Water Environment Research[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Use of Zinc-Gallic Acid Metal-Organic Framework for Remediation of Wastewater and Improvement of Physiological and Antioxidant Activities in Triticum aestivum.
Ishfaq A, Shahid M, Shahzad T … +7 more , Hussain S, Akram MS, Kamal R, Rizwana H, Mahmood F, Ahamad MI, Bano N
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41947587 · Publisher ↗
Industrial wastewater has emerged as a significant environmental issue due to its adverse effect on plant growth, soil, and other living organisms. Crops near cities are frequently irrigated using wastewater under condit...
Industrial wastewater has emerged as a significant environmental issue due to its adverse effect on plant growth, soil, and other living organisms. Crops near cities are frequently irrigated using wastewater under conditions of water scarcity. Wastewater needs to be treated effectively so that it can be reused to irrigate agricultural land. In recent years, attention has been given to biogenic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) due to their unique properties and possible applications, like wastewater treatment, soil remediation, crop enhancement, fertilizer delivery, and biosensing. This study evaluated the potential of biogenic Zn-MOF for treating wastewater and the utilization of treated wastewater to enhance wheat growth, photosynthetic pigments, and physicochemical parameters. In the present study, biogenic Zn-MOF was synthesized and characterized via SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The findings indicated that Zn-MOF reduced the quantity of pollutants in wastewater, and the removal efficiencies of 58% of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 65% of sulfate, and 50% of phosphate were observed. Results revealed that treated wastewater increased growth, enzymatic antioxidative activities, nonenzymatic antioxidants, and zinc uptake concentration by 51%, 41%, 36%, and 35%, respectively. In addition, the treated wastewater reduced oxidative stress by 33%. It is concluded that the unique features of metal-organic frameworks make them the best choice for both wastewater treatment and enhancing growth, photosynthetic pigment, and antioxidant attributes of wheat under wastewater stress conditions.
Effect of Stirring on Organic Matter Conversion in Horizontal Biodigesters.
da Cruz GOR, Rosa AP, Sousa IP … +2 more , de Souza CL, Borges AC
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41943942 · Full text
This study investigated the effect of localized mechanical stirring on the performance and organic matter conversion pathways in two bench-scale horizontal flow anaerobic biodigesters treating swine wastewater (SW). Two...
This study investigated the effect of localized mechanical stirring on the performance and organic matter conversion pathways in two bench-scale horizontal flow anaerobic biodigesters treating swine wastewater (SW). Two reactors (total volume of 10.6L; working volume of 7.95 L) were operated in parallel for 150 days under identical conditions (hydraulic retention time [HRT] = 25 days; volumetric organic loading rate [VOLR] = 0.3-0.5 g V L day of TVS): one equipped with mechanical mixing (HF) and the other operated without mixing (HF). After system stabilization, no statistically significant differences were observed between the reactors with respect to hydrolysis and methanogenesis (%) or biogas production and composition. Mass balance analysis demonstrated that HF accumulated fewer solids within the reactor (5.5% of the applied chemical oxygen demand [COD]) compared with HF (13.6%). These findings indicate that mechanical stirring effectively mitigates sludge accumulation without compromising overall treatment performance or biogas generation.
PFAS Removal During Pyrolysis of Biosolids Is Affected by Initial PFAS Concentration and Pyrolysis Efficiency.
McNamara PJ, Calteux J, Redman E … +6 more , Adkins C, McKnight T, Moss L, Ayala R, Ishida S, Liu Z
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41943885 · Full text
Current and pending biosolids regulations related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have triggered the industry to consider emerging biosolids treatment processes. Thermal processes, in particular, have garne...
Current and pending biosolids regulations related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have triggered the industry to consider emerging biosolids treatment processes. Thermal processes, in particular, have garnered interest for their potential to remove PFAS from the solid phase. Research has documented that pyrolysis can remove PFAS from the solid phase at PFAS concentrations found in non-industrially impacted biosolids, but little information is available on the fate of PFAS in effluent py-liquid and py-gas phases. The objective of this research was to determine the fate of PFAS during pyrolysis of biosolids using non-industrially impacted and industrially impacted biosolids. Bench-scale pyrolysis experiments were conducted in triplicate at 500°C and 800°C. PFAS were quantified in the resulting biochar, py-liquid, and py-gas. PFAS removal was greater than 95% at both temperatures for the non-industrially impacted biosolids, but removal was 24%-88% in the industrially impacted biosolids at 500°C. At 800°C, removal was over 95% as well for the industrially impacted biosolids. The biochar yield was highest for the industrially impacted biosolids at 500°C, indicating less conversion of solids to liquid/gas and that the extent of pyrolysis reaction, in addition to initial PFAS concentration, can impact PFAS removal. The mass of PFAS in the effluent liquid and gas for the non-industrially impacted biosolids was approximately half of the influent PFAS mass, suggesting that a substantial fraction of PFAS is transferred/transformed in the effluent liquid and gas products that would require further polishing for improved PFAS removal.
Organophosphorus Pesticides in the Natural Environment: Detection Methods, Distribution, and Toxic Effects.
Chu Y, Gu D, Ai L … +7 more , Deng Q, Chen Z, Mao G, Chen Y, Wu X, Pawlett M, Feng W
Water Environ Res · 2026 · PMID 41943666 · Publisher ↗
With the development of agriculture, organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) have been used extensively as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. They have become the most widely used category of pesticides, accounting for...
With the development of agriculture, organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) have been used extensively as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. They have become the most widely used category of pesticides, accounting for about 40% of all pesticide use globally. However, although OPPs have lower environmental persistence and are less prone to bioaccumulation compared with other types of pesticides, their acute and chronic toxicity to organisms should not be underestimated. OPPs cause a variety of toxicities to organisms in the environment, the most notable of which is neurotoxicity. Their residues in the environment pose potential threats to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to understand limits of current detection systems, their environmental distribution, and toxicity mechanism. This narrative review summarizes the methods for detecting OPPs, their environmental distribution, and further explores their toxic effects and mechanisms. The main detection methods for OPPs are based on chromatography and spectroscopy, with more and more new methods emerging during continuous development. Different detection methods facilitate the study of the distribution and toxicity mechanisms of OPPs. The contamination of OPPs is distributed in water bodies and soils all over the world and poses a threat to the environment and human beings. The importance of detection methods to the study of contamination distribution and toxicity mechanisms is discussed, providing a theoretical foundation and scientific basis for subsequent studies.
Impact Mechanism of Groundwater on River Water Level and NDVI-A Case Study of Hebi, Henan Province.
Zhao D, Guan Q, Yuan H … +4 more , Huang J, Ding M, Guo Z, Chen Z
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41936411 · Publisher ↗
Shallow groundwater levels directly influence and regulate meteorological variables, the normalized vegetation cover index (NDVI), and river water levels, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the coupling...
Shallow groundwater levels directly influence and regulate meteorological variables, the normalized vegetation cover index (NDVI), and river water levels, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the coupling mechanism among groundwater, meteorology, and hydrological factors at different times cales is still unclear, especially the lack of mechanisms for multi-time scale collaborative response. Based on the basic principles of hydrology and remote sensing, this study proposed the following hypothesis: There is a multi-time scale coupling relationship among shallow groundwater depth, meteorology, and river level, and it has an optimal response to vegetation growth within a specific depth range. By analyzing the time series of river water level, meteorology, groundwater depth, and NDVI, combined with the cross wavelet transform method, the results revealed a strong consistency and synchronization between river stage and meteorological factors. Furthermore, a cross-wavelet transform identified prominent periodic characteristics between groundwater depth and meteorology at the 32-64-day scale, indicating a strong coupling between groundwater depth and meteorological variables over this timescale. Additionally, the temporal trend of the subsurface groundwater depth was consistent with the river water level. The average NDVI value was largest at groundwater depths of 25-30 m, indicating that these areas had the largest vegetation cover and the most suitable groundwater depth for plant growth. This study revealed the coupling law and mutual feedback mechanism of groundwater-meteorology-vegetation-river water from the perspective of multi-time scale coupling, and accurately quantified the appropriate threshold of groundwater depth for vegetation growth in the study area. The results of the study provided a quantitative scientific basis and practical reference for the fine regulation of groundwater resources, the hydrological adaptation design of vegetation restoration and reconstruction, and the coordinated protection and management of hydrological ecosystems and water resources in the study area. It plays an important scientific value and application significance for improving the efficiency of regional water resources utilization and ecological protection.
Toward Industrial Application of Cyanobacterial Biosorption: Insights From Real Electroplating Effluents.
Ciani M, Capelli C, Daly G … +2 more , de Philippis R, Adessi A
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41914955 · Full text
Galvanic electrodeposition is widely used in surface engineering, making the sustainable management of metal-loaded effluents a future challenge. Although cyanobacteria-based biosorption has been recognized as an eco-fri...
Galvanic electrodeposition is widely used in surface engineering, making the sustainable management of metal-loaded effluents a future challenge. Although cyanobacteria-based biosorption has been recognized as an eco-friendly strategy to remove metals, its application to real wastewater has not been explored. This study investigates cyanobacterial potential in the treatment of different electroplating wastewater originated from Cu, Ni, Au, and Pd-plating baths. The results revealed that pH, metal concentration, and composition of the plating bath influenced biosorption. Notably, Ni-specific uptake reached 3 mmol of Ni per gram of biomass dry weight, exceeding values reported in the literature. In contrast, for precious metals, the uptake was lower than 0.1 mmol per gram of biomass dry weight. This study represents a first step in the scaling-up of this cyanobacteria-based biotechnology, highlighting that higher biomass concentration and combined approaches are needed to improve removal efficiency while producing clean water.
Distribution Characteristics, Genesis, and Health Risk Assessment of Fluoride in Groundwater of the Taigemiao Mining Area.
Tian Z, Jiang B, Wang X … +1 more , Qiu S
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41914923 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates the distribution, origin, and health risks of fluoride in groundwater within the Taigemiao mining area using hydrochemical analysis, PHREEQC modeling, and the U.S. EPA noncarcinogenic risk assessm...
This study investigates the distribution, origin, and health risks of fluoride in groundwater within the Taigemiao mining area using hydrochemical analysis, PHREEQC modeling, and the U.S. EPA noncarcinogenic risk assessment model. The key findings are as follows: (1) Groundwater hydrochemistry transitions from shallow HCO-Na·Ca freshwater (TDS 256 mg·L) to deep Cl·SO-Na saline water (TDS 7344.5 mg·L). Fluoride is significantly enriched in the Yan'an Formation aquifer at depths > 700 m, with a mean concentration of 4.303 mg·L.Groundwater from the Yan'an Formation is characterized by high fluoride concentrations.(2) Spatially, fluoride exhibits stratified patterns: concentrations decrease from the center outward in the Zhidan Group; are higher in the south and lower in the north within the Anding and Zhiluo Formations; and show elevated levels in the west, decreasing eastward in the Yan'an Formation. Vertically, F initially decreases then increases markedly with depth, peaking in the Yan'an Formation below 700 m (mean 4.303 mg·L). (3) Fluoride enrichment in deep groundwater (Zhiluo to Yan'an Formations) is primarily controlled by evaporation concentration, which raises Na and Cl and promotes strong cation exchange, reducing Ca activity. This enhances fluorite dissolution, while calcite and dolomite precipitation further remove Ca. Together, these processes weaken fluorite dissolution inhibition, leading to substantial F accumulation. (4) The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment reveals that fluoride has unacceptable non-carcinogenic risks for children (mean HI 0.98, maximum HI 9.64), which are higher than those for adults (mean HI 0.50). This underscores children's greater vulnerability to fluoride exposure and indicates that the groundwater is unsuitable for their consumption.
Recent Advances in Adsorption-Photocatalytic Removal of Pharmaceuticals From Water Using Hybrid Ion-Adsorbent Photocatalyst.
Ncube P, Tshikovhi A, Sigonya S … +3 more , Fakayode O, Mothudi BM, Mochane MJ
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41911925 · Full text
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 persis...
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 literature on the recent advancements in adsorption-photocatalytic removal of PHACs from wastewater using hybrid ion-adsorbent photocatalytic systems. Process performance has been discussed. Limitations have been identified, and possible solutions are proposed to overcome or reduce them. The exemplary investigations of this review would clearly equip the research community with the updated data associated with research gaps for further research aimed at developing efficient ion-adsorptive photocatalysts, overall process improvements, and potential scale-up operations. This review is crucial, given that adsorption-photocatalysis has shown promising results in eliminating EPs, including PHACs in wastewater, yet practical applications remain elusive.
Interpreting the Effects of Environmental Variables on a Multistep Deep Learning Model for Algal Bloom Prediction Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence.
Kim J, Lee WH, Park J
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41911833 · Publisher ↗
In this study, a sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) deep learning model was developed to predict the chlorophyll-a concentration, which serves as a quantitative indicator of algal blooms, and its prediction performance was e...
In this study, a sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) deep learning model was developed to predict the chlorophyll-a concentration, which serves as a quantitative indicator of algal blooms, and its prediction performance was evaluated at eight different time steps from t + 1 to t + 28 days to analyze how varying prediction intervals affect model performance. The results demonstrated that the one-step-ahead prediction model performed best, achieving a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.908, whereas performance decreased with increasing prediction time step, with the NSE declining to 0.255 for 28-day-ahead predictions. This study also applied Shapley additive explanations analysis, a representative explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) method for quantitatively interpreting machine learning results, to further investigate the effects of environmental variables on model performance across these prediction intervals. The analysis revealed that flow rate tended to exhibit greater importance in short-term predictions, whereas sunshine duration became more influential in longer term predictions. Overall, this study quantitatively interprets machine learning model results using XAI, contributing to the enhanced practical applicability of machine learning models in the field.
Source Apportionment and Health Risk of Heavy Metals and Inorganic Nitrogen in Groundwater of a Coastal Plain, China.
Han J, Cui X, Qin W … +1 more , Liu Y
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41902690 · Publisher ↗
Groundwater in coastal aquifers is highly vulnerable to contamination driven by intensive anthropogenic activities and hydrogeochemical processes such as seawater intrusion. This study investigated the occurrence, source...
Groundwater in coastal aquifers is highly vulnerable to contamination driven by intensive anthropogenic activities and hydrogeochemical processes such as seawater intrusion. This study investigated the occurrence, source apportionment, and health risks of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Ni) and inorganic nitrogen species (NO -N, NO -N, and NH₃-N) in groundwater from the Qinhuangdao coastal plain, North China. A total of 46 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) were jointly applied to identify pollution sources, and a probabilistic human health risk assessment incorporating Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to quantify uncertainty. Results indicated that the mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Ni complied with Chinese groundwater quality standards, whereas NO₃-N and NH₃-N exceeded the Class V threshold at several sites, suggesting localized nitrogen contamination. PMF resolved three primary sources: industrial discharge (dominated by NO -N), domestic sewage (NH₃-N), and agricultural activities (NO₃-N and heavy metals). Health risk assessment showed that Cd posed a potential carcinogenic risk through ingestion and dermal exposure, whereas the noncarcinogenic risks of Pb and Ni remained within acceptable limits. Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the deterministic estimates and identified the Cd carcinogenic slope factor and ingestion rate as the most sensitive parameters. Source-oriented risk apportionment further indicated that agricultural activities contributed the largest share of carcinogenic risk. These findings highlight the importance of controlling agricultural nonpoint pollution and provide a scientific basis for groundwater protection and risk management in coastal plain aquifers.
Exploring the Circular Reuse Potential of Wastewater and Scrap Metal in Crop Irrigation at Urban-Rural Intersections Through Electrocoagulation.
Al-Kilani MR, Abdelal Q, Bani-Melhem K
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41902673 · Publisher ↗
Wastewater treatment by electrocoagulation (EC) using waste-derived electrodes is a promising solution, but its viability in irrigation reuse remains unclear. This work presents a quantitative framework integrating agrom...
Wastewater treatment by electrocoagulation (EC) using waste-derived electrodes is a promising solution, but its viability in irrigation reuse remains unclear. This work presents a quantitative framework integrating agrometeorological analysis (FAO-56 method) and waste information into energy and electrochemical models (Faraday's laws of dissolution) for viability assessment. The circular reuse framework was evaluated at a study site comprising a large institution surrounded by irrigated trees. Onsite experiments showed that electrochemical dosages as low as 20 g/m of aluminum (Al) scrap, or 60 g/m for iron (Fe) scrap, achieved significant removals (75%-94%) of COD, BOD, TSS, and turbidity. Onsite metal waste generation (593 kg/month) could accommodate ~98,000 m of surrounding irrigated lands. Crop production capacities of scrap metals (food per scrap) were estimated to reach 23.3 kg/kg using Al scrap. Based on crop water dynamics, theoretical fixed energy demand for renewable energy integration was calculated to be 0.58 kWh/m. Validation of model components revealed that modeling scrap electrode consumption comprised minimal uncertainty compared with other components like crop water demand. The reuse framework shows promising potential as a WEFE nexus application but raised some socioeconomic concerns such as impacts on scrap scavengers' livelihoods. Prior to wider adoption, qualitative assessments are necessary to address heavy metals removal, soil contamination, nutrient content, and microbial indicators. Pilot-scale experiments are also encouraged to gain improved insights.
Assessing Recreational Safety of Urban Marine Waters: Long-Term Coliform and Enterococcus Analysis.
Ringenary MJ, Tanacredi JT, Frame GW
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41902431 · Full text
Regulatory shifts from coliform to Enterococcus bacteria have increased exposure to health risks and their consequences. In presumptive testing, elevated coliform levels in surface waters have been used as indicators of...
Regulatory shifts from coliform to Enterococcus bacteria have increased exposure to health risks and their consequences. In presumptive testing, elevated coliform levels in surface waters have been used as indicators of human health risks associated with recreational water use. Policy and regulatory changes over the past two decades have led to the discontinuation of coliforms as potential hazard indicators in recreational waters. This study analyzed a long-term dataset spanning over 40 years, examining the impact of human-treated water emissions, combined sewer outfalls, and other effluents in the urban Jamaica Bay ecosystem (New York, USA). The frequency and magnitude of both coliform and Enterococcus levels indicate a significant human health risk from recreational use of these waters. The disparity in exclusively using Enterococci compared with elevated total or fecal coliform indicator bacteria was significant. Coliforms should remain a key parameter for protecting public and environmental health from common pollution sources in urban marine waters.
Seasonal Disparities and Risk Evaluation of EOCs in Pearl River Delta Water Sources.
Liang J, Liu X, Li R … +8 more , Zhu Y, Hu J, Wu Q, Liu Z, Huang X, Chen Y, Hao Z, Luo D
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41902428 · Publisher ↗
Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) are extensively employed for disease control and agricultural yield enhancement. However, EOCs can enter aquatic environments through multiple pathways, constituting a potential threa...
Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) are extensively employed for disease control and agricultural yield enhancement. However, EOCs can enter aquatic environments through multiple pathways, constituting a potential threat to both human health and aquatic ecosystems, particularly drinking water sources. This study investigated the residual levels of two typical classes of biocides-antibiotics and pesticides-in five drinking water sources within the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. The average total concentrations of antibiotics and pesticides were 102.50 and 103.13 ng/L during the dry season, 112.13 and 74.94 ng/L during the wet season, and 169.62 and 133.40 ng/L during the normal-flow season, respectively. Between 2023 and 2024, pesticide contamination exhibited a general declining trend, whereas antibiotic contamination displayed a gradual increase. PCA suggested seasonal/site-specific co-variation patterns that were consistent with influences from domestic wastewater, livestock/aquaculture activities, and mixed inputs when interpreted together with land use information. An ecological risk assessment revealed that clothianidin and imidacloprid posed high risks to the aquatic ecosystem. This study elucidates the contamination characteristics and potential risks of antibiotics and pesticides in the drinking water sources of the PRD region, thereby providing a scientific basis for water pollution prevention and water quality safeguarding in the area.
The Impact of Grid-Scale Water Quality Variations on Crop Yields in China: A Regional Heterogeneity Analysis.
Zhou X, Shuai C, Wang C … +2 more , Chen X, Zhao B
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41891269 · Publisher ↗
Water quality is increasingly recognized as a key factor affecting agricultural yields, yet its impacts remain insufficiently understood at large and fine spatial scales. Existing studies often focus on localized effects...
Water quality is increasingly recognized as a key factor affecting agricultural yields, yet its impacts remain insufficiently understood at large and fine spatial scales. Existing studies often focus on localized effects or rely on field experiments, limiting their applicability to a single regional scale. In this study, we employ 0.5° grid data to systematically assess the effects of water quality on crop yields across China's major grain-producing regions, enabling fine-scale quantification of the relationship between water quality and yields. Our results indicate that different water quality indicators have varying degrees of impact on crop yields. We further explore regional heterogeneity in these impacts, uncovering spatial heterogeneity in the sensitivity of crop yields to water quality. These findings highlight the essential role of water quality in safeguarding agricultural output and underscore the strategic value of water quality management in improving resource-use efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural development.
Membrane Fouling in Vibratory MBRs: Impact Distance Complements Wall Shear Stress as a Fouling Predictor.
Kaya R, Ersahin ME, Ozgun H … +2 more , Tarabara V, Koyuncu I
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41891130 · Publisher ↗
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and lab-scale preliminary tests were performed to elucidate mechanisms of membrane fouling control in vibratory hollow fiber membrane bioreactors. Shear stress distribution on...
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and lab-scale preliminary tests were performed to elucidate mechanisms of membrane fouling control in vibratory hollow fiber membrane bioreactors. Shear stress distribution on the hollow fiber membrane surfaces was estimated analytically and compared with predictions by 3D CFD modeling. During lab-scale testing, transmembrane pressure buildup was recorded for membranes operated under two different vibration regimes designed to affect similar shear stresses at the membrane surface (1.33 and 1.48 Pa). MBR tests showed that the different combinations of frequency and amplitude values with the same shear stress values led to different TMP profiles.
Water Quality and Hydrogeochemical Mechanisms of River Water in the Strong Runoff Piedmont Region: Insight From Hydrochemical and Isotopic Evidence.
Yang G, Chen Y, Zhang W … +6 more , Zhang B, Liu J, Wang B, Xie Y, Li J, Hao G
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41889306 · Publisher ↗
Water quality and hydrogeochemical mechanisms of river water in recharge areas are of great significance for environmental safety and ecological stability. Here, water quality and associated mechanisms in river water of...
Water quality and hydrogeochemical mechanisms of river water in recharge areas are of great significance for environmental safety and ecological stability. Here, water quality and associated mechanisms in river water of the Qingshui River were assessed using hydrochemical and isotopic data (δH and δO), combined with the Entropy-weighted Water Quality Index (E-WQI) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results showed that water quality of the agricultural reach is dominated by an "excellent level," while ~ 43% of samples from the urban reach showed a "good level." Water quality is mainly driven by mineral dissolution (36.8% and 57.0% for the agricultural and urban reaches) and agricultural inputs (37.7% and 21.7% for the agricultural and urban reaches), while positive cation exchange contributes less to hydrochemical components. Furthermore, the construction of artificial channels enhances the effect of evaporation on hydrochemistry and alters the water-rock interaction processes. Those results provide new insights into evaluating hydrogeochemical mechanisms in the river system of piedmont regions.
SeweRx: Simulating Baseline Pharmaceutical Concentrations, Mass Loads, and Risk in American Wastewater Across Sewershed Scales.
Maybruck V, Mansfeldt C
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41885363 · Publisher ↗
Interventions in waste management may be informed by predicting the concentration of pharmaceuticals entering water resource recovery facilities. This study assembles PharmUse, a database containing consumption data, exc...
Interventions in waste management may be informed by predicting the concentration of pharmaceuticals entering water resource recovery facilities. This study assembles PharmUse, a database containing consumption data, excretion data, physicochemical properties, fate and transport parameters, and toxicity values for 313 commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals in the United States. PharmUse is used to construct PharmFlush, a model that simulates baseline pharmaceutical concentrations in sewersheds based on sewershed size. PharmFlush predicts pharmaceutical mass loads acceptably for 59% of considered pharmaceuticals, performing comparably to previous models, and additionally predicts trends previously observed in literature. PharmFlush also identifies pharmaceuticals to prioritize based on their concentration and relation to toxicity thresholds. Further analyses postulate the impact of in-sewer processes such as sorption, hydrolysis, and biotransformation, and a simulation demonstrates the utility of SeweRx to wastewater and water reuse operators in a changing regulatory landscape. Overall, SeweRx is an expanding toolbox for operators to enhance pharmaceutical risk management.
Emerging Nanomaterials for Advanced Water Decontamination: Opportunities and Challenges.
Kesarwani S, Tripathy DB, Verma R … +1 more , Hung YT
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41885298 · Publisher ↗
Global water scarcity is increasingly intensified by persistent micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine-disrupting compounds, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metal...
Global water scarcity is increasingly intensified by persistent micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine-disrupting compounds, personal care products, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metals. Due to their chemical stability and very low concentrations, these contaminants are not efficiently removed by conventional treatment systems. Emerging nanomaterials provide advanced solutions because of their large surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and strong catalytic and adsorption performance. This review summarizes recent progress in nanomaterial-based water purification technologies, including graphene derivatives, metal-organic frameworks, quantum dots, fullerenes, and biochar composites. Major removal pathways such as adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, membrane filtration, and antimicrobial activity are discussed to demonstrate their effectiveness across multiple pollutant classes. Comparative evaluation of parameters such as adsorption capacity, degradation efficiency, and membrane flux highlights the superior performance of nanomaterial-enabled systems over traditional methods. However, practical deployment remains constrained by challenges related to cost, scalability, material recovery, durability, and potential environmental risks. Approaches including green synthesis, life cycle assessment, and artificial-intelligence-assisted material design are suggested to improve sustainability and accelerate translation to real-world applications. Thus, this review highlights both the promise and limitations of nanotechnology-driven water treatment and outlines future research directions toward safe, efficient, and scalable purification strategies while also highlighting few challenges related to scalability, cost, and regeneration that must be addressed for real-world implementation.
Efficient Heterogeneous Fenton-Like Decolorization of Cationic Dyes by a Magnetic Guar Gum/Kaolin/FeO Composite.
Fındık S
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41881808 · Full text
The aim of this study was to synthesize an environmentally friendly composite material based on guar gum (GG), kaolin (Kao), and FeO, referred to as GG-mKao, and to evaluate its performance in a Fenton-like process. The...
The aim of this study was to synthesize an environmentally friendly composite material based on guar gum (GG), kaolin (Kao), and FeO, referred to as GG-mKao, and to evaluate its performance in a Fenton-like process. The composite was characterized using XRD, SEM-EDS, FTIR, BET, VSM, TGA, ICP-OES, and zeta potential analyses. The BET surface area of GG-mKao was 64.58 m/g, and its saturation magnetization was 21.4 emu/g. GG-mKao was applied for the decolorization of methyl violet 2B (MV-2B), using hydrogen peroxide (HO) as the oxidant. Under optimal conditions (20-mg/L MV-2B, 20°C, pH 6, 0.196-M HO, 1.2-g/L GG-mKao, and 45 min), a maximum decolorization efficiency of 94% was achieved. GG-mKao exhibited good reusability and stability with minimal iron leaching. Scavenger tests indicated that hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen were the primary reactive oxygen species involved in the decolorization process. Kinetic analysis showed that the decolorization followed a first-order Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, confirming a heterogeneous catalytic mechanism.
Application of Isotopic Method to Identify the Sources of Nitrate in Freshwater: Principles, Biases, and Optimizations.
Liu D, Song L, Wang X … +7 more , Zhou X, Wang F, Yu H, Duan Y, Su C, Tu Y, Wang A
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41881806 · Publisher ↗
Accurate identification of nitrate sources in aquatic environments is vital for implementing effective measures to prevent and control nitrate pollution. The combination of isotopes of nitrate with Bayesian models has pr...
Accurate identification of nitrate sources in aquatic environments is vital for implementing effective measures to prevent and control nitrate pollution. The combination of isotopes of nitrate with Bayesian models has proven effective in tracing nitrate pollution sources in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, broad systematic errors in both qualitative and quantitative assessments lead to significant uncertainties in quantifying the contributions of nitrate sources. This review initiates by outlining the fundamental principles and procedures of employing nitrate isotopes in conjunction with Bayesian models. It further consolidates the empirically determined values for two pivotal parameters, isotope abundances and effects, within these models and provides a detailed analysis of their spatial and temporal variability sources. Then it meticulously dissects the origins of systematic errors encountered in applying this technique, including overlooking isotope effects, disregarding the spatiotemporal variability of isotopes, and failing to validate whether data conform to the normal distribution assumption inherent in Bayesian models. Subsequently, the review compiles and discusses emerging strategies from both qualitative, including emerging isotopes that increase the precision of source identification, fecal-specific indicators, statistical tools, and fluorescence spectrum methods, and quantitative, including mathematical methods and/or their combination with mass balance models perspectives to mitigate these systematic errors. It also forecasts the trajectory of development within this technical domain. By examining the application of isotope technology for nitrate source identification from multiple angles, this review offers theoretical references for the prevention, control, and mitigation of nitrate in water, as well as for the formulation and implementation of pertinent policies by regulatory authorities.
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