Wastewater and Biosolids Management covers a wide range of current, new and emerging topics in wastewater and biosolids. The book addresses the theoretical and practical aspect of the reuse and looks to advance our knowledge on wastewater reuse and its application in agricultural production.The book aims to present existing modern information about wastewater reuse management based on earlier literature on the one hand and recent research developments, many of which have not so far been implemented into actual practice on the other. It combines the practical and theoretical knowledge about ‘wastewater and biosolids management’ and in this sense it is useful for researchers, students, academicians as well as for professionals.ISBN 9781780408224 (Paperback)ISBN 9781780408231 (eBook)

The increasing demand for sustainable water management calls for effective treatment technologies capable of addressing the high pollutant load and toxicity of textile- and laundry-derived effluents. In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of industrial textile inks and synthetic laundry wastewater (SLW) was investigated using commercial ZnO under solar-simulated irradiation. Process optimization was carried out by evaluating the effect of catalyst concentration (0.25-2.00 g/L), initial pH (3-10), and catalyst reuse over multiple cycles. Scavenger experiments were performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism, while a comparison with TiO2 allowed benchmarking of photocatalytic performance. ZnO demonstrated excellent degradation capability toward both individual and mixed inks, achieving up to 100 % color removal but limited COD reduction (<25 %), indicating partial mineralization of residual organic matter. For SLW, ZnO reached a maximum degradation efficiency of 75 %, with 92 % color removal and 45 % COD reduction at an optimal concentration of 1 g/L and natural pH (6.7). Scavenger tests revealed that photogenerated holes (h(+)) were the dominant reactive species. ZnO outperformed TiO2 under the same conditions, confirming its higher responsiveness to solar light. The catalyst maintained high efficiency (>75 %) over four consecutive reuse cycles. Ecotoxicity tests using Artemia franciscana showed that ZnO photocatalytic treatment reduced the intrinsic toxicity of ink mixtures and SLW; however, residual toxic effects were observed, mainly attributable to the presence of ZnO powders. Overall, the study presents a proof-of-concept for the use of ZnO as a reusable photocatalyst for solar-assisted treatment of colored effluents, showing optimal performance under near-neutral pH, while highlighting the need for catalyst immobilization and extended irradiation periods to enhance COD reduction and improve ecotoxicological compatibility.

The treatment of laundry wastewater, a source of complex and hazardous pollutants, remains a pressing environmental challenge. Three waste-derived biochars produced from pruning waste (P-BC), almond shells (A-BC), and stabilized organic fraction (S-BC), were used in a packed column configuration, for the treatment of synthetic laundry wastewater (SLW) with high colour number (CN = 17.8 m(-1)) and COD (approximate to 100 mg/L), obtained by the washing of imported textiles. Adsorption performance was evaluated via UV-Vis spectroscopy and correlated with detailed material characterization (XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, CHNS analysis). All BCs showed a disordered graphitic structure, while A-BC and S-BC specifically contained inorganic crystalline compounds. SEM analysis evidenced a channel-like structure for P-BC; ridges and flat areas on the surface of A-BC; roundish pores alongside with straight and zigzagged channels for S-BC. FT-IR spectra revealed surface hydroxyl, aliphatic and aromatic groups in all BCs. Specific surface area resulted approximate to 245, 212, 344 m(2)/g for P-BC, A-BC and S-BC respectively. S-BC exhibited the highest efficiency (99% of colour and 98% of organic matter removal) within 120 min, at differente pH values (3 & 9). Ecotoxicity assays showed that SLW was highly toxic in all life stages of Artemia franciscana, while the mortality was significantly reduced in the treated effluents. None of the biochar exhibited acute toxicity, confirming their environmental compatibility. Waste-based biochars, particularly S-BC, can serve as efficient, scalable, and environmentally safe materials for column-based treatment of laundry wastewater, offering a promising route toward integrating low-cost adsorption processes into decentralized wastewater reuse treatment plants.

Within the framework of circular economy, three waste-derived biochars (BCs) obtained from pruning residues (P-BC), almond shells (A-BC), and the stabilized organic fraction of municipal solid waste (S-BC) were investigated as sustainable adsorbents for the removal of chloramphenicol (CAP) from aqueous solutions, the ecotoxicological safety of the treated effluents was evaluated as well. BCs were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method (BET), and proximate analyses exhibiting distinct structural and surface characteristics. S-BC showed the highest specific surface area (344 m2/g) and pore volume, whereas XRD and FT-IR analyses revealed the presence of mineral phases, mainly calcite, in A-BC and S-BC. All materials displayed a high volatile matter content (up to 73.3 %). P-BC, A-BC and S-BC allowed up to 95 %, 83 % and 96 % of CAP removal, respectively. Equilibrium and kinetic modelling indicated that adsorption involved multiple interacting mechanisms associated with surface interactions and diffusion phenomena. S-BC exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (122.0 mg/g), which was attributed to its more developed porous structure and favourable surface properties. Ecotoxicological assays revealed CAP’s clear dose-dependent toxicity toward Artemia franciscana. None of the BCs showed intrinsic toxicity (p > 0.05), while treated effluents significantly reduced CAP-induced mortality at low and moderate pollutant concentrations. At higher CAP concentrations, the progressive saturation of adsorption sites resulted in lower removal efficiencies and reduced detoxification performance. BCs, particularly S-BC, represent promising circular-economy materials for the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated waters.

Paracetamol is one of the most widely consumed pharmaceutical compounds globally, yet its environmental and human health impacts remain poorly characterized. This study provides a comprehensive environmental risk assessment of paracetamol by combining Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) modeling with global occurrence data. A total of 55 EC₁₀ values from aquatic species were collected to define the related SSD, resulting in a hazard concentration affecting the 5 % of the population (HC₅) of 0.05 mg/L and a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 0.01 mg/L. Paracetamol concentrations were compiled from multiple environmental compartments, including wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influents and effluents, hospital and industrial discharges, surface waters, groundwater, and drinking water, across five continents. Risk Quotients (RQs) revealed extremely high ecological risks in influents (up to RQ > 800) and notable risks in surface and treated waters in countries with limited wastewater infrastructure. A preliminary human health risk assessment based on drinking water data was also performed to estimate Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotients (HQs) for adults and children. HQ values were consistently higher in children, but remained below the safety threshold (HQ < 1) across all scenarios. The findings underscore both the environmental persistence of paracetamol and the importance of strengthening monitoring efforts, especially in regions with elevated exposure. The study also highlights the need to consider cumulative effects from pharmaceutical mixtures and account for age-specific vulnerability in future risk assessments. Overall, this work provides a robust, global perspective on the risks posed by paracetamol and offers actionable insights for regulatory and public health interventions.

The persistent occurrence of antibiotics like chloramphenicol (CAP) in aquatic systems poses serious environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of CAP using cerium oxide (CeO2), lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and lanthanum-doped cerium oxide (CexLayO2−δ), synthesized via co-precipitation. The catalysts were tested under a solar simulator, UV-A, and UV-C radiation, both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Structural characterization confirmed successful synthesis of nanometric catalysts, with La doping causing lattice expansion in CeO2 and a reduction in crystallite size (from 27 nm in CeO2 to ~20 nm in doped samples). Photolysis alone achieved limited CAP removal (~34–35%), while photocatalysis with La2O3 under UV-A and UV-C improved removal up to 58% and 55%, respectively. Complete degradation was obtained with La2O3 under UV-C in the presence of H2O2 within 15 min. Pareto analysis highlighted the dominant effect of the interaction between radiation and H2O2 (43%), while the catalyst type contributed minimally (0.23%). These findings confirm the potential of REE oxides, especially La2O3, in advanced oxidation processes and underscore the importance of light source and radical generation over catalyst selection alone.

An azo dye, acid orange (AO7), and an antibiotic, chloramphenicol (CAP), were selected as target compounds to evaluate the efficiency of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Synthesized nZVI were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis before and after the treatment process. The removal of both contaminants increased with of nZVI dosage (0.1125 g/L - 1 g/L), from 41 % up to 93 % for CAP and from 17 % up to 97 % for AO7, after 10 min of reaction. The SEM analysis performed at the end of the treatment revealed that, as result of the oxidation of nZVI, the chain-like structure completely disappeared whereas Fe and O were evenly distributed on the sample surface. At acidic conditions the removal of CAP and AO7 after 10 min of reaction reached 87 % and 84 %, respectively. At alkaline condition 69 % and 46 % of CAP and AO7 removal could be achieved after 80 min of reaction. The treatments with nZVI greatly reduced the toxicity of the starting CAP and AO7 solutions for all Artemia franciscana life stages but further efforts are necessary to achieve nZVI immobilization onto macroscopic supports.

Water contamination by organic pollutants and pathogens poses serious environmental and public health risks. Developing sustainable, efficient materials that can simultaneously degrade organic pollutants and inactivate bacteria in water offer a low cost, eco-friendly alternative to conventional treatment methods that often require high energy or produce toxic by-products. For this purpose, doped TiO₂ photocatalysts are been studying, but still there are limitations in terms of optimal concentration, synthesis, supporting substrates and modest band gap reduction. In this work, metal and non-metal co-doped TiO₂ photocatalysts (Fe, N, and Fe-N) are immobilized in polylactic acid (PLA) submicrometric fibers mats prepared by solution blow spinning (SBS). These composites are evaluated for their dual function: the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants under simulated sunlight and the inactivation of Escherichia coli. The morphological study of the materials by scanning electron microscopy points out the uniform dispersion of photocatalysts in the PLA fibers with dimensions at the submicrometric scale and rough surfaces where photocatalytic particles are located. Raman spectroscopy confirms the stability of the active anatase phase of the photocatalysts after their immobilization. As a consequence of a higher bandgap energy reduction of TiO₂ and a better separation of photo-generated charge carriers, the PLA/Fe-N-TiO₂ system demonstrates superior photocatalytic activity compared to the single-doped systems, showing in addition consistent performance over five reuse cycles, with degradation efficiencies exceeding 55 %. Additionally, it achieves over 90 % E. coli inactivation after 180 min. These results highlight the potential of PLA/Fe-N-TiO₂ supported in PLA nanofibers as a sustainable, reusable solution for water treatment, effectively degrading organic pollutants and inactivating harmful bacteria.

This study presents the development and evaluation of a graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped titanium dioxide heterostructure for the visible-light photocatalytic degradation of chloramphenicol, a persistent pharmaceutical contaminant. The graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped titanium dioxide heterostructures were synthesized via a low-temperature evaporation method and extensively characterized by Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The optimized graphitic carbon nitride/N-doped titanium dioxide sample demonstrated superior photocatalytic efficiency, achieving 81 % chloramphenicol removal after 180 min at an initial pollutant concentration of 25 mg/ L, with a kinetic rate constant of 0.0092 min-1 . Mechanistic investigations, including radical scavenging experiments and band structure analysis, revealed that the photocatalytic process follows an S-scheme charge transfer pathway, in which photogenerated electrons in the conduction band of graphitic carbon nitride and holes in the valence band of N-dopedTiO2 are preserved as the main active species. Superoxide radicals were identified as dominant, while hydroxyl radicals also contributed to the degradation process. The material exhibited excellent reusability and stability over five cycles. High-resolution mass spectrometry identified five major degradation intermediates, suggesting pathways involving dehydroxylation, oxidative cleavage, and ring-opening. Furthermore, additional tests conducted at a more environmentally relevant chloramphenicol concentration (100 mu g/L) confirmed the photocatalyst's effectiveness, achieving substantial pollutant removal in both distilled and tap water matrices. confirmed the photocatalyst's effectiveness in both distilled and tap water matrices. Although chloramphenicol was substantially degraded, ecotoxicity tests revealed residual toxicity in the effluents, likely due to partial mineralization and the intrinsic toxicity of the suspended photocatalyst. These results demonstrate that the graphitic carbon nitride/Ndoped titanium dioxide heterostructure is a highly efficient and energy-saving photocatalyst. However, the persistence of ecotoxicological effects underscores the need for additional post-treatment steps aimed at both removing transformation products and mitigating catalyst-related toxicity.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has determined a global health crisis. To control its spread, countries implemented several measures including social distancing and mask-wearing. Single-use face masks, gloves, and face shields made from various synthetic materials can significantly accumulate in the marine environment, along with other substances such as plasticizers, lubricants, and stabilizers, many of which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). This study investigates the potential impacts of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) on marine environment after artificial weathering in synthetic seawater for 1, 3, and 7 days at room temperature and 50 °C. Raman spectroscopy revealed the release of polymeric additives such as plasticizers from polypropylene- and nitrile-based materials. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Carbon (TC) analyses showed a time-dependent increase in organic content, with the highest concentrations recorded in FFP2 mask leachates after 7 days. Acute toxicity assays using Artemia franciscana indicated elevated mortality in juvenile and metanauplii stages, particularly for leachates from masks. Molecular analysis further showed up- or down-regulation of defensome-related genes (e.g., hsp26, hsp60, hsp70, COXI, COXIII, NADH, ZMP) following exposure, suggesting stress responses linked to contaminant exposure. These findings provide critical insights into the environmental risks posed by PPE-derived contaminants and underscore the need for effective disposal strategies to mitigate long-term marine impacts.

Photocatalytic technologies represent an innovative method to reduce microbial load on surfaces, even considering recent public health emergencies involving coronaviruses and other microorganisms, whose presence has been detected on surfaces. In this review paper, the antimicrobial efficacy of various photocatalysts applied by different coating methods on different surfaces has been compared and critically discussed. Publications reviewing the use of photocatalytic coatings on surfaces for antimicrobial effectiveness have been examined. Clear search parameters were employed to analyze the PubMed, Scopus, and WOS databases, resulting in 45 papers published between 2006 to 2023 that met the inclusion criteria. The paper assessed various types of photocatalytic coatings that targeted different microbial objectives. Based on the pooled data analysis, the TiO2 coating exhibited a substantial effect in decreasing bacteria strains, both Gram-positive and -negative (99.4%). Although the diversity of these technologies poses significant obstacles to obtaining a comprehensive final assessment of their effectiveness and feasibility for surface application, subgroup analysis indicated significant variations in the removal efficiency of Gram-positive strains based on different surface types (p = 0.005) and time of exposure (p = 0.05). Photocatalytic coatings provide a promising approach to combating the spread of microorganisms on surfaces. Further "in-field" investigations are necessary in the foreseeable future to explore and optimize this novel and exciting health technology.

Monolithic composite aerogel based on a photocatalytic system, constituted by Fe0 (ZVI) coupled with ZnS (FZ), embedded into syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) matrix was used, for the first time, in the lindane degradation under UV light. The content of FZ photocatalyst inside the monolithic composite aerogel (FZsPS) composite was 3 wt%. FESEM images of FZsPS indicate that the FZ photocatalyst is well dispersed in the polymer matrix. EDS analyses and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR-H2) measurements revealed an interpenetrated structure of the ZVI and ZnS phases as well the presence of some iron in an oxidized form. Photocatalytic activity data showed that in presence FZsPS aerogel, the almost complete lindane degradation was achieved after only 30 min of UV irradiation time. FZsPS was also effective in the lindane mineralization since a TOC removal of about 94 % was detected after 180 min of treatment time. Remarkably, based on the toxicity evaluation on Artemia fran-ciscana, while the bare FZ photocatalyst showed significant toxicity per se, no toxicity or genotoxicity was found in the water treated with the FZsPS composite system where FZ is immobilized into the sPS aerogel matrix. Therefore the proposed composite photocatalyst can be considered as a model for a strategy to eliminate the environmental impact of catalysts that would otherwise be harmful to water.

The extensive use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to the emergence of antibiotic contaminants in the environment, posing significant risks to ecosystems and public health. This contamination arises from the persistence of antibiotics in aquatic environments, particularly in aquifer systems, where they contribute to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Despite increasing research, the understanding of the ecological and human health implications of these contaminants remains incomplete. Since these compounds are only partially removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), they are continuously released into the environment. Antibiotics enter the environment mainly through human and animal excretions, improper drug disposal, wastewater treatment plants, and waste streams from antibiotic production. Recent research has focused on antibiotic metabolites and transformation products, which can affect aquatic ecosystems and the food chain, posing long-term risks to human health. This critical review provides a comprehensive analysis of the risk assessment of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) in European aquatic environments, where VAs concentrations ranging from micrograms to milligrams per liter. By examining toxicity data from freshwater and saltwater species, the study evaluates acute and chronic effects across different antibiotic classes. The review also assesses the sensitivity of various taxonomic groups and species to different antibiotics, providing insights into potential ecological risks. Species sensitivity distributions and hazard concentrations affecting a given percentage of species are calculated to assess the overall ecological risk. The findings reveal varying proportions of toxicity data across antibiotic classes, with Aminoglycosides, β-lactams, Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides, and Tetracyclines classes demonstrating higher toxicity levels than others towards certain cyanobacteria and chlorophyta species. Macrolides and Fluoroquinolones emerge as particularly concerning due to their high toxicological risks across various aquatic environments. The analysis underscores the urgent need for further research to fill knowledge gaps and develop effective strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of VAs on aquatic ecosystems and human health.

In this paper, the effect of light modulation on photocatalytic ceftriaxone (CEF) degradation in aqueous solution was investigated. The experimental set-up consisted of a fixed bed photocatalytic reactor with a flat plate geometry and visible LEDs for irradiation. Fe-N-codoped TiO2 photocatalyst was immobilized on a polystyrene plate (PS) by solvent casting method to achieve a structured photocatalyst (Fe-N-TiO2/PS), which was loaded in the photoreactor. Raman and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Fe-N-TiO2 on the PS surface and its uniform distribution on the polymer support. Various LEDs dimming techniques were tested with fixed and variable duty-cycle values. In particular, the following modulations were used: fixed dutycycle (FD), sinusoidal variable duty-cycle (S-VD), triangular variable duty-cycle (T-VD), square wave variable duty-cycle (SW-VD), saw-tooth variable duty-cycle (ST-VD), pulse variable duty-cycle (P-VD), and pseudosinusoidal variable duty-cycle (PS-VD). The optimal light modulation was the S-VD, with an average fed current between 25 and 75 mA and a period of 30 s. Indeed, by using S-VD modulation, the highest value of the apparent CEF degradation kinetic constant (resulting 0.0082 min-1) and the highest total organic carbon (TOC) removal (70 %) were achieved. By comparing the electric energy consumption (EE/O) with S-VD modulation used in this work with those found in other literature studies dealing with the photocatalytic ceftriaxone degradation, a significant decrease of EE/O was evidenced. Moreover, toxicity test showed that the photocatalytic treatment allowed to significantly reduce the toxicity of CEF solution when compared to untreated effluent.

Azo dyes, the most common synthetic dyes used in the textile industry, are known xenobiotic compounds and recalcitrant to conventional degradation treatments. As consequence, such contaminants are often discharged into the effluents, treating aquatic ecosystems. Among several processes, the use of zero valent iron (ZVI) represents a suitable alternative to degrade organic molecules containing azo bonds. However, its applications are limited by corrosion and loss of reactivity over the time. To overcome these constraints, ZVI has been coupled to a suitable semiconductor (ZnS) to get a catalytic composite (ZVI-ZnS) active under UV light. The present work deals with the degradation of acid orange (AO7), used as model azo dye, by UV/ZVI-ZnS, as one step treatment and in combination with an adsorption process by biochar. The influence of ZVI-ZnS concentration (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/L) and reaction time (0-160 min) on degradation of AO7 were investigated. Intermediates formation was monitored by ESI-FT-ICR-MS analysis and the effluent toxicity was assessed by using Artemia franciscana. The experimental results showed that the UV/ZVI-ZnS process at 1 g/L of catalyst allowed to achieve a removal of AO7 up to 97% after 10 min. An increase of the dye relative concentrations as well as the toxicity related to intermediates formations has been observed for treatment time higher than 10 min. The total removal of AO7 together with effluent toxicity reduction was obtained only after the combined treatment (UV/ZVI-ZnS + biochar).

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is gaining increasing attention as a promising approach for advanced water treatment to degrade persistent organic pollutants. Aqueous solutions of sulfamethoxazole (4-amino-N-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)-benzensulfonamide, SMZ), an antibiotic largely employed for humans and animals and a widespread persistent pollutant of waters and wastewaters, were subjected to air NTP treatment in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. The effects of SMZ initial concentration and of the solution pH on SMZ decomposition kinetics and transformation products were investigated. Efficient degradation was achieved, resulting in the complete removal of SMZ (10 μM initial concentration) in less than 25 min treatments, in the exhaustive mineralization (a result never reported before in plasma treatments and seldom reached also with other advanced oxidation processes) of all organic carbon in 6 h and in an energy efficiency of 6.4 g/kWh at 50% conversion. By means of HPLC-UV/Vis and LC-ESI-MSn analyses, a number of organic transformation products was identified along the path to SMZ mineralization, all present always in very small amounts and in turn decomposed at short treatment times. The effect of the solution pH on the genesis and decay of transformation products was also investigated. Based on comparisons with literature data and on previous findings obtained with the DBD reactor used in this work, it is concluded that the major reactive species involved in the degradation of SMZ are the hydroxyl radical and ozone. Finally, toxicological analyses of water initially containing 0.5 mM SMZ and subjected to 4 h NTP treatment showed that the by-products are not toxic to Raphidocelis subcapitata and Daphnia magna, while residual toxicity was detected by Aliivibrio fischeri.

Rare earth elements (REEs) encompass 15 lanthanides and play a crucial role in modern technology. Despite their essential uses, REEs are emerging environmental contaminants due to their growing presence in industrial, agricultural, and medical applications. For the first time, the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach was applied to REEs considering 58 papers including toxicity about Ce, Dy, Er, Gd, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, and Y. SSD curves were constructed by log-logistic model providing comprehensive comparisons of the sensitivities of different species to the relative REEs deriving the hazardous concentrations (HC) at 5 % and 50 %. The review reveals that arthropods, especially Daphnia magna, and echinoderms such as Sphaerechinus granularis exhibit high sensitivity especially to Ce, Er, and Lu. Conversely, vertebrates, particularly Oncorhynchus mykiss, showed greater tolerance to REEs exposure. The general hazard perception evidenced the following prioritization list according to HC5 values in increasing order: Dy (0.03 μg/l) > Ce (0.15 μg/l) > Sm (0.29 μg/l) > La (0.64 μg/l) > Y (0.81 μg/l) > Gd (0.95 μg/l) > Pr (1.44 μg/l) > Er (1.45 μg/l) > Nd (1.67 μg/l) > Lu (2.19 μg/l). This review highlighted gaps in REEs ecotoxicity, particularly regarding heavy REEs (HREEs), and stressed the need for more data on their long-term one-health impacts. Such knowledge is vital for developing strategies to mitigate REEs contamination, emphasizing the importance of establishing safe exposure thresholds to protect both ecosystems and human health.

Marine microplastics, categorized as primary and secondary, including synthetic microfibers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and acrylic (PC), represent a potential environmental concern. The complex classification of these fibers, originating from diverse sources such as textiles and many others commercial goods, prompts a need for understanding their impact on aquatic organisms. This study assesses the ecological risks associated with both natural and synthetic fibers in aquatic ecosystems, focusing on toxicity data and their effects on taxonomic groups like Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Cnidaria, and Chordata. To carry out species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves, a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature was conducted, collecting toxicity data related to various fibers. The resulting SSDs provide insights into the relative sensitivity of different taxonomic groups. The potential ecological risks were evaluated by comparing measured concentrations in diverse aquatic environments with Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) values. The calculation of Risk Quotient (RQ) allowed to indicate areas where fibers abundance poses a potential threat to aquatic organisms. The study reveals that nylon fibers can pose the highest toxicity risk, especially in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, Arabian Gulf and VietNam river. Mollusca emerged as particularly sensitive to different fiber types, likely due to their body structure facilitating the accumulation of microfibers. The research emphasizes the urgent need for further studies to get data to human health risk analysis and to address comprehensive environmental management strategies to address the global issue of microfiber pollution.

Recreational water activities are widely recognized to have a positive impact on our physical and mental well-being. However, recreational water sources and their management are also a risk factor for human health due to different agents, including the overgrowth of cyanobacteria and algae. The presence of cyanobacteria and algae in recreational waters represents a One Health threat because of their potential release and the overuse of biocides. These organisms have the potential to metabolize organic matter and produce thermophilic and thermotolerant toxins. Moreover, different species of algae are involved in biofilm formation processes, thus impacting water quality and safety and also posing risks to the environment and animal and human health. Different species of algae participate in biofilm formation and have an impact on managing water and equipment maintenance. By searching literature databases, e.g., PubMed, we reviewed the state of the art, providing basic definitions, taxonomy, and epidemiological or medical issues related to the recreational uses of water. Methods of treatments and monitoring were summarized, considering both traditional and innovative strategies. Public health and surveillance approaches focus on the detection of toxins, the formation of biofilms, and the understanding of the benthonic and planktonic components as part of the larger microbial biodiversity. The review process allowed us to acknowledge that this is the first comprehensive overview of algae in recreational waters carried out within a wider One Health outlook.

In this study, La2O3 and CeO2 nanopowders were prepared using a simple and cost-effective precipitation method. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), UV-Visible reflectance diffuses (UV-Vis DRS), Raman spectroscopy, and specific surface area were used to characterize the photocatalysts, evidencing that the used preparation method was effective in the generation of crystalline CeO2 and La2O3. In particular, WAXD results showed that the average crystallite size of the achieved La2O3 and CeO2 samples were about 22 nm and 28 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic performances of the prepared catalysts were investigated in the degradation of levofloxacin (LEV) and the inactivation of a waterborne pathogen levofloxacin resistant (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) by using a photoreactor equipped with a solar simulator (SS). After 120 min, the CeO2 and La2O3 photocatalytic treatments allowed us to achieve between 75% and 83% of levofloxacin removal, respectively. A complete removal of 106 CFU/mL Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was achieved after 5 and 60 min of La2O3 and CeO2 photocatalytic processes, respectively.