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Parasitology Research Nov 2022Free-living amoebae (FLA) are cosmopolitan microorganisms known to be pathogenic to humans who often have a history of contact with contaminated water. Swimming pools... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are cosmopolitan microorganisms known to be pathogenic to humans who often have a history of contact with contaminated water. Swimming pools and recreational waters are among the environments where the greatest human exposure to FLA occurs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of FLA in swimming pools and recreational waters, through a systematic review and meta-analysis that included studies published between 1977 and 2022. A total of 106 studies were included and an overall prevalence of FLA in swimming pools and recreational waters of 44.34% (95% CI = 38.57-50.18) was found. Considering the studies published up to 2010 (1977-2010), between 2010 and 2015, and those published after 2010 (> 2010-2022), the prevalence was 53.09% (95% CI = 43.33-62.73) and 37.07% (95% CI = 28.87-45.66) and 45.40% (95% CI = 35.48-55.51), respectively. The highest prevalence was found in the American continent (63.99%), in Mexico (98.35%), and in indoor hot swimming pools (52.27%). The prevalence varied with the variation of FLA detection methods, morphology (57.21%), PCR (25.78%), and simultaneously morphology and PCR (43.16%). The global prevalence by genera was Vahlkampfia spp. (54.20%), Acanthamoeba spp. (33.47%), Naegleria spp. (30.95%), Hartmannella spp./Vermamoeba spp. (20.73%), Stenamoeba spp. (12.05%), and Vannella spp. (10.75%). There is considerable risk of FLA infection in swimming pools and recreational waters. Recreational water safety needs to be routinely monitored and, in case of risk, locations need to be identified with warning signs and users need to be educated. Swimming pools and artificial recreational water should be properly disinfected. Photolysis of NaOCl or NaCl in water by UV-C radiation is a promising alternative to disinfect swimming pools and artificial recreational waters.
Topics: Amoeba; Humans; Prevalence; Sodium Chloride; Swimming Pools; Water
PubMed: 36040629
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07631-3 -
Reviews on Environmental Health Jun 2023Over the past few decades, phthalate esters (PAEs) used as additives to improve the persistence and flexibility of polymeric materials. They are also used in cosmetics,... (Review)
Review
Over the past few decades, phthalate esters (PAEs) used as additives to improve the persistence and flexibility of polymeric materials. They are also used in cosmetics, insect repellents, and propellants, and their continuous input into drinking waters has constituted a serious risk to human health and the environment. DBPs are compounds classified as hazardous substances and have teratogenic properties. Due to the high bioaccumulation of DBP, they have toxic properties in different organisms, making it very important to remove PAEs before discharging them into environments. In this study a systematic review was designed to evaluate Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) studies which have successfully treated contaminated water with PAEs. Among AOPs, particularly photocatalytic, UV/HO photolysis, sonolysis, and ozone-based processes were more tried to degrade PAEs in aqueous solutions. Additionally, a more detail of each AOPs was explained. Findings showed that all advanced oxidation processes, especially combined AOPs have good results in the degradation of PAEs in water.
Topics: Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Phthalic Acids; Drinking Water; Esters; China
PubMed: 35390247
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0001 -
Journal of Environmental Health Science... Jun 2021Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate insecticide, due to its high efficiency and low cost is widely used in the agricultural industry. CPF may lead to lung deficiency,... (Review)
Review
Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate insecticide, due to its high efficiency and low cost is widely used in the agricultural industry. CPF may lead to lung deficiency, central nervous system damage, developmental and autoimmune disorders. In recent decades, the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been considered in water and wastewater treatment due to their high efficiency in decomposition of organic and inorganic compounds, specially hardly biodegradable or non-biodegradable compounds. In the present review study, the most common AOPs (such as Fenton and Photo-Fenton processes, UV/HO photolysis, UV/TiO heterogeneous photo catalysis, electrochemical processes, sonolysis technology, gamma irradiation technology and sulfate-based AOPs) applied for CPF removal from aqueous matrices has been investigated. It can be concluded that the use of AOPs are effective for CPF removal from aqueous media. In addition, Fenton and photocatalytic processes appear to be the most common techniques for CPF degradation.
PubMed: 34150308
DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00674-1 -
Journal of Exposure Science &... May 2022The popularity of tattooing has increased significantly over recent years. This has raised concerns about the safety of tattoo inks and their metabolites/degradation... (Review)
Review
The popularity of tattooing has increased significantly over recent years. This has raised concerns about the safety of tattoo inks and their metabolites/degradation products. The photolytic and metabolic degradation of tattoo pigments may result in the formation of toxic compounds, with unforeseen health risks. A systematic literature review was undertaken to determine the current state of knowledge of tattoo pigments' degradation products when irradiated with sunlight, laser light or metabolised. The review demonstrates that there is a lack of knowledge regarding tattoo pigment degradation/metabolism, with only eleven articles found pertaining to the photolysis of tattoo pigments and two articles on the metabolism of tattoo pigments. The limited research indicates that the photolysis of tattoo pigments could result in many toxic degradation products, including hydrogen cyanide and carcinogenic aromatic amines.
Topics: Coloring Agents; Humans; Ink; Lasers; Sunlight; Tattooing
PubMed: 34274958
DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00364-y -
Reviews on Environmental Health Jun 2023This study addresses a systematic review of the scientific literature to evaluate the most common advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the removal of phthalate esters... (Review)
Review
This study addresses a systematic review of the scientific literature to evaluate the most common advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for the removal of phthalate esters (PE) in aqueous matrices. Six AOP were reviewed for PE degradation such as processes based on photolysis, Fenton, ozonation and sulfate radicals ( ), combined AOP and other processes. The PE degradation efficiencies by AOP processes ranged from 40.3 to 100%. In the reviewed literature, an initial PE concentration within 0.04-250 mg/L was applied. The HO concentrations used in the UV/HO process and O concentrations in ozonation-based processes ranged between 0.85-1,360.6 mg/L and 2-4,971 mg/L, respectively. Based on the reported results, the PE oxidation data fit well to the pseudo-first order kinetic model. A review of the studies revealed that many oxidant species are produced in the AOP, including hydroxyl radicals (OH), , superoxide radical anions ( ), hydroperoxyl radicals (HO ), hydrogen peroxide (HO), and singlet oxygen (O). Among these oxidants, OH play a key role in the degradation of PE. However, are more effective and efficient than OH since has a higher oxidation power (E = 2.5-3.1 V) compared to OH radicals (E = 1.8-2.7 V). In different AOP processes, the aromatic rings of PE are destroyed by OH and produce intermediates such as phthalic acid (CH(COH)), benzoic acid ethyl ester (CHO), 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (CHO), formic acid (CHO), acetic acid (CHCOOH), and oxalic acid (CHO), among some others. Until now, limited data have been reported on PE toxicity assessment. The reviewed literature has shown that AOP can be used effectively to degrade PE from aqueous matrices. However, this systematic study suggests focusing more on the evaluation of the toxicity of the effluent resulting from AOP for the decomposition of PE in future studies.
Topics: Esters; Hydrogen Peroxide; Ultraviolet Rays; Oxidation-Reduction; Ozone; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification
PubMed: 37261847
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0147 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jan 2023This investigation applied a systematic review approach on publications covering primary data during 2012-2022 with a focus on photocatalytic degradation of pollutants... (Review)
Review
This investigation applied a systematic review approach on publications covering primary data during 2012-2022 with a focus on photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in aqueous solution by composite materials synthesized with biomass and, at least, TiO and/or ZnO semiconductors to form biomass-based composite photocatalysts (BCPs). After applying a set of eligibility criteria, 107 studies including 832 observations/entries were analyzed. The average removal efficiency and degradation kinetic rate reported for all model pollutants and BCPs were 77.5 ± 21.5% and 0.064 ± 0.174 min, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to analyze BCPs synthesis methods, experimental conditions, and BCPs' characteristics correlated with the removal efficiency and photodegradation kinetics. The relevance of adsorption processes on the pollutants' removal efficiency was highlighted by PCA applied to all categories of pollutants (PCA_pol). The PCA applied to textile dyes (PCA_dyes) and pharmaceutical compounds (PCA_pharma) also indicate the influence of variables related to the composite synthesis (i.e., thermal treatment and time spent on BCPs synthesis) and photocatalytic experimental parameters (catalyst concentration, pollutant concentration, and irradiation time) on the degradation kinetic accomplished by BCPs. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis (PCA_pol) revealed that the specific surface area and the narrow band gap are key characteristics for BCPs to serve as a competitive photocatalyst. The effect of scavengers on pollutants' degradation and the recyclability of BCPs are also discussed, as necessary aspects for scalability trends. Further investigations are recommended to compare the performance of BCPs and commercial catalysts, as well as to assess the costs to treat real wastewater.
Topics: Wastewater; Biomass; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Photolysis; Coloring Agents; Catalysis; Titanium
PubMed: 36441319
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24089-z -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2020The fate and transport of Hg species in natural aquatic environment are strongly affected by photochemical transformation of Hg, Hg, and MeHg. Migration of Hg is... (Review)
Review
The fate and transport of Hg species in natural aquatic environment are strongly affected by photochemical transformation of Hg, Hg, and MeHg. Migration of Hg is determined by its complexation with organic and inorganic ligands that are widely present in the water. The presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is closely related to photochemical reactions of Hg. DOM can strongly bind to mercury (e.g., Hg and MeHg), thus affecting its speciation, mobility and toxicity, eventually dominating its bioavailability. This review summarizes extensive studies on photochemical behaviors of Hg including: (1) photo-oxidation; (2) photo-reduction; (3) photochemical methylation; and (4) MeHg photo-degradation. Photo-oxidation of Hg is mostly caused by oxidative free radicals (e.g., •OH, CO, O, and O), while photo-reduction of Hg is more complicated and it involves two pathways: (1) primary processes (direct photolysis of Hg or ligand-metal charge transfer of Hg-DOM complex); and (2) secondary processes (reduction of Hg-DOM complex induced by free radicals derived from DOM photolysis). Photochemical methylation of inorganic Hg occurs as follows: (1) Hg complexes with methyl donors (e.g., acetic acid, tert-butyl, alcohols, etc.) to form intermediates, followed by (2) an intramolecular methyl transfer. MeHg photo-degradation is the leading pathway for MeHg demethylation and it primarily proceeds via four different pathways. The information on DOM was also mentioned, but DOM is not the only factor that affects the photochemical behaviors of Hg. Other influencing factors such as: (1) pH value; (2) dissolved oxygen; (3) cations (Fe, K) and anions (NO, HCO, CO, Cl); and (4) suspended substance cannot be ignored.
PubMed: 32143045
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137540 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The unavailability of non-poisonous and hygienic food substances is the most challenging issue of the modern era. The uncontrolled usage of toxic colorant moieties in... (Review)
Review
The unavailability of non-poisonous and hygienic food substances is the most challenging issue of the modern era. The uncontrolled usage of toxic colorant moieties in cosmetics and food manufacturing units leads to major threats to human life. The selection of environmentally benign approaches for the removal of these toxic dyes has gained the utmost attention from researchers in recent decades. This review article's main aim is the focus on the application of green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) for the photocatalytic degradation of toxic food dyes. The use of synthetic dyes in the food industry is a growing concern due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment. In recent years, photocatalytic degradation has emerged as an effective and eco-friendly method for the removal of these dyes from wastewater. This review discusses the various types of green-synthesized NPs that have been used for photocatalytic degradation (without the production of any secondary pollutant), including metal and metal oxide NPs. It also highlights the synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and photocatalytic efficiency of these NPs. Furthermore, the review explores the mechanisms involved in the photocatalytic degradation of toxic food dyes using green-synthesized NPs. Different factors that responsible for the photodegradation, are also highlighted. Advantages and disadvantages, as well as economic cost, are also discussed briefly. This review will be advantageous for the readers because it covers all aspects of dyes photodegradation. The future feature and limitations are also part of this review article. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the potential of green-synthesized NPs as a promising alternative for the removal of toxic food dyes from wastewater.
Topics: Humans; Wastewater; Coloring Agents; Photolysis; Metal Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Oxides
PubMed: 37375155
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124600