Search Results (41)

Environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems faces significant challenges in detecting illicit wastewater discharges, which often remain unrecognized due to their intermittent nature and limited spatial footprint. This study presents a novel integrated strategy combining satellite remote sensing, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based proximal sensing, and in situ measurements to enhance pollution detection in vulnerable aquatic environments. The methodology was applied to Lake Avernus (Italy), a volcanic lake historically affected by eutrophication and toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Landsat 8–9 thermal analysis revealed no detectable anomalies, reflecting the limitations of its coarse spatial resolution. Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery was then analyzed through spectral indices, band ratios, and reflectance signatures, revealing localized variations in surface reflectance and spatial heterogeneity in water optical properties. These satellite-derived anomalies guided targeted high-resolution UAV surveys. UAV-based thermal imaging revealed an elevated-temperature zone along the adjacent shoreline. In situ field screening flagged a candidate chemical anomaly at this location. The hierarchical framework demonstrates that satellite screening effectively identifies areas of concern, while UAV thermal imaging enables high-resolution localization of features invisible to satellite sensors, and in situ measurements provide essential ground-truth validation. This replicable, low-cost methodology offers a powerful tool for early warning, surveillance, and sustainable management of sensitive freshwater ecosystems. Full article

Cyanobacteria are prolific producers of secondary metabolites, some of which are potent cyanotoxins that threaten ecosystem integrity and human health. Although blooms have been extensively studied in temperate regions, Southeast Asia’s (SEA’s) tropical marine and estuarine ecosystems remain comparatively underexplored despite their ecological richness and socio-economic importance. This review consolidates current knowledge on marine cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in SEA, drawing on ecological surveys, ecotoxicological studies, and cyanobacterial bloom case reports. Diverse taxa including Trichodesmium, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, Neolyngbya, and Aliinostoc, have been documented in SEA’s marine waters, many producing cyanotoxins with various toxic effects. Ecotoxicological risks are intensified by monsoonal variability, nutrient enrichment, and climate-driven shifts that collectively amplifies cyanoblooms and toxin production. Detection methods such as PCR-based assays, LC-MS/MS, and biosensor technologies are increasingly applied to identify toxin biosynthesis genes, cryptic species, and novel metabolites. Environmental challenges including eutrophication from wastewater discharge, trophic transfer of toxins, and climate induced shifts in species distribution, further complicates bloom dynamics and management. Mitigating this requires a multi-pronged approach: advancing biosensors for rapid detection, embedding monitoring within predictive climate frameworks, and expanding molecular surveillance to capture cryptic diversity and gene transfer events. Such strategies are essential for environmental management of cyanobacterial blooms in SEA. Full article

La Paz Lagoon is a semi-enclosed coastal ecosystem in the southwestern Gulf of California that was historically affected by wastewater discharges and other anthropogenic disturbances. This study evaluated the taxonomic diversity and community structure of soft-bottom fish assemblages across two climatic periods (Neutral, 2016–2017, and La Niña, 2022–2023) using alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) diversity metrics together with taxonomic distinctness indices (Δ, Δ*, Δ+, and Λ+). Six bimonthly surveys were conducted during each climatic period at seven sampling stations. A total of 93 fish species, representing 65 genera, 33 families, and 17 orders, were recorded across the two climatic periods. Species richness exhibited marked temporal variation, reaching its highest value in April and its lowest value in March. Periods of reduced richness were associated with increased species turnover among stations. Taxonomic distinctness indices remained within the expected confidence limits, indicating a stable taxonomic structure despite historical anthropogenic impacts. Dominant species included Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, Diapterus brevirostris, Eucinostomus gracilis, Urobatis halleri, and Synodus scituliceps. Overall, the results indicate that the soft-bottom fish assemblage of La Paz Lagoon exhibits characteristics consistent with a stable and well-structured community. Multivariate analyses further identified water temperature as the principal environmental variable associated with community variation. Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that La Paz Lagoon is undergoing ecological recovery and provide a robust ecological baseline for long-term monitoring, conservation, and ecosystem management. Full article

Undergraduate Water Quality Engineering courses rely on verification experiments lacking real engineering scenarios, limiting undergraduate participants’ comprehensive problem-solving skills. To remedy this issue, this study constructs an inquiry-oriented experiment using carbon-coated nano-calcium carbonate (C@CaCO₃) to enhance biological nitrification for digested wastewater with low alkalinity and high ammonia. It involves wastewater characterization, sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operation, quantification of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) removal, mechanism discussion on alkalinity slow release and microbial carrier role of C@CaCO₃, and high-throughput analysis of microbial communities. Experimental results show that C@CaCO₃ increases NH₄⁺-N removal by 94.5 ± 4.8% in low-alkalinity water, while COD removal improves from 5.7 ± 3.0% to 29.5 ± 5.2%. These findings demonstrate that C@CaCO₃ effectively mitigates alkalinity limitation, facilitates microbial attachment, and promotes functional microbe enrichment, offering a practical solution for sustainable nitrogen management in nutrient-rich waste streams. Pedagogically, the case links water-quality monitoring, reactor control, and solid-waste resource recovery, enabling undergraduate participants to trace the full engineering workflow problem identification through quantitative design, operation, and mechanistic interpretation. Post-laboratory surveys and performance assessments indicate significant gains in experimental competence, data-analysis skills, and engineering judgment. By embedding a real-world, low-alkalinity wastewater challenge within the curriculum, the module advances sustainable water-resource management education and provides a replicable model for reforming laboratory teaching in Water Quality Engineering and related environmental-engineering courses. Full article

High-Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) offers a promising approach to delineate spatially heterogeneous contamination in complex petrochemical sites, overcoming limitations of conventional discrete sampling. This study implemented an integrated HRSC framework combining surface soil microbial metabolic gas/functional gene detection, geophysical surveys (time-domain electromagnetics and ground-penetrating radar), and Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) sensing at a petrochemical facility in southern China. Results identified composite contamination (aromatic hydrocarbons, short-chain petroleum hydrocarbons, alkanes) primarily concentrated at 5–9 m depth, with a heavily contaminated zone of 1163 m² and a total influence area of 17,724 m². The contamination plume showed high spatial correlation with an underground wastewater storage pond, confirmed as the primary leakage source. Post-remediation monitoring indicated restoration of natural groundwater flow and reduced contaminant concentrations. Compared to traditional drilling, the HRSC approach improved resolution from meter to centimeter scale, reduced investigation time by 75%, and lowered overall costs by >30% through targeted sampling and real-time data acquisition. This study validates HRSC as an efficient, accurate, and cost-effective strategy for contamination delineation and source identification in operational industrial sites, supporting precise remediation and site redevelopment. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the top ten global public health threats. Many countries have recognized the societal and economic burden of AMR. AMR has reduced the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies, and this results in high mortality, morbidity, and health care expenditure. Like all the other developing countries, South Africa (SA) falls under the same ambiguous management system of antimicrobials. A lot of research focused on the global public health threat “AMR”. However, studies on AMR in wastewater are not yet enough, even though they are beginning to gain momentum. This paper highlights the imperatives of surveying AMR pathogens in wastewater since wastewaters are consecrated as hotspots for the dissemination and propagation of AMR genes. RNA was extracted from the untreated wastewater samples collected from the Tshwane district in Gauteng province, SA. Metatranscriptomics analysis was proposed for the analysis and profiling of AMR genes present in the wastewater. A total of 39 AMR gene families and 39 AMR drug classes were detected across 17 samples. The Metatranscriptomics approach discussed in this paper demonstrates the importance of wastewater surveillance, as it can be used as an early detecting system for communicable diseases and for monitoring wastewater. Full article

Coastal marine sediments and beach sands receive microbial and genetic inputs from wastewater discharge, urban runoff, aquaculture, wildlife, and recreational activity, yet their role as coupled microbial–genetic interfaces linking environmental processes and human exposure remains incompletely synthesized. This review integrates quantitative evidence from culture-based studies, qPCR surveys, metagenomic analyses, and multi-year monitoring investigations focused on coastal sediments and sands. Reported antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) concentrations in coastal sediments reach 2.2 × 10⁹ copies g⁻¹ (wet weight) for sul1 in wastewater-impacted systems, with total ARG abundances commonly ranging from 1.59 × 10⁷ to 2.88 × 10⁸ copies g⁻¹ in effluent-receiving zones and tetM reported at 1.43 × 10⁷ copies g⁻¹. Beach sands contain measurable resistance markers, including intI1 at 9–3823 copies g⁻¹ and blaTEM up to 14 copies g⁻¹ in wet sand. Viable fecal indicator bacteria and pathogens have been cultured directly from sands, including Staphylococcus aureus at 0–8710 CFU g⁻¹ and methicillin-resistant S. aureus at 0–605 CFU g⁻¹. Collectively, the evidence indicates that coastal sediments and sands function as structured microbial and genetic reservoirs requiring integrated assessment of benthic retention, hydrodynamic redistribution, and exposure-relevant interpretation. Full article

Background: Hospitals are recognized as point sources of antimicrobials in urban wastewater systems; however, comprehensive evaluations of their discharge profiles have not yet been conducted. Methods: This study presents a multi-site investigation of residual antimicrobial concentrations in effluents from five general hospitals and a commercial facility in the metropolitan area of Japan. Over a 12-week period (December 2023–March 2024), extensive sampling was conducted. Fifteen antimicrobials from multiple classes were quantified using high-throughput analysis. Results: The results revealed consistently higher concentrations in hospital effluents, particularly for levofloxacin, vancomycin, and ampicillin, than in non-clinical sites. Distinct facility-specific and temporal patterns suggest strong links between local prescribing practices and the effluent composition. Some compounds, such as clarithromycin and minocycline, showed dual contributions from both hospital and commercial sources. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for source-targeted monitoring and antimicrobial pollution control strategies and provide a foundation for expanding surveillance efforts and informing environmental policies related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Full article

Wastewater monitoring is a well-established form of community-based public health surveillance technology that gained renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as an early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 infection trends. For monitoring data to be effectively translated into public health action, however, communication strategies that address public risk perceptions and foster cooperation are essential. This study focuses on wastewater monitoring in the context of COVID-19 and provides an evidential basis for developing targeted public health messages by segmenting the population into risk perception profiles. A survey of 332 Colorado residents was analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA), revealing four profiles: the worrisome (48%), the practical (19%), the community-oriented (11%), and the minimally concerned (22%). LCA with covariate analysis showed that communal coping orientation, belief in misinformation, and attitudes and knowledge of wastewater monitoring, along with age, education, and political ideology, were associated with these profiles. Findings highlight how communication strategies for community-based public health surveillance can be tailored to different population subgroups. Full article

The article discusses corporate governance, which is a core area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) currently receiving a lot of attention from both researchers and practitioners. The article aims to assess corporate governance in the water and wastewater sector within the context of CSR. The rationale for researching this topic was the lack of scientific studies in this area. The rationale for researching this topic was the lack of scientific studies in this area. To this end, in accordance with the developed research methodology, a literature analysis was used to demonstrate the originality of the problem, as well as the case study method to analyze complex phenomena. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted of a selected company from the water and sewage industry. Statistical analysis methods were used to verify the research hypotheses. The results show that corporate governance and its individual factors are at a relatively high level. This indicates that the way the organization is managed enables the effective implementation and monitoring of activities related to CSR. From a practical perspective, it is important to further strengthen internal communication, increase legal awareness among staff, and develop managerial skills in the area of employee motivation. The research conducted makes a significant contribution to the development of science, confirming the importance of corporate governance, in which ethics and legal compliance play a key role in shaping a socially responsible organization. Full article

Intensified human activities in recent years, such as wastewater discharge and agricultural non-point source pollution have led to a decline in lake water quality, especially in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin, which threaten the stability of lake water ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a scientific assessment of the water eco-environmental quality of shallow lakes and implement targeted management measures. Considering the characteristics of shallow lakes, major ecological and environmental issues, and current standards and guidelines, an indicator system method was employed to establish a water eco-environmental quality evaluation system tailored for typical shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin. This evaluation system comprises three criteria layers (aquatic organism, habitat quality, and water quality) and 10 indicator layers. Using survey data from 2022 to 2024 for evaluation, the results showed that the water eco-environmental quality of Lake Gehu was rated as poor, with the lowest score for macrophyte coverage and the highest score for riparian vegetation coverage. This indicates that the shoreline restoration project in Lake Gehu was effective, while the lake water quality still needs improvement. Remedial measures include increasing aquatic vegetation coverage, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution loads, and controlling the occurrence of algal blooms. This evaluation system combines field surveys with remote sensing monitoring data, fully considering historical and current conditions, and can guide local authorities in evaluating lake water environmental quality. The constructed evaluation system is applicable for the assessment of shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Basin. It provides a scientific basis for the continuous improvement of eco-environmental quality and the construction of Beautiful Lakes Initiative, contributing to the management and protection of lake ecosystems. Full article

Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) is a large aquatic hemipteran and the only European representative of the family Belostomatidae. Commonly known as the giant water bug, this species was historically restricted to the Balkans, Anatolia, and parts of the Middle East, but has exhibited a marked westward and northward range expansion in recent decades. In this study, we report the first confirmed occurrence of L. patruelis on Lesvos Island, in the northeastern Aegean Sea, based on a direct observation made within a wastewater treatment facility. The individual was identified in situ using diagnostic morphological traits and photographed without disturbance. This finding extends the known insular distribution of the species and underscores its capacity to exploit anthropogenically modified aquatic systems. Given the island’s rich mosaic of natural and artificial wetland habitats—including over 200 mapped sites—Lesvos may offer suitable conditions for the establishment of local populations. This record highlights the need for targeted surveys and long-term monitoring across under-sampled insular landscapes. Full article

Water use efficiency (WUE) and water stress (WS) are keys indicators of water sustainability, particularly in regions with rising demand and limited supply. In Thailand, increasing water use across sectors and climate variability have raised concerns about long-term availability. This study applied Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators 6.4.1 (WUE) and 6.4.2 (WS) at the river basin level, covering 22 basins from 2015 to 2022, to provide a more localized perspective than national assessments. A modified version of the FAO’s monitoring framework was applied, using standardized formulas based on sectoral water withdrawals and economic productivity. Supplementary data were gathered through estimation techniques, field surveys, and stakeholder consultations. The results showed a 21.0% decline in WUE and a rise in WS from 9.68% to 13.8%, indicating increased pressure on water resources. A very strong negative correlation was found between WUE and WS (r = −0.97, p < 0.001), although causation could not be inferred. Regional differences were evident: basins such as Tha Chin and Chao Phraya showed worsening conditions, while the Peninsula–West Coast remained relatively stable. These findings suggest the need for targeted policies to improve water use efficiency, especially in agriculture, and to enhance monitoring systems. Increasing wastewater reuse and implementing efficiency measures could help to reduce stress in vulnerable basins and support Thailand’s progress to achieving SDG 6.4. Full article

Most drugs excreted in urine are not filtered by wastewater treatment plants and end up in aquatic systems. At concentrations measured in waters, toxic effects on species have been described. Second, most of the drug consumption is attributable to primary care prescriptions. We thus present here, an ecotoxicity classification of the most sold drugs in primary care in Switzerland. Three datasets were combined: (1) surveyed ecotoxic drugs by the Swiss National Surface Water Quality Monitoring Programme and its European equivalent, (2) the top 50 drugs by sale in primary care in Switzerland, and (3) active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) concentrations in Lake Geneva and the rivers of the canton of Vaud between 2017 and 2022. We classified APIs into five categories from the safest to the least safe: (1) APIs found in concentrations (C) <10× their environmental quality standard (EQS·10⁻¹), (2) EQS·10⁻¹ < C < EQS and not listed by the Swiss or the EU Watch List, (3) EQS·10⁻¹ < C < EQS and listed, (4) C > EQS and not listed, and (5) C > EQS and listed. We obtained full ecotoxicological data for 35 APIs. Fifteen APIs were designated as safe (category (1):paracetamol, tramadol, amisulpride, citalopram, mirtazapine, metformin, gabapentin, lamotrigine, primidone, candesartan, irbesartan, atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, ofloxacin, sulfadiazine), eleven as intermediately safe, and nine were of concern (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, iomeprol, iopromide). Full data were available for only one-third of the drugs most sold in primary care. Where data do exist, we observed significant differences in environmental impact among the same class of drugs. Our classification could therefore help guide doctors to adopt more eco-friendly prescriptions. Full article

The surging prevalence rates of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) pose a serious threat to public health. To date, most research on drug-resistant bacteria and genes has focused on livestock and poultry breeding areas, hospital clinical areas, natural water environments, and wastewater treatment plants. However, few studies have been conducted on drug-resistant bacteria in vegetable cultivation. In this study, a total of vegetable farmers (n = 59) from six villages were surveyed. Fecal samples were collected from vegetable farmers; we also collected environmental samples, including river water, well water, soil, river sediment, vegetable surface swabs, and fish intestinal tracts. The ESBL-Ec intestinal colonization rate in vegetable farmers was 76.27%. PFGE results indicated two patterns of ESBL-Ec transmission within the vegetable cultivation area: among vegetable farmers, and among river water, river sediments, and vegetable farmers. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, three transmission patterns of ESBL-Ec outside the vegetable cultivation area were inferred: human–human, human–animal–human, and human–animal–environment. Twelve of the isolates carried closely related or identical IncF plasmids carrying bla_CTX-M. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis showed that ST569-B2-O134:H31 and ST38-D-O50:H30 were associated with high disease risk. We assessed the health risks of the farming population and provided a reference basis for public health surveillance and environmental management by monitoring the prevalence and transmission of ESBL-Ec in vegetable areas. Full article