FARMACI, INQUINAMENTO AMBIENTALE ED EFFETTI SULLA SALUTE
Inquinamento ambientale dei farmacidrugs and environmental pollution: Latest results from PubMed
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Molecular Mechanisms of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Emerging-Pollutant Toxicity in Human Reproduction: From Xenobiotic Exposure to Fertility Impairment and Reproductive Carcinogenesis
Human fertility is declining across industrialised populations, while the incidence of hormone-dependent reproductive cancers rises. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and structurally related emerging pollutants are implicated in both. These two outcomes are generally reviewed as separate studies. This review argues that they are two latencies of a single molecular toxicology. The compounds concerned are structurally diverse: phthalates, bisphenols, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances... -
Microalgae-mediated treatment of pharmaceutical contaminants: degradation pathways, advance system design, and priority research needs
Pharmaceutical residues are increasingly detected in freshwater systems at concentrations ranging from g/L to /L, raising concerns due to their persistence, bioactivity, and potential ecological and human health impacts. Conventional wastewater treatment plants typically achieve limited removal efficiencies (often 30-60% for many compounds such as carbamazepine and diclofenac), necessitating alternative treatment strategies. This review critically evaluates microalgae-based pond and consortia... -
Research advances on comprehensive utilization of non-medicinal parts of Coptis chinensis
Non-medicinal parts(NMP) of Coptis chinensis are abundant but have long been discarded as agricultural waste, resulting in resource wastage and environmental pollution. Research indicates that NMP contains active components similar to those in rhizomes, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids. These components exhibit pharmacological activities such as hypoglycemic and lipid-regulating effects, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial activity, while demonstrating high safety... -
Mechanisms of toxicity and stress tolerance in aquatic plants under combined exposure to pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and eutrophication: A meta-analysis
Given the increasing co-occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and eutrophication in aquatic environments, it is crucial to understand PPCP-nutrient-plant interactions and their combined ecological impact. However, the literature regarding quantitative thresholds and metabolic trade-offs remain highly fragmented. In this meta-analysis, we compiled a dataset comprising 407 observations from 38 rigorously screened studies, covering various PPCP classes and floating,... -
Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Indian Freshwaters: Toxicological Pathways, Ecological Risks, and Remediation Approaches
Pharmaceutical pollution of freshwater ecosystems is an emerging environmental and public-health issue in India. The high drug consumption in the country, along with the presence of concentrated manufacturing hubs, inadequate wastewater treatment, and weak monitoring systems, is leading to rising pollutant release. This review summarizes the existing evidence on pharmaceutical contaminants in Indian freshwaters with the focus on classes of pollutants, sources of contamination, environmental... -
An overview of environmental pharmacoepidemiology
Environmental pharmacoepidemiology (EPE) is an emerging interdisciplinary field developed to address the health challenges arising from the complex interactions between environmental factors and drug effects. This paper systematically introduces the definitions, core research domains, methodological framework, and public health significance of EPE. The field's primary objective is to integrate data on environmental exposures and drug utilization to evaluate how the environment influences the... -
Environmental Fate of Emerging Contaminants and Their Transformation Products in Mexican Aquatic Systems: Distribution, Persistence, Monitoring Gaps, and Removal
Emerging contaminants (ECs) represent a growing environmental problem due to their presence in various environmental matrices. In Mexico, research on ECs remains limited. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analyzes their environmental fate during the period 2004-2025, considering their distribution in surface and groundwater, sediments, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The reviewed studies demonstrate the presence of... -
Unique fluoroalkyl substituents: is there life after CF3?
Over the past few decades, the trifluoromethyl group (CF(3)) has become one of the most prevalent in applied chemistry, frequently appearing in approved drugs and even more commonly in agrochemicals. However, this widespread use has led to the accumulation of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the environment as a byproduct of metabolic and environmental degradation, prompting legislative actions to restrict certain chemicals and even entire compound classes of so-called "forever chemicals". Hence,... -
A historical perspective of radioprotection studies in India with a focus on plant-derived radioprotectors
This article reviews the evolution of radioprotection research in major Indian laboratories over the past seventy years, tracing a systematic progression in the exploration of various protective agents. The significant contribution of premier Indian institutions dedicated to 'Radioprotection Development Programme' is highlighted. Early investigations focused on synthetic radiopro-tectors, particularly sulphydryl compounds, which demonstrated strong radioprotective effects in laboratory settings.... -
The exposome-autoimmunity axis: environmental xenobiotics, gut dysbiosis, and potential pathways to immunosenescence
The escalating incidence of autoimmune diseases cannot be fully explained by genetics alone. It is increasingly linked to the exposome-the cumulative burden of lifelong environmental exposures. This review examines how pollutants (particulate matter, microplastics, agrochemicals, heavy metals) reshape the gut microbiota-immune axis and disrupt intestinal homeostasis. This triggers profound dysbiosis, characterized by reduced commensal diversity and expanded pathobionts. We highlight three... -
Early mycotoxins exposure: A hidden driver of cardiometabolic risk
Mycotoxins are fungal contaminants frequently detected in staple foods worldwide. While their toxic effects on growth and organ function are well recognized, their contribution to cardiometabolic disease programming during early life has received less attention. This review highlights the role of developmental exposure to major mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol, as a hidden driver of long-term cardiometabolic risk. Evidence indicates that... -
NSAIDs in the environment: a 2020-2025 review of impacts on plant and algal Physiology
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to the most frequently detected pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, raising growing concern about their effects on non-target primary producers. Unlike earlier reviews, based mainly on data collected before the year 2020, when environmental exposure levels were substantially lower, this work synthesizes research conducted over the last five years (2020-2025), a period that includes the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The pandemic was... -
From Host-Microbiome Symbiosis to Clinical Translation: A Gut Microbiome Perspective on Radiation Enteritis
Radiotherapy is an essential component of multimodal treatment for solid tumors, and more than half of patients with cancer receive radiation during their disease course. Because of the unique anatomical and physiological features of the intestine, radiation enteritis (RE) remains a common and clinically challenging complication of abdominal and pelvic irradiation, with limited effective treatment options. In this review, we re-examine RE from a host-microbiome perspective. We summarize... -
Meloxicam in the Environment: Pathways of Entry, Ecotoxicity, and Removal Strategies
Meloxicam, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, is commonly used as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in both human and veterinary medicine. Owing to its heterocyclic structure, toxicity to invertebrates, vertebrates, and microorganisms, and potential to biomagnify through the food webs, meloxicam persists in the environment and poses a risk to ecological health. There is still a paucity of information on meloxicam as a pharmaceutical contaminant. It is not included in priority lists,... -
On the Detection and Scope of "Third-Hand Vaping": A Critical Review of the Literature
Background: "Third-hand" exposure produced by "second-hand" environmental vaping aerosol (EVA) has been reported as a parallel analogue of "third-hand smoke" (THS) produced by residues of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Methods: To assess the plausibility and scope of "third-hand" vaping exposure, we examine the available evidence on THS phenomenology and the physicochemical properties of EVA. We also evaluate daily intake doses from direct dermal exposure to nicotine under simplified but... -
Ethanol as a Modifier of Drug Toxicity in Humans: Pathways of Toxicity and Organ-Level Consequences
Ethanol consumption can modify both drug exposure and drug response. However, the clinical relevance of these interactions depends strongly on the timing and pattern of alcohol intake, the affected pharmacological pathway, the dosage form and organ reserve. This review summarizes current evidence on ethanol-drug interactions, particularly human crossover studies, phenotyping studies, cohort analyses and appropriate case reports. It distinguishes acute ethanol-drug co-exposure, chronic alcohol... -
Global black carbon aerosol: Spatiotemporal distributions, drivers, and health impacts
Black carbon (BC) is a key short-lived climate pollutant and a toxic component of PM(2.5). This review synthesizes global BC studies published since 2000 and evaluates its spatiotemporal distribution, source contributions, meteorological drivers, and health risks. The compiled evidence shows high concentrations are mainly found in South Asia and Africa, while low concentrations occur in Europe and North America. South American records were limited in the screened literature, and the apparent... -
Advances on the effects and mechanisms of maternal exposure to particulate matter on offspring neurodevelopment
Maternal particulate matter exposure is an important environmental risk factor for offspring neurodevelopment. Epidemiological and toxicological evidence indicates that prenatal particulate matter exposure is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in offspring, including anxiety-like behavior, impaired memory, and altered social behavior. This review summarizes global epidemiological evidence and relevant animal studies, and discusses potential biological... -
Interfacial electro-demulsification of industrial oily wastewater: Challenges from fundamental mechanisms to industrial implementation
Oily emulsified wastewater contains oils, salts, surfactants, PAHs, and other hazardous compounds, and its high toxicity and emulsion stability challenge conventional treatment technologies. Electrochemical demulsification offers high efficiency, mild operation, and automation potential. This review summarizes the sources, characteristics, discharge standards, and conventional treatment methods of oily emulsified wastewater, and compares three representative electrochemical technologies:... -
Contaminants of emerging concern in Mediterranean groundwater: The more we analyse, the more diversity we observe
A review of case studies investigating contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in Mediterranean groundwater (2006-2024) highlights where there are few investigations or limited CECs analysed, there is important information missing on CEC diversity. This was evident from the relatively high diversity of CECs reported in the 30 publications on Spanish groundwaters, including 127 types of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), 36 pesticides and 26 industrial products. In comparison,... -
The triple-hit hypothesis: exploring pulmonary e-cigarette, PM2.5 and viral polyexposure
Exposure to e-cigarette aerosols, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) and respiratory viruses rarely occurs in isolation, but rather in complex polyexposure contexts during daily life. On a cellular and molecular level, vaping induces a distinct lipid-laden macrophage phenotype, alters pulmonary neutrophilic infiltration and impairs epithelial differentiation and ciliary function. In contrast, PM(2.5) alters the macrophage polarisation equilibrium, temporally favouring... -
The role and therapeutic prospects of intercellular communication and RNA m6A modification in radiation-induced liver injury
Radiation-induced liver injury (RILI) is a common and severe complication of radiotherapy for abdominal and thoracic malignancies. Ionizing radiation triggers widespread alterations of the N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification landscape of hepatic RNA. Dysregulated m⁶A methylation disrupts hepatocyte homeostasis, immune cell activation and intercellular communication, and thus may contribute to the progression of RILI from acute inflammation to chronic hepatic fibrosis. Although intercellular... -
Current understanding of environmental exposures and sarcoidosis
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sarcoidosis is a heterogeneous disease with unknown etiology. The role of exposures in sarcoidosis is incompletely understood. Gene-environment interactions are likely an important aspect of sarcoidosis etiology and phenotypes. This review critically evaluates the current literature regarding the role of environmental factors in sarcoidosis. -
Making waves: The overlooked role of non-antibiotic drugs in driving antibiotic resistance gene dissemination
Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination has long been attributed primarily to antibiotic contamination. However, this paradigm is increasingly challenged by emerging evidence that non antibiotic drugs (NADs) constitute a pervasive and previously overlooked driver of ARG spread. Here, we summarize that widely-used NADs (such as antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can actively promote horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and accelerate the emergence of multidrug resistance... -
Fungal bioreactors for treatment of emerging organic pollutants: Pellet-based and immobilized configurations
This review evaluates fungal bioreactors for the removal of emerging organic pollutants, focusing on pellet-based and immobilized configurations under different operating conditions. A dataset of 71 studies was analyzed by considering reactor configuration, operating mode, and key operating parameters (e.g., pollutant family, carrier type, and wastewater sterility). Overall, removal efficiency was strongly pollutant-dependent. Exploratory comparisons across the available studies suggested that... -
Multifaceted nature of milk: potential source of parasites and a natural approach to parasite infection control
Milk, a vital dietary staple across cultures, exhibits a complex interplay of properties that extend beyond its nutritional value. This review explores the multifaceted nature of milk, highlighting its role as a potential carrier of parasitic pathogens, matrix for detecting parasitic infections, and natural methods for controlling parasitic infections. The potential presence of parasites in milk may represent a public health concern depending on factors such as animal species, regional parasite... -
Sun Exposure and Cancer Outcomes (Incidence, Treatment, Survivorship) in Outdoor Workers
Outdoor workers in the Western United States (US), such as farm laborers, landscapers, and construction crews, face daily sun exposure far above safe limits, often up to ten times more than indoor workers, placing them at high risk for non-melanoma skin cancers and melanoma. Yet, despite decades of evidence, US regulations still do not classify solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a workplace hazard. Existing protections, like California’s heat illness rules, address temperature but ignore... -
Occurrence of antibacterials, antivirals, and anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals for COVID-19 treatment as emerging contaminants in the Chinese freshwater environment before, during and after the pandemic: the need for dynamic eco-pharmacovigilance
CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed highly distinct regional and temporal variations in surface freshwater pollution by these COVID-19-associated PiE across the three periods, with no consistent regularity observed, thereby further highlighting the necessity of implementing EPV in a "dynamic" manner. Drawing on the framework of dynamic pharmacovigilance, the implementation of dynamic EPV can be promoted by establishing a dynamic watch-list mechanism, clarifying stakeholder roles, and advancing... -
Methods for Determining the Number of Mold Fungi in the Air-Current Trends
Indoor fungal contamination poses significant health concerns due to the diversity and dynamic behaviour of airborne spores. Accurate quantification of indoor fungal bioaerosols remains challenging because of variability in sampling efficiency, particle-size resolution, and analytical approaches. This review critically evaluates commonly used physical sampling methods, including Andersen cascade impactors, Coriolis μ liquid cyclones, sedimentation techniques, and filter-based air sampling, with... -
Aquaporin-1 gene therapy as a novel method to treat radiation-induced salivary gland damage: The case for adeno-associated virus vectors
Head and neck cancer imposes a substantial disease burden, with approximately 65,000 new cases annually in the United States and 500,000 cases worldwide. Radiation therapy remains a primary treatment modality for many patients with head and neck cancer. Despite advances aimed at limiting exposure of normal tissues within the field of radiation, salivary gland injury is a common and often unavoidable consequence of treatment. Although the mechanisms underlying radiation-induced salivary gland... -
Environmental pharmaceutical and antibiotic mixtures: An exposomics-guided framework for mechanistic toxicology
Pharmaceuticals and antibiotics occur in the environment as complex, time-varying mixtures, but their toxicological interpretation remains limited by targeted chemical lists, parent-compound monitoring, and single-compound testing. This narrative review synthesizes representative peer-reviewed evidence and integrates established exposomics, HRMS, EDA, AEP, and AOP concepts into a framework for mechanistic interpretation of environmental pharmaceutical and antibiotic mixtures. This integration... -
A critical review on utilization of drywall gypsum waste powder and ceramic waste powder in concrete: a sustainability perspective
The growing volume of construction and demolition waste and the high carbon footprint of cement production have driven interest in waste-derived materials for sustainable concrete. This study presents a critical systematic review of the use of gypsum waste powder (GWP) and ceramic waste powder (CWP) as partial cement replacements, focusing on material mechanisms, performance limits, durability behaviour and sustainability trade-offs. The review follows PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and peer-reviewed... -
From Raw Materials to Distinct Flavors: Unraveling the Microbial Fermentation of Guizhou Sour Soup
The modernization of traditional fermented foods is often constrained by a limited understanding of the complex microbial ecosystems underpinning their quality. Guizhou sour soup, a representative Chinese fermented food, exemplifies this challenge. This review systematically reveals that its distinctive characteristics stem from a raw material-driven fermentation ecology. Red sour soup and rice sour soup cultivate specific functional microbial communities centered on lactic acid bacteria and... -
Environmental Impact of Pharmaceuticals - How can doctors lead sustainable prescribing practices?
Medicines are the most common and, in many cases, the most effective treatment for disease. Medicine use is expected to continue to rise in the coming years, due in part to an ageing population. At the same time, knowledge of the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals has grown. *Therefore*, there is increasing discussion of the need for clinicians to take such impacts into account when selecting treatment for their patients. The World Health Organization has proposed the One Health approach,... -
From plant-derived food processing waste to dietary fiber: Extraction, modification, and applications of Mesona chinensis Benth by-product (McBP) - A review
The processing of Mesona chinensis Benth generates substantial by-products (McBP), rich in dietary fiber, yet this resource remains largely underutilized across Asia. Despite extensive research on M. chinensis Benth, McBP is underutilized, and systematic studies are lacking. Unlocking the high-value utilization of McBP therefore represents a pressing challenge and a core objective in plant-derived food processing. To this end, we summarize its dietary fiber content and monosaccharide... -
Nanozyme-Driven Multiplex Signal Lateral Flow Immunoassays for Chemical Contaminants in Food: A Review
Chemical contaminants in food pose a serious threat to public health, driving the need for sensitive, rapid, and on-site screening methods. Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is rapid and portable but suffers from single-signal readout and insufficient label stability. Nanozymes, nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic activity and excellent stability, have emerged as promising signal labels to address these limitations. Moreover, their diverse physiochemical properties enable multiplex signal... -
Toxic and explosive risks in pharmacy: An underestimated reality
Pharmacists, while central to medication safety, face underestimated risks due to their daily exposure to toxic and explosive substances. In compounding pharmacies, handling carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances such as chemotherapy drugs, anesthetic gases, antibiotics, and hormones poses significant health hazards. These substances can cause environmental and secondary contamination through fine powder dispersion or volatile vapors, leading to indirect exposure even with... -
Microplastics and complex environmental contaminants: Interactions with heatwave, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens - a systematic review
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread environmental contaminants found across both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. While many studies have explored interactions between MPs and individual environmental stressors such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, pathogens, or temperature changes, these interactions are rarely examined together. In natural environments, MPs are exposed to multiple stressors simultaneously, which may interact in complex ways and affect their environmental behavior and... -
Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of asthma: From the insight on programmed cell death
CONCLUSION: This review summarizes the role of PCD in asthma, furnishes a theoretical foundation for TCM-based interventions for asthma via PCD modulation, delineates the molecular mechanisms of the factors in the five primary PCD pathways, synopsizes the intervention mechanism and application of TCM in asthma treatment via PCD modulation, and presents reference concepts for the advancement of TCM interventions for asthma. The review concludes by identifying future research directions and... -
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the human urinary system: Molecular mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and translational perspectives for risk mitigation
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental pollutants known for their widespread distribution and bioaccumulation. Recent studies indicate that PFAS exposure may adversely affect human urinary system health. Despite the growing body of research, a systematic understanding of their toxic mechanisms remains limited. This review evaluates the current evidence linking PFAS exposure to urinary disorders, including chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and benign... -
Starch-Based Conductive Hydrogels for Wearable Sensors: Preparation Methods, Conductive Structures, and Key Performance Enhancement Strategies
Starch is the most abundant natural polymer and plays a crucial role in the development of hydrogel materials. Starch-based conductive hydrogels have been widely applied in wearable sensors owing to their excellent electrical conductivity and biocompatibility. This review summarizes the recent advances in starch-based conductive hydrogels for wearable sensor applications. It outlines the relationships between the fundamental structure of starch and the resulting material structures and... -
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Pharmaceutical Detection in Wastewater: Imprinting Strategies, Analytical Performance, and Challenges
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as robust and versatile recognition elements for electrochemical sensing due to their high chemical and mechanical stability, cost-effective fabrication, and excellent selectivity toward target analytes. In recent years, MIP-based electrochemical sensors have gained significant attention for the detection of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater, addressing growing environmental and public health concerns. This review provides a... -
Structural and Functional Changes in Biological Systems of Wastewater Treatment Plants Induced by Bicyclic Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs-A Review
The increasing presence of pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environments poses a significant challenge for wastewater treatment systems worldwide. Among these emerging contaminants, bicyclic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are particularly concerning due to their high consumption, partial metabolism, and long-lasting persistence in wastewater. This review was prepared critically based on popular databases such as PubMed and the Google Scholar website, and using the modern... -
Anaerobic digestion of recalcitrant organics and emerging contaminants in pharmaceutical wastewater for carbon neutrality and bioresource recovery: A critical review
Pharmaceutical wastewater is characterized by complex composition, high toxicity, and a high proportion of recalcitrant organics. Conventional treatment processes, such as the activated sludge process, often suffer from high energy consumption, substantial carbon emissions, and limited resource recovery. To address the challenges posed by recalcitrant organics and emerging contaminants in pharmaceutical wastewater, this review critically examines advanced anaerobic digestion technologies and... -
The comet assay as a tool for human biomonitoring of exposure to environmental and occupational agents - A summary of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
This paper compiles results from six systematic reviews and meta-analyses on associations between environmental and occupational exposure to chemicals and levels of DNA strand breaks in human leukocytes, measured by the comet assay. There are no differences in effect sizes when using different comet descriptors. However, lower central tendencies are obtained by using a non-parametric test as compared to the standard parametric analysis, indicating that the standard meta-analyses tend to... -
Recent Advances in Pesticide Nanocapsules from Chemical Design to Controlled Release
Rapid degradation, poor retention, and low bioavailability hamper traditional pesticides, thereby diminishing efficacy, exacerbating environmental pollution, and necessitating frequent application. While nanoencapsulation systems stabilize active ingredients and facilitate controlled release, the molecular architecture of the carrier wall ultimately dictates nanocapsule performance. This review presents a function-oriented framework that systematically connects wall chemistry with... -
Advances in the management of allergic rhinitis: clinical relevance of the mometasone furoate-olopatadine association and the challenge of patient self-diagnosis and self-treatment
Allergic rhinitis is a highly prevalent inflammatory disease that significantly impairs sleep, daily functioning and quality of life, with symptoms increasingly amplified by environmental changes such as prolonged pollen seasons and urban pollution. Despite effective therapies, many patients remain poorly controlled due to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate self-selection of over-the-counter medications, limited adherence and incorrect intranasal technique. The fixed-dose intranasal combination of... -
Stability and Efficacy of Medicines Beyond Their Expiration Dates: A Systematic Review
CONCLUSIONS: Many medicines remain stable and effective well beyond their labeled expiration dates, indicating a need to reconsider current shelf-life assignment practices. Extending shelf-lives should be evaluated to minimize pharmaceutical waste and increase medicine access. The final decision to use expired medicines or extend their shelf-life should rest with medicine regulatory agencies after risk-based consideration of available evidence, individual product characteristics and patient... -
Lifestyle and Environment Aspects Challenging Kidney Health
BACKGROUND: Both acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (AKI, CKD) are increasingly frequently reported conditions. This translates into a progressive increase in the number of patients reaching advanced stages of kidney failure, which, in addition to being associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, leads to an increase in patients requiring renal replacement therapy, with a significant clinical and economic impact. Evidence has accumulated that unhealthy dietary... -
Multiplexed electrochemical biosensors: system-level design frameworks, signal decoding strategies and translational perspectives for food safety
Food safety remains a pressing global public health concern, necessitating the development of analytical technologies that are sensitive, rapid, portable, and capable of simultaneous multi-analyte detection in decentralized settings. Multiplexed electrochemical biosensors (MEBs) have emerged as a highly promising platform, combining intrinsic electrochemical sensitivity with parallel detection capability, low cost, and amenability to miniaturization. Although significant progress has been... -
Environmental occurrence, exposure, toxicity, and transformation of benzothiazoles: A review
Benzothiazoles (BTs) are a class of aromatic heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused with a 1,3-thiazole ring. They have been widely used as vulcanization accelerators, fungicides, corrosion inhibitors, herbicides, anti-cancer drugs, etc., leading to their ubiquitous presence in various environmental media. Numerous studies have demonstrated that BTs exhibit multiple toxic effects. In this review, we systematically summarized research findings on the environmental occurrence,... -
The Formation Mechanism and Regulation of Fermented Bean Paste Flavor: Microbial Community Succession, Flavor Compound Synthesis, and Applications of Intelligent Biomanufacturing Technology
As an important carrier of East Asian dietary culture, the unique flavor and quality of fermented bean paste directly affect its market competitiveness. However, previous studies have primarily focused on microbial communities or overall flavor components, and there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the systematic correlation and dynamic regulation mechanisms between the two. The scientific elucidation and precise regulation of the microbial-metabolic network during the... -
The Emerging Role of Peroxyacetic Acid in Water and Wastewater Treatment: Degradation of Pharmaceuticals, Microplastics, and Other Micropollutants
Conventional wastewater treatment systems cannot effectively eliminate micropollutants such as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These compounds, even at trace levels, are persistent or pseudo-persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially harmful to ecosystems and human health. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), based on the in situ generation of highly reactive oxygen species, have emerged as promising solutions. Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) has gained attention due to its strong oxidizing... -
Fruit Seeds with Functional Applications: From Food Waste to Potential Uses
Significant amounts of food waste come from fruit processing, causing economic and environmental impacts. The waste generated is a valuable source of compounds due to its concentration of nutrients, such as dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, lipids with mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive compounds. Despite the nutritional and functional qualities of the waste, it is still commonly discarded and underutilized, demonstrating the importance of studying it. The selected fruits... -
Analytical Methods for the Quantification of Drugs and Their Metabolites in Human Hair: A Systematic Review From 2010 to 2025
Hair has emerged as a valuable biological matrix for documenting long-term or cumulative drug exposure. Although hair analysis is well established in forensic toxicology, its potential application to monitor occupational exposure to hazardous drugs among healthcare workers remains unexplored. This systematic review aimed to describe analytical methods used for drug quantification in human hair and to assess the feasibility of applying this approach to hazardous drug exposure monitoring. A... -
Recent Advances on Application of Modified Biochar for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds from Wastewater
The widespread use of pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) has led to their extensive contamination in aquatic environments. Biochar, a carbon-rich and porous material, offers a promising solution for the remediation of PCs, particularly when modified. Modification methods can be physical (ball milling, steam activation, and CO(2) activation) or chemical (acid/alkali treatment, oxidation, surface functionalization, metal impregnation, and nano structuring). These treatments enhance biochar's... -
Application of food-grade antimicrobial emulsions in active packaging coatings and films: A comprehensive review
Active packaging based on food-grade antimicrobial emulsions (including microemulsions, nanoemulsions, and Pickering emulsions) offers a promising solution to the problem of microbial spoilage. This review first systematically examines the characteristics and antimicrobial mechanisms of antimicrobial agents from different sources. Subsequently, it comprehensively summarizes and compares the preparation methods, structural features, and physicochemical properties of the three types of emulsions,... -
Chitosan-based hybrid composites for emerging organic micropollutants removal from wastewater: Recent advancement, mechanism, up-scaling, and challenges
The unprecedented rise in emerging organic micropollutants (EOMPs) due to the globalization and industrialization has inescapably risen to their maximum known concentrations in the aquatic ecosystem, till date. Chitosan has emerged as one of the abundant and promising biopolymer for evolving as eco-friendly adsorbents for EOMPs removal from wastewater. The present review paper initially includes different sources, preparation, properties and various modification techniques of chitosan-based... -
Synergistic integration of heterojunctions and hydrogels: Types, mechanisms, and applicsations
Heterojunctions, as semiconductor materials, possess excellent photocatalytic properties and are widely applied in fields such as disease treatment, biosensing, environmental remediation, and energy. However, heterojunctions still encounter issues of environmental sensitivity and low biocompatibility in practical applications, which limit their application in various fields. In recent years, the combination of heterojunctions with hydrogels to form hydrogel composites has been widely used in the... -
A critical review of septic tanks as a pathway for active pharmaceutical ingredients to the aquatic environment - existing knowledge and future perspectives on their monitoring and management
Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are present in aquatic environments at concentrations that can impact ecosystems. Their major pathway to the environment is in the discharge of wastewater effluents from centralised wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). However, in most rural areas where houses are not connected to a public sewage network, single households or groups of houses rely on onsite wastewater treatment works (OWTWs), mainly septic tanks (STs). Therefore, STs are reviewed as a... -
Chloramphenicol Residue Analysis in Food and Environmental Matrices: Regulatory Framework and Advances in Trace-Level Determination
Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent whose use in food-producing animals is prohibited in many countries due to its association with severe adverse effects, including idiosyncratic aplastic anemia and genotoxicity. Despite these restrictions, chloramphenicol residues continue to be detected in food products, environmental compartments, and biological matrices, highlighting the need for reliable and sensitive analytical monitoring. This review provides a comprehensive overview... -
Risk of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with paternal use of valproate during spermatogenesis: a living meta-analysis-version 1
CONCLUSIONS: In this living meta-analysis, we found no evidence that paternal exposure to valproate compared with lamotrigine/levetiracetam during spermatogenesis was associated with increased risk of NDDs in offspring. -
The Neuroprotective Effect of a Waste Byproduct Obtained From Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Pomegranate is an exceptional fruit that can have several beneficial effects on human health. The peel of pomegranate, a waste product, should be recovered as it still contains valuable constituents, including phenolic compounds, minerals and fibre. The recovery of bioactive compounds occurs through eco-sustainable extraction techniques that reduce costs and promote environmental sustainability and public health. Neurodegeneration is a pathological process causing progressive neuronal damage,... -
Environmental Aspects in Price and Reimbursement Decisions of Medicines-A Scoping Review
Environmental impacts of medicines are increasingly recognised but rarely embedded in their pricing and reimbursement (P&R) and related assessments. This scoping review mapped how environmental aspects, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship, are or could be considered in P&R of medicines and identified challenges for their implementation. Electronic searches from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Edilex, HeinOnline, Westlaw, Google Scholar and official agencies' websites were... -
Pharmaceuticals, personal care-products and current-use pesticides: a review of the available data from European seas
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) as well as current-use pesticides (CUPs) are considered to be contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), but there is limited information that exists about their occurrence and impact in the marine environment. A database of these CECs has been created as an overview of their occurrence and distribution in European marine waters by the ICES Marine Chemistry Working Group (MCWG) and collaborators from various European countries. The majority of the... -
Microbial interactions with pharmaceutical pollutants: Implications for biodegradation and antibiotic resistance
Pharmaceutical pollutants, including antibiotics, analgesics, steroids, and endocrine disruptors, are emerging as persistent pollutants in aquatic systems. Their continuous discharge through wastewater and pharmaceutical effluents has raised serious environmental and health concerns due to their role in promotion and selection of antibiotic resistance in micro-organisms. Microorganisms have demonstrated the ability to mineralize and transform pharmaceutical pollutants through specific metabolic... -
Integration of mass spectrometry and molecular biotechnology to study bioaerosols
Conventional culture-based and microscopic approaches yield limited information about the diversity, content, and real-time behaviour of biological aerosols. In recent years, mass spectrometry (MS) and molecular biotechnology have evolved as powerful and complementary analytical methods for detecting, identifying, and characterising air biological particles. This study critically reviews recent improvements in MS-based techniques for analysing bioaerosol chemical markers, proteins, metabolites,... -
Evaluating the Validity of the Action Limit and Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC) in Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance for Novel Human Pharmaceuticals in Japan
As human pharmaceuticals are physiologically active substances, it is essential to assess their potential risk to ecosystems after being released into the environment. In Japan, the "Guidance on the Environmental Risk Assessment in New Pharmaceutical Development" (hereafter referred to as "the guidance") was issued in 2016. The guidance includes the environmental risk assessment (ERA) workflow, in which novel pharmaceuticals subjected to ecotoxicity testing are selected based on n-octanol/water... -
Phytogenic and natural immunostimulants in the prevention of Lactococcus garvieae infection: an eco-friendly approach
Aquaculture is developing in many countries to meet the rising protein demand associated with a rapidly growing human population. However, intensification of production brings with it challenges such as deteriorating water quality and increasing disease outbreaks. These conditions lead to an increased risk of infectious diseases and led to higher mortality rates, which causes economic losses. Lactococcosis, particularly that caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus garvieae, is one of... -
Genetic Polymorphisms and Antioxidant Reactions in Prostate Cancer
This review aggregates the latest reports on the role of environmental factors in the male reproductive system and cancer development. We analyzed environmental pollution-related studies and disorders of mechanisms responsible for defense against the impact of xenobiotics on prostate cancer. We focused on polymorphisms that, when exposed to environmental stressors, might exacerbate an organism's defense mechanisms against the effects of xenobiotics. It is well known that environmental factors,... -
Matrix-dependent analytical strategies for the detection of drug-infused foods: A comprehensive review
Drug-infused foods are increasingly encountered in forensic investigations, including drug-facilitated crimes (DFC), chemical submission cases, and the seizure of adulterated edible products. The heterogeneous physicochemical characteristics of food matrices pose substantial analytical challenges for the reliable extraction, identification, and quantification of psychoactive substances in evidentiary samples. This review systematically examines twenty food matrices with high reported frequencies... -
Harnessing the versatility of Sphingobium yanoikuyae: a review of its taxonomy, genomics, and multifaceted applications
Sphingobium yanoikuyae is a metabolically versatile, Gram-negative bacterium within the family Sphingobiaceae, recognized for its exceptional capacity to degrade a broad spectrum of xenobiotic compounds. Its ecological adaptability and enzymatic diversity enable the transformation of structurally complex pollutants into less toxic intermediates across diverse environmental settings. Although members of the genus Sphingobium have been widely studied, a focused and integrative synthesis... -
Cytogenetic bioassays in model plants to evaluate the environmental toxicity of pharmaceutical residues
Medicines, considered emerging pollutants, have been frequently detected in soils and water bodies, where they can affect key biological processes in ecosystems; among them, paracetamol, diclofenac, and carbamazepine stand out for their constant environmental presence. This review comparatively analyzes studies on the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of these drugs on plants used as biomodels, such as Allium cepa, Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Lens culinaris, and Lactuca sativa. The studies... -
Focusing on occupational safety in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a systematic review
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) serves as a core treatment modality for malignant tumors on the peritoneal surface, with its clinical application growing increasingly widespread. However, the potential genotoxicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity of chemotherapy drugs expose healthcare workers to occupational risks. This review systematically analyzes 10 relevant research papers, organizing existing evidence on HIPEC occupational safety around five core variables:... -
From waste to value: A systematic review of phytochemicals and functional properties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by-products
The growing demand for sustainable food systems has increased interest in the valorization of legume processing residues. Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are among the world's most important and widely consumed legumes, generating substantial yet frequently underused processing by-products such as pericarp, seed coats and other plant biomass. This systematic review integrates evidence from 42 studies including phytochemical composition, biological properties and food and nutraceutical... -
Xenobiotic dynamics in mangroves and peatlands: Microbial mechanisms for nature-based mitigation
Peatlands and mangroves provide substantial ecosystem services, but are increasingly threatened by xenobiotic contamination, posing escalating ecological risks. Here, we present the first integrative synthesis of the xenobiotic dynamics in these systems, mapping contaminant distributions and identifying emerging research priorities. Over time, research has shifted from oil spills and heavy metal pollution towards persistent organic pollutants, microplastics and climate risks. Peatlands remain... -
Next-Generation MXene-Hydrogel Hybrids: Frontiers in Biosensing and Environmental Surveillance
Hydrogels have emerged as promising soft materials for applications in sensing, energy storage, and wearable electronics due to their tunable physicochemical properties and intrinsic biocompatibility. The integration of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) into hydrogel matrices has enabled the development of highly conductive, flexible, and electrochemically active composites for advanced sensing platforms. MXene-hydrogel hybrids exhibit enhanced charge transport,... -
Advancing Earth System Science With the NASA Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Satellite Mission
Earth observation satellites transform our understanding of Earth's biological, atmospheric, and surface systems. The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, launched in 2024, represents NASA's latest investment in multidisciplinary Earth system science, building upon multi-decadal heritage while introducing revolutionary capabilities. Since launch, PACE has extended and improved upon NASA's 30+ years of global satellite observations of our living ocean, atmosphere, and land,... -
Development and spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment due to increased anthropogenic input of antibiotic residues and resistant pathogens
The use of antibiotics for antimicrobial therapy revolutionized medical practice. However, the frequent and sometimes inappropriate use of these drugs in both human and veterinary medicine has had significant consequences. This article provides an overview of the pathways by which antibiotics enter the environment and their impacts.Through wastewater, sewage sludge, and agricultural fertilizers, antibiotics and their degradation products enter various environmental compartments such as soil and... -
Microbial succession and metabolic mechanisms driving flavor evolution in Northeast Chinese dajiang: a comprehensive review integrating insights from East Asian fermented soybean pastes
This review systematically explores the spatiotemporal microbial succession and flavor evolution during the fermentation of northeast Chinese soybean paste (dajiang), with a focus on the jiangpei (solid-state starter) and jianglao (brine fermentation) stages. By integrating metagenomic, metabolomic, and sensory data, this review synthesizes evidence linking microbial community dynamics-featuring Lactobacillus spp., Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, and Aspergillus oryzae-to the biosynthesis of key... -
A review of pharmaceutical removal from wastewater via hydrodynamic cavitation
Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is a powerful advanced oxidation process for water and wastewater remediation, but the degradation mechanism of pharmaceuticals in water matrices remains unclear. This comprehensive review aims to inspire and guide future research in this field by reviewing the removal of pharmaceuticals in water and wastewater using various HC hybrid processes, including standalone HC, and HC combined with H(2)O(2), persulfate, peroxymonosulfate, percarbonate, Fenton, catalysts,... -
Elucidating the molecular-level interactions of RuBisCO and NSAIDs: new insights on plant-contaminant interaction for reducing plant stress
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the FDA-approved, most widely used class of medications for pain relief, antipyretics, anti-inflammatories, and analgesic agents across the world. There are numerous reports on the widespread availability of these NSAIDs in different environmental compartments. Phytoremediation is gaining much importance due to its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable ways of removing NSAIDs. The efficiency of the removal of the contaminants can be... -
Exploring Surrogate Selection for Virucidal Aerosol Testing: A Qualitative Analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic heightened interest in the development and testing of virucidal chemistries and technologies for use in indoor environments. Direct testing of pathogens often requires a high-level biosafety containment, which can restrict performance evaluations to smaller scales that may have limited translatability to the complexities of real-world indoor environments. Therefore, using viral surrogates that are safer to work with than target pathogens offers many potential benefits,... -
Paternal use of metformin and risk of major congenital malformations: A meta-analysis of 4 studies
Metformin is the first-line drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. In 2022, a Danish registry-based study reported a 40% increased risk of major congenital malformations following paternal exposure during spermatogenesis. This raised widespread concern about the use of metformin in males of reproductive age. Three subsequent studies were unable to replicate this finding. We performed a meta-analysis of four observational studies with data from five countries covering more than 11 000... -
Next-generation biosensors for detecting bioaerosols: Challenges, innovations, and applications
Bioaerosols, which include airborne bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and biological toxins, are an important but understudied component of atmospheric particulate matter, with serious consequences for public health, environmental safety, and biodefense. Traditional bioaerosol detection methods, such as culture-based assays and laboratory molecular approaches, are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unsuitable for real-time airborne monitoring. As a result, next-generation biosensors have... -
No Clear Evidence of Histopathological Effects Linked to NSAIDs in the Kidney or Liver of Fish Exposed to Treated Municipal Wastewaters
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause histopathological changes in the kidney and liver of fish. Still, it is unclear whether exposure to treated municipal wastewater that contains NSAID residues causes similar effects. We therefore conducted a comprehensive, critical review on claimed histopathological changes in fish exposed either to NSAIDs or to treated municipal wastewater in the laboratory or downstream from treatment plants. A detailed scrutinization questioned the... -
Navigating a thorny path: oral nanomedicines for the precision management of radiation-induced intestinal injury
Radiation-induced intestinal injury (RIII) is a severe complication that significantly compromises the quality of life and treatment outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy. Despite recent advances in therapeutic strategies, conventional interventions often exhibit limited efficacy due to poor targeting, systemic side effects, and the complex pathophysiology of intestinal radiation damage. Oral nanomedicines have emerged as a promising platform, offering site-specific... -
Recent Advances in Adsorption-Photocatalytic Removal of Pharmaceuticals From Water Using Hybrid Ion-Adsorbent Photocatalyst
The remediation of pharmaceutical drugs (PHACs) in the aqueous environment has been one of the major challenges facing the global community for decades. The risk associated with these compounds is their ubiquitous persistence in the environment, posing potential human health risks and ecotoxicological effects. The combined adsorption-photocatalysis process has proven successful in eliminating a wide range of emerging pollutants (EPs), including PHACs. The current review provides updated... -
The carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes: a qualitative risk assessment
This review involves a qualitative carcinogenic risk assessment of nicotine-based e-cigarettes. Though direct epidemiological evidence of cancer causation takes time to accumulate, carcinogenicity of e-cigarettes is evident from different types of investigation including, with respect to studies in humans, some case reports but mainly involving monitoring of biomarkers of exposure and biomarkers of harm implicating tumorigenesis. Complementary laboratory investigations of e-cigarette aerosols... -
The comet assay as a tool in human biomonitoring exposure to antineoplastic drugs - A systematic review and meta-analysis
Antineoplastic agents are toxic compounds, generally used in the treatment of cancers, which are recognized as carrying a cancer development risk. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of human biomonitoring studies, we have assessed the effects of exposure to antineoplastic drugs on levels of DNA strand breaks in leukocytes, measured by the comet assay. Focusing on the application of the comet assay in human biomonitoring of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents, we have analyzed... -
One Health perspectives on veterinary residues and bioaccumulation in marine mussels
The increase in pharmaceutical residues and environmental contaminants, including heavy metals and biotoxins, in coastal ecosystems represents a critical threat to global health. Mussels (Mytilus spp.), as sessile filter feeders, serve as primary bioaccumulators and biological indicators of this chemical pressure, yet their toxicological role in human health is often underestimated. This review explores the physiological and toxicological effects of the accumulation of complex contaminants and... -
From Waste to Defense: Agro-Industrial Byproducts as Sources of Biopesticides and Bioelicitors for Crop Protection
The intensification of agro-industrial production has led to a heavy reliance on chemical pesticides, raising significant environmental and health concerns. Sustainable alternatives can be found in the plant kingdom, which employs complex defense mechanisms against pests and phytopathogens, including the biosynthesis and release of antimicrobial and immune elicitor compounds. However, the increasing demand for plant-based foods limits their extraction and commercial use. Agro-industrial... -
Bio-degradational potential of genus Ochrobactrum
Environmental pollution caused by persistent organic pollutants poses a significant global threat due to their toxicity and tendency to accumulate in ecosystems. Microbial biodegradation offers a sustainable alternative to conventional remediation strategies. Among degradative microorganisms, the genus Ochrobactrum has gained attention for its metabolic versatility and ability to transform a wide range of xenobiotic compounds. This review comprehensively examines genus Ochrobactrum, focusing on... -
Pharmaceutical compounds and their toxicity to marine organisms: Emerging contaminants and innovative strategies to reduce pharmaceutical pollution - A review and meta-analysis
Pharmaceutical pollution in coastal and marine environments poses a serious threat to aquatic organisms. This article provides a critical overview of the toxicological impacts of commonly used classes of drugs, including antibiotics, anticancer, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and analgesics, on coastal and marine organisms. This review highlights how these pharmaceuticals affect growth, reproduction, development, physiology, behaviors, and mortality changes in coastal and marine organisms.... -
Bio-inspired surfaces for fouling resistance
Fouling exerts numerous negative effects on marine structures, household facilities, and textiles by decreasing efficiency and increasing maintenance costs. Conventional antifouling methods are often single-foulant-targeted, short-lived, and harmful to the environment. In contrast, bioinspired designs offer a sustainable alternative by drawing inspiration from natural antifoulants such as lotus leaves, shark skin, pitcher plants, and fish mucus. These strategies exhibit properties like... -
Sustainable Photocatalytic Remediation of Pharmaceutical Pollutants Using Advanced Bimetallic Nanomaterials With Additional Insights From Life Cycle Assessment
The population explosion increases stress on the environment, resulting in environmental degradation. WHO released a report on worldwide water consumption; according to this, approximately 1.1 billion people are experiencing an inadequate water supply. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop effective, cost-efficient approaches to eliminate environmental pollution and achieve sustainable energy production. In catalytic reactions, catalysts are important in the synthesis and conversion of... -
Extraction, composition, and stabilization strategies on mangosteen pericarp bioactive compounds for sustainable natural colorants and functional foods
The global increase in agricultural by-products contributes significantly to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Mangosteen pericarp, typically discarded as an agricultural by-product, is a rich source of anthocyanins, xanthones, and other bioactive compounds, offering strong potential for valorization as a natural colorant in functional foods. This review highlights both conventional and emerging extraction techniques, with a focus on anthocyanins and xanthones.... -
A review on application of laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy in exploring bioaerosol characteristics
Atmospheric aerosols affect the climate, ecosystems and human well-being. Accurate detection and classification of aerosols, particularly bioaerosols are essential for effective environmental and public health management. This review presents an overview of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) Spectroscopy as a powerful approach for real-time, non-destructive aerosol analysis. This study outlines the technological progression from foundational systems to modern commercial instruments such as the... -
Pesticide and pharmaceutical pollution in South Africa: a review of sources, impacts, and policy gaps
South Africa faces environmental and public health risks due to pollution of various environmental systems by pesticide and pharmaceutical residues resulting from anthropogenic activities. However, regulatory and monitoring mechanisms remain inadequate. This review aimed to assess occurrences, sources, regulatory frameworks, and policy responses related to pesticide and pharmaceutical pollution in South Africa. The review of published (peer-reviewed) articles and government and policy documents... -
Exposome Risk Factors for Vitiligo: A Systematic Evidence Review
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the environmental triggers of vitiligo onset and progression. Drugs, chemicals, and infections are key triggers; lifestyle factors require further study.
