Fluorinated liquid crystal monomers (FLCMs) have recently emerged as persistent organic pollutants, while microplastics serve as important environmental carriers of persistent organic pollutants. However, their interactions with aged microplastics and the consequent ecological risks remain a critical blind spot. This study examined the adsorption-desorption dynamics of a representative FLCM (4-ethoxy-2,3-difluoro-4′-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl) biphenyl, EDPB) on aged polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride under both abiotic (i.e., environmental) and biotic (i.e., simulated gastrointestinal) conditions. Surface oxidation and increased roughness of aged polymers markedly enhanced EDPB adsorption, through combined hydrophobic attraction and fluorine‑mediated dipole interactions. Desorption was strongly medium dependent. In simulated gastric fluid, pepsin facilitated partial release (12.6–24.8%) by disrupting π–π interactions and promoting surface hydration. In contrast, intestinal components induced substantial remobilization (up to 52.8%) via the formation of hydrophobic cavities and micelle-like structures, increasing dissolved EDPB concentrations by approximately 20 μg L−1. This biphasic desorption profile highlights the critical role of intestinal processes in remobilizing adsorbed FLCMs and elevating their bioaccessible fractions. Subsequent cytotoxicity assays in Caco‑2 cells showed dose‑ and time‑dependent inhibition of cell viability, with transcriptomic analysis delineating a mitochondrial dysfunction–driven cascade. EDPB acts as a metabolic disruptor that impairs mitochondrial energetics and redox homeostasis, triggering downstream genomic instability and cell cycle arrest, which ultimately implicating oxidative stress–mediated apoptosis. This work synthesizes critical insight into the coupled environmental and biological behaviors of FLCMs, revealing their potential as transboundary persistent toxic substances and advancing the understanding of their risks in microplastic‑dominated systems.

This work reviews the complex interplay between climate change and the fate of persistent mobile (PM) and very persistent very mobile (vPvM) substances, with a particular focus on how rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, shifts in pH, and changes in how organic matter concentrations impact these contaminants in the aquatic environment. According to literature research, climate change exerts opposing effects on the persistence (P) and mobility (M) of these substances in the environment. The high uncertainties discussed here underscore the need for comprehensive monitoring, improved process understanding, and appropriate modeling strategies to assess the climate change impacts on PM and vPvM substances.

Water diversion projects are widely implemented to address water scarcity, improve water quality, and restore ecological conditions in degraded aquatic systems. This study applies a process-based hydrodynamic-environmental model to investigate the dynamics of eutrophication and the representative antibiotic tetracycline in Chaohu Lake under the influence of the Yangtze–Chaohu Water Diversion Project. To explore the influence of different diversion pathways, two numerical scenarios were developed representing two alternative water diversion options: western and eastern routes. The model was validated against field data, achieving Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values ranging from 0.34 to 0.80 and absolute relative differences between 9.31% and 18.64%, indicating satisfactory performance. Assessment results revealed that tetracycline posed high ecological risks during summer, while nutrient concentrations and eutrophication levels remained within mild to moderate ranges throughout the study period. Comparison of the two scenarios indicated that the western route more effectively reduced ecological risks, yielding annual reductions of 9.12% in total phosphorus, 13.68% in chlorophyll-a, and 11.5% in tetracycline concentrations. This study provides critical insights for optimizing the operation of water diversion projects and supports the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in mitigating the combined threats of eutrophication and antibiotic pollution.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatic environments poses a critical threat to both environmental and human health. This study presents a novel hybrid modeling framework that integrates a process-based hydrodynamic-environmental model with a data-driven approach to predict the spatiotemporal dynamics of AMR in coastal waters. Macrolide-related antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs_Macro) were selected as representative markers. The model results were validated using data from a monthly sampling campaign conducted across Singapore’s coastal waters, yielding a mean coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.693, a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.589, and a root-mean-square deviation (RMSE) of 0.0257 GC/16S rRNA across 12 sampling points. Lincomycin, pH, dissolved oxygen, zinc and temperature were identified as significant influencers of ARGs_Macro. Although Lincomycin is not classified as a macrolide, it ranks as the most important driver of ARGs_Macro due to its shared resistance mechanisms with macrolides, potentially facilitating cross-resistance. The spatiotemporal model results revealed that coastal areas, particularly in the northern part of Singapore, are vulnerable to significant ARG accumulation, with monsoon seasons amplifying the spread of AMR due to hydrodynamic conditions. This study highlights the development of a robust modeling framework that provides valuable insights into the environmental drivers of AMR in coastal waters, offering a foundation for regulatory strategies and future research aimed at mitigating the risks of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments.

Purpose of Review: Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), used extensively in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), have emerged as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic organic pollutants. A network analysis of SCOPUS data revealed significant knowledge gaps, especially concerning the fate of LCMs in WWTPs. The available literature highlights that influent LCM concentrations vary widely, with elevated levels linked to industrial and e-waste recycling activities. This review examines the occurrence, fate, and treatment of LCMs, particularly fluorinated LCMs (F-LCMs), in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Recent Findings: Conventional WWTP processes achieve moderate removal efficiencies (~ 84%) for LCMs, but F-LCMs often persist. Advanced treatment techniques such as UV/peroxydisulfate (UV/PDS) showed removal rates of 77–84% for LCMs with biphenyl and ethoxy groups. These groups alter electron distribution, making the molecules more susceptible to oxidative attack by reactive species such as hydroxyl and sulfate radicals. Degradation pathways include cleavage of biphenyl, ethoxy, and C-F bonds, producing less toxic by-products such as oxalic acid and cyclohexane. However, some degradation intermediates formed are toxic, necessitating further research of the treatment processes. Summary: This review underscores the need for systematic monitoring of LCMs in wastewater and their transformation products in treated wastewater and sludge, alongside advancements in treatment technologies to mitigate environmental and health risks. This review highlights the urgency of improving wastewater management strategies for LCMs and the need for future research to address the critical knowledge gaps.

The publisher regrets that in the original publication, the disclosure statement in the footnote is incorrect. It should read as follows:
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Organic micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals pose significant environmental and public health risks. These contaminants not only contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance but also disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Advanced oxidation processes are known to effectively degrade pharmaceuticals, and among these, photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) offers a promising method for removing contaminants present at trace levels (μg/L to ng/L). The focus of the presented study was to assess the influence of five quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on BiVO₄ photoanodes, modifying the structural properties and enhancing photoelectrocatalytic performance. The QAC-modified BiVO₄ photoanode variants were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. PEC degradation experiments were conducted using effluent, collected after secondary treatment, at a wastewater treatment plant, spiked with 10 selected pharmaceuticals at an initial concentration of 10 μg/L. The removal efficacy of the modified BiVO₄ photoanodes was evaluated under simulated solar irradiation. Among the tested variants, the photoanode modified with the alkyl trimethyl ammonium compound ATMAC C18 modified exhibited the most rapid degradation, with several pharmaceuticals removed within the first 15 minutes. However, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium compound DADMAC C18 modified photoanode was identified as the best-performing variant, with sulfamethoxazole emerging as the critical compound due to its longest half-life.

Fluorinated liquid crystal monomers (FLCMs) are emerging aquatic pollutants that co-occur with microplastics (MPs); however, their combined ecological impacts remain poorly understood. This study investigated the interactions between a representative FLCM, 4-Ethoxy-2,3-difluoro-4′-(trans-4-propylcyclohexyl) biphenyl (EDPB), and four major types of MPs: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The results revealed plastic-type-dependent adsorption capacities (PE > PS > PP > PVC; 380–850 μg/g) through distinct mechanisms: hydrophobic interactions predominantly influenced PE and PP adsorption, while π-π coordination enhanced PS binding. Microcosm experiments demonstrated that MP-EDPB composites significantly altered sediment microbiomes, showing consistent declines in Proteobacteria abundance (27–29 % vs 36.8 % in controls), pathogen enrichment in marine sediments (Acinetobacter 1.2 → 3.5 %; Vibrio 0.8 → 2.1 %), and ecosystem-specific functional disruptions. Notably, marine systems exhibited greater biodiversity shifts, while freshwater environments showed stronger nitrogen cycle inhibition. These findings provide mechanistic insights into FLCM-MP co-pollution effects on aquatic ecosystems. Environmental implication: Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) and microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that increasingly co-occur in aquatic ecosystems, yet their interactions and co-exposure risks remain poorly understood. This study demonstrated that the adsorption of LCMs onto microplastics was significantly influenced by plastic type, with equilibrium capacities (Q_max) following the order: PE (849.5 ± 1.2 μg/g) > PS (825.3 ± 0.8 μg/g) > PP (629.1 ± 0.3 μg/g) > PVC (380.2 ± 0.2 μg/g). The MPs-LCMs composites affected microbial composition and functions in sediments across both freshwater and seawater environments. These findings provide a quantitative basis for assessing the environmental partitioning and potential ecological risks associated with MPs-LCMs composite pollutants.

This mini review explores the potential of visible light–driven bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄)-based photoanodes for removing trace organic pollutants from water. It highlights the advantages of using BiVO₄-based photoanodes over conventional UV-driven photoanodes in water treatment. The mechanism of reactive species generation through water oxidation is discussed. The review also highlights the role of sulfate and sulfite radicals in enhancing pollutant degradation. Furthermore, it evaluates how heterojunction formation improves the removal efficiency of BiVO₄-based photoanodes by reducing charge carrier recombination. Limited research on BiVO₄-based photoanodes for the simultaneous removal of multiple organic pollutants at low concentrations (<1 mg L⁻¹) from real wastewater is identified as a key knowledge gap. Addressing this gap could advance the application of BiVO₄-based photoanodes in photoelectrocatalytic-based advanced oxidation processes.

Lake ecosystems are critical slow-flow environments where silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and bacterio-plankton interact. AgNPs, known for their strong antimicrobial activity and unique physicochemical properties, are widely used across industries but raise environmental concerns due to their size-depen dent distinct biochemical effects. Dissolved organic matter (DOM), primarily shaped by microbial activity, constitutes a key organic carbon component in lakes. Understanding DOM turnover under the influence of AgNPs is essential for gaining deeper insights into carbon cycling within lake ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of AgNPs on DOM properties using advanced spectroscopic techniques, highlighting the size-dependent impacts on bacterial community structures and DOM characteristics. Smaller AgNPs exhibited greater microbial toxicity, leading to higher concentrations of protein-associated C1 components within DOM. Furthermore, DOM influenced the transformation of silver between ionic and nanoparticle forms, modulating the toxicity of silver species. AgNPs also enhanced associations between specific bacterial taxa and environmental indicators. Size-dependent effects of AgNPs substantially altered microbial functions related to carbon and nitrogen cycling, affecting bacterial metabolism and the environmental behavior of functional genes. These findings underscore the pivotal role of nanomaterial size in shaping DOM turnover, bacterial community interactions, and biogeochemical processes. Overall, this study provides a foundational understanding of the ecological implications of AgNPs in lake ecosystems and informs future environmental risk assessments.

Purpose of the Review: Climate change is intensifying the pressures on aquatic ecosystems by altering the dynamics of contaminants, with cascading effects on ecological and human health. This review synthesizes recent evidence on how rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events influence chemical and microbial contaminant dynamics in aquatic environments. Recent Findings: Key findings reveal that elevated temperatures enhance phosphorus pollution and algal blooms, increase heavy metal release from sediments, and promote the mobilization of organic pollutants. Concurrently, climate change exacerbates microbial contamination by facilitating the spread of waterborne microbial contaminants, especially posing more pressure to antimicrobial resistance-related contaminants through temperature-driven horizontal gene transfer and extreme precipitation events. Complex interactions between chemical and microbial contaminants like heavy metals co-selecting for antibiotic resistance further amplify risks. The compounded effects of climate change and contaminants threaten water quality, ecosystem resilience, and public health, particularly through increased toxicant exposure via seafood and waterborne disease outbreaks. Despite growing recognition of these interactions, critical gaps remain in understanding their synergistic mechanisms, especially in data-scarce regions. Summary: This review highlights the urgent need for integrated monitoring, predictive modeling, and adaptive policies under a One Health framework to mitigate the multifaceted impacts of climate-driven contamination. Future research should prioritize real-world assessments of temperature effects, urban overflow dynamics during extreme weather, and the socio-behavioral dimensions of contaminant spread to inform effective mitigation strategies.

Organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, represent a significant environmental and public health challenge due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential to contribute to antimicrobial resistance. These contaminants often pass through conventional wastewater treatment, entering aquatic environments and posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly photoelectrochemical oxidation (PEC), offer a promising solution for removing trace -level pharmaceuticals from secondary-treated wastewater. However, the photocurrent conversion efficiency, catalytic activity, and stability of BiVO4-based photoanodes, which are key components in PEC systems, are still limited. Surface modifications have shown potential to address these challenges and enhance their performance. This study aims to improve the PEC activity of BiVO4-based photoanodes for the degradation of pharmaceutical mixtures in secondary-treated wastewater through surface modification using quaternary ammonium-based compounds (QACs). The photoanodes were fabricated using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and characterized using techniques such as scanning electron microscop y (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). PEC experiments were conducted under simulated solar light to assess the degradation of a mixture of pharmaceuticals at an initial concentration of 10 μg/L.

The results demonstrated that the surface modification of BiVO4 with QACs significantly enhanced the degradation rate of pharmaceuticals compared to unmodified BiVO4 photoanodes. SEM images confirmed the successful deposition of needle-like QAC particles on the BiVO4 surface, leading to improved charge separation. Notably, pharmaceuticals such as diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, and acetaminophen showed higher removal rates in the presence of the modified photoanodes. This research highlights the potential of QAC-modified BiVO4 photoanodes as an effective approach for enhancing the degradation of pharmaceuticals in wastewater. The findings contribute to advancing the field of PEC-based wastewater treatment technologies and offer promising implications for upscaling and practical application in treating pharmaceutical-contaminated wastewater.

Pharmaceuticals have received extensive scientific and socio-economic attention worldwide due to their acute and chronic toxic effects on plants, animals, and human health. However, the geographical distribution and seasonal variability of pharmaceutical mixtures in aquatic environments remain underexplored, especially in resource-deficient countries. The present review provides an in-depth analysis of the seasonal occurrence of pharmaceuticals, particularly antibiotics detected over the last five years in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water. The effectiveness of the conventional and advanced drinking water treatment processes is discussed with a focus on the adsorption and ozonation processes, commonly employed at drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Findings reveal median concentrations of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals in drinking water worldwide, often exceeding their levels in groundwater. This underscores the urgent need for global-scale, long-term monitoring of antibiotics in aquatic systems, especially in DWTPs. Beyond targeted analysis, non-targeted analysis (NTA) should be integrated into routine water quality monitoring at DWTPs to identify novel contaminants, including fluorinated pharmaceuticals. Finally, this review provides an overview concerning the process-based and data-driven modelling of pharmaceutical occurrence, fate, and transport as a complementary approach to sampling and lab-scaled experiments, especially in resource-limited settings. Strengthening long-term monitoring, expanding treatment solutions, integrating modelling tools, and promoting green chemistry innovations are crucial to mitigating risks and safeguarding water quality.

Solid Waste Management for Resource-Efficient Systems: Circularity in Action promotes innovation and shares best practices based on the principles of the circular economy and resource conservation on different aspects of sustainable solid waste management. The book also explains sources, impacts, and recycling potential of emerging wastes. It presents management strategies, including emerging green infrastructure and digitalization for recycling and gainful application of waste. In addition, sections highlight various environmental and health hazards while providing different management strategies based on the principle of resource recovery and circular economy that can help to minimize the environmental impacts.

Predicting the hotspots of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquatics is crucial for managing associated risks. We developed an integrated modeling framework toward predicting the spatiotemporal abundance of antibiotics, indicator bacteria, and their corresponding antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), as well as assessing the potential AMR risks to the aquatic ecosystem in a tropical reservoir. Our focus was on two antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP), and on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and its variant resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (EC_SXT). We validated the predictive model using withheld data, with all Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values above 0.79, absolute relative difference (ARD) less than 25%, and coefficient of determination (R2) greater than 0.800 for the modeled targets. Predictions indicated concentrations of 1–15 ng/L for SMX, 0.5–5 ng/L for TMP, and 0 to 5 (log10 MPN/100 mL) for E. coli and −1.1 to 3.5 (log10 CFU/100 mL) for EC_SXT. Risk assessment suggested that the predicted TMP could pose a higher risk of AMR development than SMX, but SMX could possess a higher ecological risk. The study lays down a hybrid modeling framework for integrating a statistic model with a process-based model to predict AMR in a holistic manner, thus facilitating the development of a better risk management framework.

Waste-to-Energy: Sustainable Approaches for Emerging Economies presents the latest developments and applications for the conversion of waste into biofuels and other energy products. Divided into two parts, Section I reviews the major sources of solid waste and their management strategies in developing countries, and includes the collection, composition, segregation, and dispersal of various waste streams, as well as the generation of biogas and other value-added products. Section II examines the transformation of waste into biofuels and the management strategies required to efficiently implement waste-to-energy processes. Methods for the production of hydrogen, biomethane, biofuels, and bioenergy, as well as resource recovery are discussed in depth, and mathematical models are provided for anaerobic digestion techniques. The benefits and challenges of waste-to-energy as a waste management strategy are explored through dedicated chapters on the techno-economics, environmental and social regulation, and the operation of WtE plants. The final chapter of the book presents a lifecycle assessment and environmental impact analysis of the technologies and strategies discussed.

Liquid crystal monomers pose rising environmental risks. Discover their impact, health concerns, and global efforts to manage and mitigate these effects.

Wastewater surveillance has been successfully employed to monitor pharmaceutical usage on a university campus. In this study, the usage patterns of antibiotics and disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated. Firstly, the results showed that during COVID-19 waves, different pharmaceuticals correlated with normalized SARS-CoV-2 concentrations, suggesting that distinct medications may have been necessary to address the unique symptoms associated with each COVID-19 variant. Secondly, it was observed that both the total concentrations of antibiotics and disinfectants were higher during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the Delta Wave. Overall, this indicates an increased chemical usage associated with COVID-19, which raises concerns about its impact on the emergence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs) during this period.