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Evidence of the increase of emerging contaminants in the environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants, pharmaceuticals, etc., has enlarged. Here we explain the variety of pathways of these emerging contaminants to enter the environment, including wastewater treatment plants, improper disposal of PPE, and runoff from surfaces treated with disinfectants. We also discuss the current state-of-art of the toxicological implications of these emerging contaminants. Initial research suggests that they may have harmful effects on aquatic organisms and human health. Future directions are suggested as further research is needed to fully understand the impacts of these contaminants on the environment and humans, as well as to develop effective approaches to mitigate their potential negative effects.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10085870 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2023.100468 | DOI Listing |
Chemosphere
September 2025
Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, 9 Strzody Street, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland. Electronic address:
Perchlorate contamination is a recent and significant issue in the context of environmental pollution. Perchlorates are mainly used as ingredients in solid propellants and pyrotechnic compositions. Perchlorate contamination of drinking water and food has recently become a human health concern, as studies have shown that they can interfere with the normal uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland, leading to a reduction in its production of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in vertebrates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcotoxicol Environ Saf
September 2025
College of Environment and Climate, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China.
Synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers have emerged as environmental contaminants to which prenatal exposure is widespread, raising concerns about adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to a mixture of synthetic antioxidants and plasticizers and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB), alongside underlying molecular responses. A nested case-control design was established, including 80 SPB cases and 170 matched healthy controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
September 2025
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China.
The binding interactions between metal ions and dissolved organic matter (DOM) are ubiquitous in freshwater/marine aquatic environments where both coexist. Distinct from free metal ions or DOM, DOM-metal ions (DOM-Me) complexes have emerged as contaminants of emerging concern, primarily due to their altered physicochemical properties, modified migration and transformation patterns, enhanced environmental persistence, and changed ecotoxicity. However, based on the multi-source heterogeneity of DOM and the diversity of metal ions, systematic investigations into the interaction mechanisms and environmental implications of DOM-Me complexes in water environments remain scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn Acad Bras Cienc
September 2025
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, 6627, Antônio Carlos Avenue, Campus Pampulha, 31270-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging contaminants increasingly recognized for their environmental and health implications. While surface water systems have been extensively studied, the presence, behavior, and impacts of MNPs in groundwater remain underexplored, despite its critical role as water source worldwide. The findings in this review highlight that agricultural activities, particularly plastic mulches, pesticides containers, fertilizer bags, greenhouses, are major sources of MNP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Drug Resist
September 2025
Department of Emergency, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 324000, People's Republic of China.
Introduction: Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) in immunocompromised patients is often caused by rare atypical pathogens, which are difficult to detect using conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) and can progress to sepsis in severe cases. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), an emerging pathogen detection technique, enables rapid identification of mixed infections and provides valuable guidance for clinical treatment decisions. SCAP-induced sepsis caused by a six-pathogen co-infection has not been previously reported, but interpretation remains a challenge.
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