usability of wastewater and fish for human food against climate change and food crisis was investigated. Treated wastewater (TWW) complied with Turkish aquaculture standards, but was not found to comply with drinking and irrigation water standards. The national and international food standards for metal concentrations varied. Cd and Pb were found to be high in all tissues according to all standards, but Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe, and Zn were found to vary according to tissues. It was determined that Fe and Zn concentrations were generally higher than those of the other metals in all tissues. The orders of the metals according to their annual mean concentrations were: Zn > Fe > Mn > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cu > Cd in skeletons; Zn > Fe > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cu > Mn > Cd in skins; Zn > Fe > Cu > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cr > Cd in eyes; and Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > Mn > Cd in brains. Concentrations in tissues were higher in the summer months, but seasonal changes were statistically insignificant (p ≥ 0.05). According to Principal Component Analysis (PCA), ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis, it was statistically determined that Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Pb, and the other two elements (Fe and Zn), showed similar accumulation characteristics among themselves. According to transfer factor (TF) calculations, it was determined that there was bioaccumulation (TF > 1) in all tissues for all metals throughout the year, but according to hazard coefficient (HQ) values, only Pb was determined to be >1 and carcinogenic. As a result, after the wastewater is treated with different advanced treatment methods and brought to potable water standards, the accumulation of metals and other micropollutants in the tissues of different species of fish should be monitored for many years. Full article

This review work highlights the eco-friendly synthesis and application of biomass-derived silica gel (SG)-supported metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), primarily focusing on their potential for sustainable drinking water disinfection and utilizing abundant biomass waste, such as agricultural residues, to extract silica through processes like pyrolysis, chemical treatment, or hydrothermal methods, creating a versatile support with high surface area, porosity, and biocompatibility. MNPs, notably silver, copper, zinc, etc., are immobilized onto these silica frameworks via green synthesis techniques, including plant extract-mediated methods, chemical reduction, and sol–gel processes, resulting in nanocomposites with controlled size, distribution, and enhanced stability. These MNPs are known for their potent antimicrobial activity, capable of inactivating a broad spectrum of pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Silica gel supports mitigating issues such as nanoparticle aggregation and leaching, thus improving reusability and environmental safety. The synthesis parameters of nanoparticle size, concentration, surface chemistry, and contact time directly influence disinfection efficacy, while biomass-based supports offer advantages including cost-effectiveness, environmentally benign production, and minimal pollution. Incorporating biomass-derived silica gel-supported AgNPs into water treatment systems presents a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional chemical methods like chlorination and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, which can generate hazardous byproducts. These nanocomposites demonstrate significant potential in resource-limited settings due to their high surface area, porosity, and reusability, although concerns such as nanoparticle leaching, toxicity, scalability, and environmental impact warrant further investigation. Overall, biomass-supported MNPs represent an innovative frontier in water purification technology, aligning with principles of green chemistry and sustainability. Emphasizing the importance of optimizing synthesis protocols and assessing long-term safety, this review underscores their capacity to advance eco-friendly water disinfection strategies that can improve public health and promote sustainable water management practices worldwide. Full article

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that is essential for the human body and has dual significant biological effects. The boundary between its ‘beneficial dosage’ and ‘toxic level’ is extremely narrow. Se is prone to accumulate in the body. Even if the concentration in drinking water is very low but consistently exceeds the limit, it may cause long-term health problems and pose risks and hazards to humans. Therefore, the detection of selenium is of great importance. The distribution and pollution of Se in water, the impact of Se on health and the limit requirements for Se in drinking water are introduced. The development of Se detection techniques is presented, including atomic spectrometry, spectrofluorometry, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, voltammetry, among others. Different analytical methods for selenium have their own characteristics and different applicability. It is necessary to establish a safety monitoring mechanism that primarily relies on laboratory-based instrumental analysis, supplemented by on-site rapid screening methods, to provide effective technical support for environmental Se analysis. Full article

Background: University students are increasingly vulnerable to both depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions in circadian rhythms, hormonal dysregulation, and changing social dynamics may heighten susceptibility to maladaptive coping behaviors such as alcohol consumption. While this relationship has been widely studied in Western populations, limited data exist for Eastern European contexts. This study investigated the association between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms among Romanian university students and explored potential gender differences in this post-pandemic cohort. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 Romanian university students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania. Participants anonymously completed a combined survey integrating the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Depression subscale of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation, linear regression, and subgroup comparisons to evaluate associations between alcohol use and depression severity. Results: The mean AUDIT score was 5.4 ± 5.8, while the mean DASS-21 Depression score was 13.8 ± 9.5. A strong positive correlation was observed between AUDIT and depression scores (r = 0.72, 95% CI [0.62, 0.80], p < 1 × 10⁻¹⁷). Linear regression revealed that AUDIT scores significantly predicted depression severity (R² = 0.496, p < 0.001), with each one-point increase in AUDIT score associated with a 1.31-point rise in depression score. Male students reported significantly higher alcohol use than females (p = 0.005), while depression scores did not differ significantly by gender (p = 0.110). The alcohol–depression association was similarly strong across genders. Conclusions: Hazardous alcohol use was highly prevalent and strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms among university students. These findings highlight the need for integrated mental health and substance use screening programs in university settings to support early identification and intervention. Full article

In a sample of university employees, longitudinal data were examined to test a biopsychosocial model of whether exposure to workplace sexual harassment increases hazard for chronic disease, in the context of other known biological, psychological, and social risk factors for chronic disease. Proportional hazards multiple regression was used to predict incidence of first chronic disease across 23 years of follow-up based on experience of sexual harassment. Out of a sample of N = 525, 288 incident diagnoses were observed. Effects of harassment, drinking behavior, cigarette use, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and other work stressors were considered as either fixed at baseline or as time-dependent covariates in separate models, controlling for age and baseline occupational group, which were significantly associated with disease onset. Higher scores on reported workplace sexual harassment at baseline of the study were predictive of chronic disease incidence over the next 23 years (HR = 1.038 for each increase of one unit, p = 0.0133), adjusting for age and occupation. The effect was only partially attenuated when adjusting for depressive symptoms at baseline and alcohol intake throughout follow-up (HR = 1.031, p = 0.0475), the only other covariates tested that were consistently associated with chronic disease onset and included in final models. Considering the binary comparison of any versus no harassment at baseline revealed a stronger effect on chronic disease onset (HR = 1.437, p = 0.004), which again was attenuated after considering effects of baseline depressive symptoms and previous year alcohol use (HR = 1.357, p = 0.017). Experience of sexual harassment in the workplace was the only work stressor found to be significantly associated with an elevated risk of chronic disease onset across the study period. Full article