Enhancing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) yield and nutrition quality through hydroponic cultivation with treated wastewater.

Utilizing treated wastewater for crop cultivation is essential in regions with scarce freshwater resources for irrigation. This study evaluated the growth, fruit yield, nutritional and phytochemical quality of tomato fruits cultivated using a treated wastewater-based hydroponics system developed for the Trans Himalaya, India. Tomatoes grown with treated wastewater exhibited better growth, yield, nutritional content, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant activities than those grown in soil. Specifically, the lycopene and ß carotene were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in tomato fruits cultivated in treated wastewater (0.05 ± 0.00 and 0.09 ± 0.00 mg/g) than soil (0.02 ± 0.00 and 0.01 ± 0.00 mg/g). Also, significantly (p < 0.05) higher carbohydrate and protein contents (55.91 ± 1.19 and 21.34 ± 0.31 mg/g, respectively) were obtained under-treated wastewater than soil (39.48 ± 0.07 and 18.52 ± 0.10 mg/g). Similar trends were also obtained in phytochemicals and mineral analysis. However, morphological, proximate, and phytochemical characteristics of tomatoes in nutrient and wastewater-based hydroponics were comparable. Treated wastewater offers eco-friendly benefits for quality crop production.

Electromimetic molecularly imprinted Polymersensor for wastewater emtricitabine.

BACKGROUND: Emtricitabine (FTC) is a commonly prescribed anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug that has been classified as an emerging environmental pharmaceutical micropollutant due to its poor metabolism, refractory nature to wastewater treatment, continuous discharge with wastewater effluent and accumulation in the aquatic environment. Although there are no reported limits and toxicity of the drug in the environment yet, it is crucial to develop onsite, rapid, selective and ultrasensitive water sensing systems for FTC to ensure efficient risk management and environmental sustainability. RESULTS: Herein, a molecularly imprinted poly(para-aminobenzoic acid) (MIP) was electrochemically prepared on iron oxide nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (MIP/Fe3O4 NPs/GCE) for selective detection of FTC using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). During the detection, the voltammetric signal of the MIP sensor decreased with increasing concentrations of the non-electroactive FTC, indicating hindrance of the MIP sensor's redox activity by the binding analyte. The sensor generated a calibration curve with a linear dynamic range of 1.24-24.7 µg L-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.439 and 1.30 µg L-1, respectively. Moreover, the MIP sensor was 5.2 times more sensitive than the control sensor, a non-imprinted polymer (NIP) sensor, and had a higher apparent binding affinity for FTC than the NIP sensor. The MIP/PABA-Fe3O4/GCE-based sensor achieved recoveries of 98.8 %-101.5 % for applications in real wastewater and drinking water samples. SIGNIFICANCE: The combination of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, electrically conducting polymer, and the MIP technology produced a novel, simple, cost-effective, and high-performance voltammetric MIP sensor for an anti-HIV drug, FTC. The result of this study shows that the sensor holds a significant promise for future onsite monitoring of emtricitabine in wastewater, pharmaceutical, and biological samples without prior sample pretreatment.

Application of Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction as a Green Method for the Analysis of 10 Anti-Diabetic Drugs in Environmental Water Samples.

Due to the increased prevalence of diabetes, the consumption of anti-diabetic drugs for its treatment has likewise increased. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that is commonly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes and has been frequently detected in surface water and wastewaters, thus representing an emerging contaminant. Metformin can be prescribed in combination with other classes of anti-diabetic drugs; however, these drugs are not sufficiently investigated in environmental samples. Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) has emerged as a simple and green method for the extraction of analytes in environmental samples. In this study, FPSE coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was employed for the simultaneous analysis of different classes of anti-diabetic drugs (metformin, dapagliflozin, liraglutide, pioglitazone, gliclazide, glimepiride, glargine, repaglinide, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin) in environmental water samples. Four different fabric membranes were synthesized but the microfiber glass filter coated with sol-gel polyethylene glycol (PEG 300) was observed to be the best FPSE membrane. The parameters affecting the FPSE process were optimized using a combination of one-factor-at-a-time processes and the design of experiments. The FPSE was evaluated as a green extraction method, based on green sample preparation criteria. The FPSE-HPLC-DAD method achieved acceptable validation results and was applied for the simultaneous analysis of anti-diabetic drugs in surface and wastewater samples. Glimepiride was detected below the quantification limit in both lake and river water samples. Dapagliflozin, liraglutide, and glimepiride were detected at 69.0 ± 1.0 µg·L-1, 71.9 ± 0.4 µg·L-1, and 93.9 ± 1.3 µg·L-1, respectively, in the city wastewater influent. Dapagliflozin and glimepiride were still detected below the quantification limit in city wastewater effluent. For the hospital wastewater influent, metformin and glimepiride were detected at 1158 ± 21 µg·L-1 and 28 ± 0.8 µg·L-1, respectively, while only metformin (392.6 ± 7.7 µg·L-1) was detected in hospital wastewater effluent.

[Preparation of fluorescent carbon dots by flow-assisted melt polymerization for tetracycline detection in medical wastewater].

Tetracycline (TC) is one of the most important therapeutic drugs that is widely used in hospitals. However, its harmful effects on human health and various ecosystems cannot be ignored. Owing to its poor metabolic activity and low biodegradability, TC commonly discharges as the parent compound and accumulates readily in sludges and soils by precipitation from wastewater, which can induce the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; therefore, it has been listed as one of the new pollutants with potential ecotoxicological risk. The control measures and environmental management of TC pollutants in environmental water samples require precise determination of TC pollutant concentrations. Carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging type of fluorescent material with numerous advantages such as easy preparation, low cost, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility. Consequently, they have attracted widespread attention in the field of TC detection. Herein, we synthesized TE-CDs with good blue-fluorescence performance via flow-assisted melt polymerization using tricarboxylic acid and ethylenediamine as raw precursors. The morphology and structure of the prepared TE-CDs were characterized. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the prepared TE-CDs were well dispersed, with an average diameter of (2.43±0.48) nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the TE-CDs had an amorphous carbon structure. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations showed that the surface of the TE-CDs was rich in hydrophilic groups, such as amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups, which indicated that TE-CDs had good water solubility and were advantageous for detecting TC in medical wastewater. Subsequently, the optical properties of the TE-CDs were investigated. The fluorescence emission spectra of the TE-CDs were recorded at various excitation wavelengths. The emission spectra of the TE-CDs exhibited excitation wavelength dependence and when the excitation wavelength changes from 300 nm to 400 nm, their fluorescence intensity decreased to varying degrees. The TE-CDs exhibited optimal fluorescence intensity at an excitation wavelength of 368 nm, while the emission wavelength was 448 nm. TC could effectively quench the blue fluorescence of the CDs, and by utilizing this property, the detection of TC concentration could be achieved. After the addition of TC, the fluorescence of the system immediately reached an extreme value, and no significant change was observed within 10 min. An incubation time of 20 s was selected to obtain precise results. Additionally, the TE-CDs exhibited stable fluorescence intensity over a wide pH range. The fluorescence stability of the TE-CDs was investigated, and no significant change in fluorescence intensity was observed after standing for 10 d, indicating that the prepared TE-CDs had excellent fluorescence stability. The fluorescence intensity of the TE-CDs decreased to varying degrees within the range of 2-200 mg/L TC until complete quenching occurred. TC mass concentration in the range of 4-20 mg/L showed a good linear relationship (R2=0.9978) with the fluorescence quenching intensity of the TE-CDs. The limit of detection was 0.2 mg/L. A preliminary investigation was undertaken to explore the quenching mechanism of the TE-CDs fluorescence by TC. Upon addition of TC, a significant reduction in the fluorescence lifetime of the TE-CDs was observed. During the quenching process, no new substances were observed by UV absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, no significant changes in the 1H NMR spectra of the TE-CDs were noted before and after the addition of TC, indicating the absence of an interaction between the TE-CDs and TC. Therefore, the quenching mechanism may involve dynamic quenching. The selectivity and anti-interference ability of the developed method were evaluated; in the presence of interfering substances, TC quenched the fluorescence of the TE-CDs, indicating that the TE-CDs had good selectivity and anti-interference performance towards TC. The method was applied to the quantitative detection of TC in medical wastewater, with recoveries of 96.5%-119.8% and relative standard deviations of 0.8%-2.6%. In conclusion, the analytical performance of the proposed method is comparable with that of previously reported detection methods; moreover, the method has the advantages of low operational cost, simple preparation process, time-saving, and good repeatability. Therefore, the TE-CDs can be used as chemical sensors for the detection of TC in medical wastewater and have good practical applications.

Identification of organic contaminants in water and related matrices using untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry screening with MS/MS libraries.

Nontargeted and suspect screening with liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) has become an indispensable tool for quality assessment in the aquatic environment - complementary to targeted analysis of organic (micro)contaminants. An LC-HRMS method is presented, suitable for the analysis of a wide variety of water related matrices: surface water, groundwater, wastewater, sediment and sludge, including extracts from passive samplers and on-site solid phase enrichment, while focusing on the data processing aspect of the method. A field study is included to demonstrate the practical application and versatility of the whole process. HRMS/MS data were recorded following LC separation in both (ESI) positive and negative ionization modes using data dependent as well as data independent acquisition. Two vendor (Agilent's Personal Compound Database and Library and from National Institute of Standards and Technology) and one open (MassBank/EU) tandem mass spectral libraries were utilized for the identification of compounds via mass spectral match. The development of a novel software tool for parsing, grouping and reduction of MS/MS features in data files converted to mascot generic format (MGF) helped to substantially decrease the amount of time and effort needed for MS library search. While applying the method, in the course of the entire field study, 18771 detections (from 870 individual compounds) in total were recorded in 275 samples, resulting in 68.3 identified compounds per sample, on average. Among the top ten most frequently detected contaminants across all samples and sample types were pharmaceutical compounds carbamazepine, 4-acetamidoantipyrine, 4-formylaminoantipyrine, tramadol, lamotrigine and phenazone and industrial contaminants toluene-2-sulfonamide, tolytriazole, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate and benzotriazole. Exploratory data analysis methods and tools enabled us to discover organic pollutant occurrence patterns within the comprehensive sets of qualitative data collected from various projects between the years 2018-2023. The results may be used as valuable inputs for future water quality monitoring programs.

Willow catkin template synthesis of NiS@NSC hollow tubes for highly sensitive dual-function electrochemical detection of acetaminophen and Cu2.

Public health and environmental well-being have become increasingly threatened by the contamination of pharmaceuticals and heavy metal ions. This study focuses on addressing this critical issue by developing a novel electrochemical sensor for the dual-functional detection of acetaminophen (AP) and Cu2+. Utilizing willow catkins as a biomass template, a hollow tubular NiS@NSC composite was prepared by simple nickel salt impregnation combined with calcination and sulfurization. A highly sensitive dual-functional electrochemical sensor was thus constructed that can detect both acetaminophen (AP) and Cu2+. By examining its electrochemical properties, the sensor achieves an impressive detection limit of 1.33 pM for AP, with a linear range of 4.00 pM ~ 0.15 mM. The sensor can also detect Cu2+, with a detection limit of 1.04 µM, and a linear range of 3.13 µM ~ 0.66 mM. The sensor also exhibits strong resistance to interference, and good repeatability and stability. In addition, the sensor has demonstrated good performance in actual sample analysis, including the detection of AP in serum and Cu2+ in wastewater. This excellent electrochemical sensing performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of its unique tubular structure and highly conductive N, S co-doped carbon. This results in the sensor exhibiting minimal charge transfer resistance, an extensive electrochemically active surface area, and a high density of active sites.

Equity in wastewater monitoring: Differences in the demographics and social vulnerability of sewered and unsewered populations across North Carolina.

Wastewater monitoring is a valuable public health tool that can track a variety of health markers. The strong correlations between trends in wastewater viral concentrations and county-level COVID-19 case counts point to the ability of wastewater data to represent changes in a community's disease burden. However, studies are lacking on whether the populations sampled through wastewater monitoring represent the characteristics of the broader community and the implications on health equity. We conducted a geospatial analysis to examine the extent to which populations contributing to wastewater collected through the North Carolina Wastewater Monitoring Network as of June 2022 represent the broader countywide and statewide populations. After intersecting sewershed boundary polygons for 38 wastewater treatment plants across 18 counties with census block and tract polygons, we compared the demographics and social vulnerability of (1) people residing in monitored sewersheds with countywide and statewide populations, and (2) sewered residents, regardless of inclusion in wastewater monitoring, with unsewered residents. We flagged as meaningful any differences greater than +/- 5 percentage points or 5 percent (for categorical and continuous variables, respectively) and noted statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). We found that residents within monitored sewersheds largely resembled the broader community on most variables analyzed, with only a few exceptions. We also observed that when multiple sewersheds were monitored within a county, their combined service populations resembled the county population, although individual sewershed and county populations sometimes differed. When we contrasted sewered and unsewered populations within a given county, we found that sewered populations were more vulnerable than unsewered populations, suggesting that wastewater monitoring may fill in the data gaps needed to improve health equity. The approach we present here can be used to characterize sewershed populations nationwide to ensure that wastewater monitoring is implemented in a manner that informs equitable public health decision-making.

Development and validation of an imprinted polymer based DGT for monitoring ß-blocker drugs in wastewater surveillance.

Wastewater surveillance is an effective and objective approach to monitor contaminant releases and drug usage in the catchment, the estimation requires accurate measurement. In this study, a novel diffusive gradients in thin-film (DGT) technique based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective measurement of a class of widely prescribed cardiovascular drugs (ß-blockers) in wastewater was developed. The synthesized MIPs showed strong affinity and selectivity for the target compounds. The MIP-DGT had large effective capacities, its performance was independent of a wide range of environmental conditions, including pH (4.58 - 8.89), ionic strength (0.01 - 0.5 M) and dissolved organic matter (< 20 mg L-1). Biofouling had little effect on the uptake of target compounds within 7 days. MIP-DGT devices were applied in a Chinese urban WWTP alongside an auto-sampler. Metoprolol concentrations detected were much higher than other ß-blockers. Concentrations obtained using MIP-DGT were comparable to the 24 h composite samples using an autosampler. The estimated daily consumption calculated based on the data obtained with MIP-DGT implied that metoprolol and propranolol were the most popular ß-blockers in the studied area. Overall, the results in this study demonstrate that the MIP-DGT is a cost-effective, reliable and efficient tool for in situ wastewater monitoring.

Analysis of dissolved organic matter characteristics in pharmaceutical wastewater via spectroscopy combined with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Studying the changes in organic matter and characteristic pollutants during the treatment of penicillin-containing pharmaceutical wastewater, which can be reflected by changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM), is crucial for improving the effectiveness of wastewater treatment units and systems. Herein, water quality indicators, spectroscopic methods, and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry were utilized to characterize the general molecular compositions and specific molecular changes in DOM during the treatment of typical penicillin-containing pharmaceutical wastewater, including in each of the influent, physicochemical treatment, biological treatment, oxidation treatment, and effluent stages. The influent exhibited a high organic matter content (concentration of dissolved organic carbon >10,000 mg·L-1), its DOM mainly contained protein- and lignin-like substances composed of CHON and CHONS molecules, and the relative intensity (RI) of penicillin was extremely high (RI = 0.220). Compared with the influent, the abundance of CHON and CHONS molecules detected after physicochemical treatment decreased by 70.3 % and 62.5 %, respectively, and the RI of penicillin decreased by 85.5 %. Biological treatment caused substantial changes in DOM components through oxidation, dealkylation, and denitrification reactions, accounting for 36.8 %, 28.9 %, and 14.8 % of the total identified reactions, respectively. Additionally, lignin-like substances were generated in large quantities, the overall humification level significantly increased, and the RI value increased for the penicillin intermediate, 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). Oxidation treatment effectively removed phosphorus-containing substances and some lignin-like substances produced by biological treatment; however, it was not effective in removing characteristic pollutants such as 6-APA. Such characteristic substances continued to be present in the effluent, and the DOM mainly contained protein- and humus-like substances, accounting for 30.8 % and 47.3 %, respectively. The study findings reveal the changes in organic matter and characteristic pollutants during the treatment of penicillin-containing wastewater from the perspective of the general molecular composition and specific molecular changes in DOM, providing support for further exploration of wastewater treatment mechanisms and improvements in treatment unit efficiency.

Drug Use Patterns in Wastewater and Socioeconomic and Demographic Indicators.

Importance: Measuring drug use behaviors in individuals and across large communities presents substantial challenges, often complicated by socioeconomic and demographic variables. Objectives: To detect spatial and temporal changes in community drug use by analyzing concentrations of analytes in influent wastewater and exploring their associations with area-based socioeconomic and sociodemographic metrics like the area deprivation index (ADI) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal, cross-sectional wastewater study was performed from May 2022 to April 2023 and included biweekly influent wastewater samples of 39 analytes from 8 sampling locations across 6 wastewater treatment plants in southern Nevada. Statistical analyses were conducted in December 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: It was hypothesized that wastewater monitoring of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and high-risk substances (HRSs) could reveal true spatial and temporal drug use patterns in near-real time. Data collection of samples for PPCPs and HRSs was performed using mass spectrometry. Both ADI and RUCA scores were utilized to characterize neighborhood contexts in the analysis. The false discovery rate (FDR) method was utilized to correct for multiple comparisons (PFDR). Results: Over the 12-month wastewater monitoring period, 208 samples for PPCPs and HRSs were collected, and analysis revealed an increase in the consumption of HRSs and the seasonal variation in PPCP use in southern Nevada. There was a significant increase in levels of stimulant-associated analytes, such as cocaine (ß = 9.17 × 10-4; SE = 1.29 × 10-4; PFDR = 1.40 × 10-10), and opioids or their metabolites, notably norfentanyl (ß = 1.48 × 10-4; SE = 1.88 × 10-4; PFDR = 1.66 × 10-12). In contrast, DEET, an active ingredient in mosquito and tick repellents, demonstrated a seasonal use pattern (ß = -4.85 × 10-4; SE = 2.09 × 10-4; PFDR = 4.87 × 10-2). Wastewater from more disadvantaged or rural neighborhoods, as assessed through ADI and RUCA scores, was more likely to show a significant positive correlation with HRSs, such as cocaine (ß = 0.075; SE = 0.038; P = .05) and norfentanyl (ß = 0.004; SE = 0.001; P = 1.64 × 10-5). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that wastewater monitoring of PPCPs and HRSs offers a complementary method to existing public health tools, providing timely data for tracking substance use behaviors and use of PPCPs at a population level.

Evaluation of post-treatment after wastewater stabilization ponds at municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the operational conditions of the municipal wastewater treatment system. This system comprises a wastewater treatment plant that employs the activated sludge process, along with wastewater stabilization ponds as the third stage of treatment. The operating conditions of the wastewater stabilization ponds were observed during both normal operation and malfunction scenarios. The average values of the pollutant parameters at the inlet and outlet of the ponds did not differ significantly. However, an increase in the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and phosphates was observed at the ponds' outlet. Specifically, the TOC increased from 2.25 mg/dm3 (inlet) to 5.02 mg/dm3 (outlet), while phosphates rose from 0.34 mg/dm3 (inlet) to 3.02 mg/dm3 (outlet). The analyzed pollutants in the wastewater stabilization ponds samples were characterized by seasonal variability, particularly concerning TOC, dissolved oxygen, ammonium nitrogen, and phosphates. During malfunctions, the highest pollutant load (including activated sludge and precipitated phosphorus) was delivered to the first wastewater stabilization pond, inducing the phenomenon of internal loading, leading to increase in phosphates concentrations. To mitigate such issues, the main force should be focused on the proper operation of the wastewater stabilization ponds and wastewater treatment plants.

Monitoring of ketamine-based emerging contaminants in wastewater: a direct-injection method and fragmentation pathway study.

The ketamine (KET) and its analogs consumed by humans are becoming emerging contaminants (ECs), as they at present in surface waters after being carried through wastewater systems. Drugs in wastewater can be analyzed using the direct-injection method, a simple wastewater analysis (WWA) method that can provide objective, continuous and nearly to real-time findings. This article describes an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of seven KET-based ECs in wastewater by direct injection. After optimization of the UPLC-MS/MS and sample pretreatment conditions, the method was validated and applied to samples (n = 157) collected from several wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in southern China in which KET had the highest detection rate. The established direct-injection method was not only simple to perform but also had better sensitivity, shorter detection times, and analyzed more KET-based ECs than currently published methods, meeting the requirements for the monitoring and high-throughput analysis of common KET-based ECs. We also analyzed the fragmentation pathway of KET-based ECs to obtain product ion information on other unknown substances. Additional studies are needed to establish a comprehensive direct-injection screening method of ECs in wastewater on model-based assessment.

Exploring the variability of PFAS in urban sewage: a comparison of emissions in commercial versus municipal urban areas.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are recognized for their persistence and ubiquitous occurrence in different environmental compartments. Conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) cannot effectively remove PFAS from wastewater, and a better understanding of the occurrence and sources of PFAS in this medium would enable effective source abatement. We compared sewage from urban areas exhibiting differentiating characteristics with respect to activities in their catchments. These included a sewer that serves primarily a municipal area, with no commercial activities involving PFAS emissions being identified, another sewer with a strong influence of commercial activities potentially related to PFAS emissions, and the influent of the whole city sewage network. The year-long monitoring campaign consisted of flow-proportional, monthly composite samples and targeted analysis of 29 PFAS compounds. Principal component analysis was used to investigate the relationships between selected PFAS and standard water quality parameters such as ammonium, a known tracer of urine and thus of typical municipal wastewater. Notable findings were seen for PFOS and 6:2 FTS, whose concentrations were most negatively correlated with ammonium. Ammonium concentration data allowed for a normalized per-person median load calculation, which resulted in loads of the observed PFAS ranging from below 0.4 up to 4.7 µg per person per day. Both the commercial area sewer and the city influent exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) median loads (>0.9 µg per person per day) in the case of 6:2 FTS and PFOS, compared to the municipal sewer (<0.6 µg per person per day). No statistically significant difference was found for other compounds, such as PFBA, PFHxA, PFOA, and PFHxS. We argue that this approach demonstrates that PFAS can differ in speciation and quantity within an urban wastewater setting, and consideration of both municipal and commercial activities is needed for a proper understanding of sources and emission pathways within the urban environment.

Towards the outbreak tail, what is the public opinion about wastewater surveillance in the United States?

National opinions on a wide variety of public health topics can change over time and have highly contextual nuances. This study is a follow-up to prior inquiries into the knowledge of wastewater-based epidemiology, privacy concerns surrounding sample collection, and the use of data acquired, along with privacy awareness from an online survey conducted in the metropolitan United States during the winter of 2023. Mentions of wastewater-surveillance-related terms in the media remained common. Towards the outbreak tail in 2023, public support for surveillance of toxins (91%), diseases (91%), terrorist threats (87%), illicit drugs (70%), prescription medications (69%), and gun residue (60%) remained high. There was less support for surveillance of alcohol consumption (49%), mental illness (46%), healthy eating (37%), and lifestyle behaviors (35%). In terms of geographic scale, most respondents supported citywide surveillance (85%) with markedly lower levels of support for smaller (less anonymous) geographic scales covered by specific locations. Wastewater surveillance does not receive the public pushback that other COVID-19-related health system actors have witnessed. Instead, the public supports the expansion of wastewater surveillance as a standard to complement public health tools in other areas of health protection.

Verifying the feasibility of wastewater-based epidemiological monitoring for the small catchment and sewage networks with significant pretreatment.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a valuable tool for COVID-19 monitoring, especially as the frequency of clinical testing diminishes. Beyond COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19), the tool's versatility extends to addressing various public health concerns, including antibiotic resistance and drug consumption. However, the complexity of sewage systems introduces noise when measuring chemical tracer concentrations, potentially compromising their applicability for modeling. In our study, we detail the approach adopted to determine the concentration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) ribonucleiec acid (RNA) in wastewater from the Ponte a Niccheri wastewater treatment plant in Tuscany (Italy), with a sample size of N = 13,935 inhabitants. The unique characteristics of this wastewater system, including mandatory pretreatment in septic tanks with extended retention times, the presence of a hospital for COVID-19 patients, and mixed sewage networks, posed additional challenges. Nevertheless, our results highlight a robust and significant correlation between our measurements and the number of infections within the wastewater treatment plant's catchment area at the time of sampling. A simple linear model also shows promising results in estimating the number of infected people within the area.

Prevalence of Drugs of Abuse and Cognitive Enhancer Consumption Monitored in Grab Samples and Composite Wastewater via Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Wastewater (WW)-based epidemiology is an approach for the objective surveillance of the consumption of (illicit) drugs in populations. The aims of this study were to monitor drugs of abuse, cognitive enhancers, and their metabolites as biomarkers in influent WW. Data obtained from different sampling points and mean daily loads were compared with previously published data. The prevalence of analytes was monitored in WW grab samples collected monthly over 22 months at two sampling points and 24 h composite WW samples collected over 2 weeks at a WW treatment plant in the same city. Quantification was performed using a previously validated and published method based on solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Grab samples allowed for frequent detection of ritalinic acid and sporadic detection of drugs of abuse. The daily mean loads calculated for 24 h WW composite samples were in accordance with data published in an international study. Furthermore, loads of amphetamine and methamphetamine increased compared with those observed in a previously published study from 2014. This study showed frequent quantification of ritalinic acid in the grab samples, while drugs of abuse were commonly quantified in the composite WW samples. Daily mean loads were in accordance with trends reported for Germany.

[Determination of eight neonicotinoid pesticides in wastewater by solid phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

Neonicotinoid pesticides are a relatively new class of pesticides that have garnered significant attention owing to their potential ecological risks to nontarget organisms. A method combining solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS/MS) was developed for the rapid and accurate detection of eight neonicotinoid pesticides (dinotefuran, E-nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, imidaclothiz, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid) in wastewater. The chromatographic mobile phase and MS parameters were selected, and a single-factor method was used to determine the optimal column type, extraction volume, sample loading speed, and pH for SPE. The optimal parameters were as follows: column type, HLB column (500 mg/6 mL); sample extraction volume, 500 mL; sample loading speed, 10 mL/min; and sample pH, 6-8. The matrix effects of the wastewater samples were reduced by optimizing the chromatographic gradient-elution program, examining the dilution factor of the samples, and using the isotope internal standard calibration method. Prior to analysis, the wastewater samples were diluted 5-fold with ultrapure water for pretreatment. Subsequently, 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate aqueous solution containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid and methanol was used as mobile phases for gradient elution on a ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 µm). The samples were quantified using positive-ion multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode for 10 min. Imidacloprid-d4 was used as the isotope internal standard. The SPE process was further optimized by applying response surface methodology to select the type and mass of rinsing and elution solvents. The optimal pretreatment of the SPE column included rinsing with 10% methanol aqueous solution and elution with methanol-acetonitrile (1∶1, v/v) mixture (7 mL). The eight neonicotinoid pesticides showed satisfactory linearity within the relevant range, with linear correlation coefficients (r) all greater than 0.9990. The method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 0.2 to 1.2 ng/L, and the method quantification limits (MQLs) ranged from 0.8 to 4.8 ng/L. The average recoveries of the eight neonicotinoid pesticides were in the range of 82.6%-94.2% at three spiked levels, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 3.9% to 9.4%. Finally, the optimized method was successfully applied to analyze wastewater samples collected from four sewage treatment plants. The results indicated that the eight neonicotinoid pesticides could be generally detected at concentrations ranging from not detected (ND) to 256 ng/L. The developed method has a low MDL and high accuracy, rendering it a suitable choice for the trace detection of the eight neonicotinoid pesticides in wastewater when compared with other similar methods. The proposed method can be utilized to monitor the environmental impact and assess the potential risks of neonicotinoid pesticides in wastewater, thus promoting the protection of nontarget organisms and the sustainable use of these pesticides in agriculture.

A comprehensive review on the treatment of pesticide-contaminated wastewater with special emphasis on organophosphate pesticides using constructed wetlands.

Pesticides pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems due to their persistent nature and adverse effects on biota. The increased detection of pesticides in various water bodies has prompted research into their toxicological impacts and potential remediation strategies. However, addressing this issue requires the establishment of robust regulatory frameworks to determine safe thresholds for pesticide concentrations in water and the development of effective treatment methods. This assessment underscores the complex ecological risks associated with organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) and emphasizes the urgent need for strategic management and regulatory measures. This study presents a detailed examination of the global prevalence of OPPs and their potential adverse effects on aquatic and human life. A comprehensive risk assessment identifies azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, and profenfos as posing considerable ecological hazard to fathead minnow, daphnia magna, and T. pyriformis. Additionally, this review explores the potential efficacy of constructed wetlands (CWs) as a sustainable approach for mitigating wastewater contamination by diverse pesticide compounds. Furthermore, the review assess the effectiveness of CWs for treating wastewater contaminated with pesticides by critically analyzing the removal mechanism and key factors. The study suggests that the optimal pH range for CWs is 6-8, with higher temperatures promoting microbial breakdown and lower temperatures enhancing pollutant removal through adsorption and sedimentation. The importance of wetland vegetation in promoting sorption, absorption, and degradation processes is emphasized. The study emphasizes the importance of hydraulic retention time (HRT) in designing, operating, and maintaining CWs for pesticide-contaminated water treatment. The removal efficiency of CWs ranges from 38% to 100%, depending on factors like pesticide type, substrate materials, reactor setup, and operating conditions.

Assessment and optimization of wastewater treatment plant in terms of effluent quality, energy footprint, and greenhouse gas emissions: An integrated modeling approach.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can benefit from utilizing digital technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to comply with effluent quality standards. In this study, the GHG emissions and electricity consumption of a WWTP were evaluated via computer simulation by varying the dissolved oxygen (DO), mixed liquor recirculation (MLR), and return activated sludge (RAS) parameters. Three different measures, namely, effluent water quality, GHG emissions, and energy consumption, were combined as water-energy-carbon coupling index (WECCI) to compare the effects of the parameters on WWTPs, and the optimal operating condition was determined. The initial conditions of the A2O process were set to 4.0 mg/L of DO, 100 % MLR, and 90.7 % RAS. Eighty scenarios with various DO, MLR, and RAS were simulated under steady-state condition to optimize the biological treatment process. The optimal operating conditions were found to be 1.5 mg/L of DO, 190 % MLR, and 90.9 % RAS, which had the highest WECCI of 2.40 when compared to the WECCI of the initial condition (1.07). This optimal condition simultaneously reduced GHG emissions by 1348 kg CO2-eq/d and energy consumption by 11.64 MWh/d. This implies that controlling DO, MLR, and RAS through sensors, valves, and pumps offers a promising approach to operating WWTPs with reduced electricity consumption and GHG emissions while attaining effluent quality standards. Additionally, the nitrous oxide stripping rate exhibited linear relationships with the effluent total ammonia and nitrite concentrations in the aerobic reactor, suggesting that monitoring dissolved nitrogen compounds in the effluent and reactor could be a viable strategy to control MLR and DO in the biological reactor. The digital-based assessment and optimization tools developed in this study are expected to hold promise for application in broader environmental management efforts.

Target and non-target screening of biomarkers in wastewater: towards a unique analytical methodology for sample preparation.

This study aims to optimize a single preparation methodology based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) that could fit both target and non-target screening of organic biomarkers in raw wastewater, allowing the cross-comparison of results obtained from a same dataset. The efficiency of SPE sorbents used alone (HLB) or in combination in a multilayer cartridge was evaluated based on (i) the extraction recovery and matrix effect in environmental samples (surface water and wastewater) for a list of biomarkers (pharmaceuticals, licit and illicit drugs, artificial sweeteners, isoprostanes, polyphenols) and (ii) a number of detected features and their intensity in HRMS. The selected method uses a combination of three SPE sorbents mixed together (HLB, X-AW and X-CW) and seems to take full advantage of each, providing satisfactory validation parameters (recovery, instrumental limit of detection, linearity range and limit of quantification) over a large range of physico-chemical properties while ensuring promising results for non-target screening applications. Of the 65 targeted compounds, nearly all of them (47) were detected in wastewater influent samples with concentration above the limit of quantification, while at the same time over 10 000 features were recorded according to the high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) fingerprint, holding out the promise that a common protocol for these two analyses, with their very contrasting constraints and objectives, is possible.