Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100704
Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz , Alexandros Stefanakis
The vast majority of constructed wetlands (CWs) international studies focus on their treatment functions, while relatively few address their landscape roles. This paper identifies key aspects that can strengthen the landscape outcomes of CWs by linking them to landscape quality (LQ) dimensions. The results indicate that greater attention should be given to the design stage and that, where possible, CWs should be integrated into urban park systems. In this way, CWs can be recognized as sustainable landscape projects that combine environmental, economic, and social dimensions, enhancing the well-being of both human and non-human actors.
{"title":"Constructed wetlands as a multifunction landscape","authors":"Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz , Alexandros Stefanakis","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The vast majority of constructed wetlands (CWs) international studies focus on their treatment functions, while relatively few address their landscape roles. This paper identifies key aspects that can strengthen the landscape outcomes of CWs by linking them to landscape quality (LQ) dimensions. The results indicate that greater attention should be given to the design stage and that, where possible, CWs should be integrated into urban park systems. In this way, CWs can be recognized as sustainable landscape projects that combine environmental, economic, and social dimensions, enhancing the well-being of both human and non-human actors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100704"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100703
Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi , Muhammad Azeem , Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib , Zaher Mundher Yaseen , Gang Li
Plastic pollution is now a major microbiological and biogeochemical challenge. This review critically evaluates the plastisphere, the microbial biofilm colonizing plastic debris, and establishes its role as an engine of environmental change. We posit the central hypothesis that the plastisphere functions as a mobile hotspot of microbial activity that disrupts natural biogeochemical cycles and introduces novel pollutant dynamics. To evaluate this, we investigate three key questions: (1) how does the metabolic core of the plastisphere reconcile high in vitro enzymatic potential with limited in situ degradation efficacy? (2) what is the dual role of the plastisphere in pollutant fate, acting as both a transport vector and a bioreactor? (3) how are these functions intensified by global change drivers? Our synthesis concludes that the plastisphere collective metabolism short-circuits natural elemental cycles and introduces novel pollutant vectors. Addressing this multidimensional threat requires interdisciplinary research to inform both mitigation policies and the transition to a circular plastic economy.
{"title":"The plastisphere as an engine of environmental change: Impacts on biogeochemical cycling and pollutant fate","authors":"Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi , Muhammad Azeem , Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib , Zaher Mundher Yaseen , Gang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastic pollution is now a major microbiological and biogeochemical challenge. This review critically evaluates the plastisphere, the microbial biofilm colonizing plastic debris, and establishes its role as an engine of environmental change. We posit the central hypothesis that the plastisphere functions as a mobile hotspot of microbial activity that disrupts natural biogeochemical cycles and introduces novel pollutant dynamics. To evaluate this, we investigate three key questions: (1) how does the metabolic core of the plastisphere reconcile high <em>in vitro</em> enzymatic potential with limited <em>in situ</em> degradation efficacy? (2) what is the dual role of the plastisphere in pollutant fate, acting as both a transport vector and a bioreactor? (3) how are these functions intensified by global change drivers? Our synthesis concludes that the plastisphere collective metabolism short-circuits natural elemental cycles and introduces novel pollutant vectors. Addressing this multidimensional threat requires interdisciplinary research to inform both mitigation policies and the transition to a circular plastic economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100703"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100702
Mathieu Gautier
The revised European Union Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 2024/3019 introduces significant changes to the urban wastewater management framework across the European Union. Among its most notable developments are reinforced requirements for nutrient removal, the treatment of micropollutants, the management of urban stormwater, and broader ambitions for energy neutrality and water reuse. In this context, nature-based solutions appear increasingly relevant. Treatment wetlands including vertical flow and hybrid and bioelectrochemical systems offer solutions aligned with these objectives. This article examines recent innovations in constructed wetlands and evaluates their potential role in fulfilling the goals of the new directive, especially for small-scale systems.
{"title":"Treatment wetlands in the framework of the revised European Union Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 2024","authors":"Mathieu Gautier","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The revised European Union Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive 2024/3019 introduces significant changes to the urban wastewater management framework across the European Union. Among its most notable developments are reinforced requirements for nutrient removal, the treatment of micropollutants, the management of urban stormwater, and broader ambitions for energy neutrality and water reuse. In this context, nature-based solutions appear increasingly relevant. Treatment wetlands including vertical flow and hybrid and bioelectrochemical systems offer solutions aligned with these objectives. This article examines recent innovations in constructed wetlands and evaluates their potential role in fulfilling the goals of the new directive, especially for small-scale systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100702"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100700
Srinidhi Lokesh, Yasha Jathan, Eric A. Marchand, David Hanigan
Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity and pose a significant threat to drinking water safety by altering the quantity and chemical nature of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors. This review critically synthesizes recent field and laboratory studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of wildfire's impact on DBP formation. Published literature has demonstrated that wildfires lead to higher concentrations of regulated DBPs, which result in a greater number of regulatory violations. These effects are primarily driven by the increased precipitation-driven export of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from burned soils and ash deposits during post-fire runoff events. However, the reactivity (mass DBP formed/mass DOM) of fire-altered dissolved organic matter in forming carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) is often reduced compared to pre-fire DOM. In contrast, the reactivity of DOM to form more toxicologically potent nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) is, in many cases, increased by fire. This shift is exacerbated in wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires, where the combustion of anthropogenic materials can increase the potential toxicity of the resulting DBP mixture by over 100-fold compared to vegetative ash. Further, wildfire can also alter DBP speciation by mobilizing inorganic halides. The release of bromide from vegetation and, critically, iodide from structural materials in WUI fires can lead to the formation of brominated and iodinated DBPs which also potentially results in increased toxicity of the mixture. These findings highlight significant challenges to the production of safe drinking water post-fire and underscore the need for a shift in DBP regulations, moving beyond regulated C-DBPs.
{"title":"Recent improvements in understanding the impacts of wildfire on disinfection byproduct formation potential","authors":"Srinidhi Lokesh, Yasha Jathan, Eric A. Marchand, David Hanigan","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity and pose a significant threat to drinking water safety by altering the quantity and chemical nature of disinfection byproduct (DBP) precursors. This review critically synthesizes recent field and laboratory studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of wildfire's impact on DBP formation. Published literature has demonstrated that wildfires lead to higher concentrations of regulated DBPs, which result in a greater number of regulatory violations. These effects are primarily driven by the increased precipitation-driven export of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from burned soils and ash deposits during post-fire runoff events. However, the reactivity (mass DBP formed/mass DOM) of fire-altered dissolved organic matter in forming carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) is often reduced compared to pre-fire DOM. In contrast, the reactivity of DOM to form more toxicologically potent nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) is, in many cases, increased by fire. This shift is exacerbated in wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires, where the combustion of anthropogenic materials can increase the potential toxicity of the resulting DBP mixture by over 100-fold compared to vegetative ash. Further, wildfire can also alter DBP speciation by mobilizing inorganic halides. The release of bromide from vegetation and, critically, iodide from structural materials in WUI fires can lead to the formation of brominated and iodinated DBPs which also potentially results in increased toxicity of the mixture. These findings highlight significant challenges to the production of safe drinking water post-fire and underscore the need for a shift in DBP regulations, moving beyond regulated C-DBPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100700"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100682
Xin Zuo , Changchun Xin , Cristina Postigo
In recent years, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been widely applied in the field of water disinfection and disinfection byproduct (DBP) research. Its use has enabled not only DBP discovery but also the identification of DBP precursors and the elucidation of DBP formation mechanisms and toxicity modes of action. The present manuscript overviews the most recent (mainly from 2023 to present) HRMS-based applications, and discusses the main innovations, limitations, challenges, and knowledge gaps to inspire future research in the field.
{"title":"High-resolution mass spectrometry to advance DBP research","authors":"Xin Zuo , Changchun Xin , Cristina Postigo","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been widely applied in the field of water disinfection and disinfection byproduct (DBP) research. Its use has enabled not only DBP discovery but also the identification of DBP precursors and the elucidation of DBP formation mechanisms and toxicity modes of action. The present manuscript overviews the most recent (mainly from 2023 to present) HRMS-based applications, and discusses the main innovations, limitations, challenges, and knowledge gaps to inspire future research in the field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100682"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145617693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100687
Ana María Leiva , Gladys Vidal
Within the One Health framework, constructed wetlands (CWs) are increasingly recognized as sustainable systems for mitigating antibiotic resistance (AR). However, their effectiveness in reducing—or potentially contributing to—the dissemination of AR remains debated. This review analyzes recent literature (2024–2025) to clarify the capacity of CWs in AR control. Bibliometric analysis indicates that current research mainly focuses on (1) novel substrates such as biochar, (2) integration with innovative technologies such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and (3) characterization of resistant microbial communities. Reported performances of CWs with biochar or coupled with MFCs show antibiotic removal efficiencies of 41–99 % and AR genes (ARGs) reductions of 0.5–1.0 log units. These results evidence that CWs are capable of decreasing ARGs and antibiotics rates from wastewater. However, more research is needed for improving performance and for scaling laboratories prototypes to real-scale CWs. Focusing on ARGs’ occurrence, they are frequently detected in CW substrates and effluents, with abundances up to 104 copies/mL and 10−2 copies/16S rDNA gene copy, respectively. Microbial community studies further suggest ARGs mobilization within CWs—from influent to substrates and plants—and their potential release into surrounding environments. Overall, CWs appear to function as “AR buffer systems”: reducing ARGs levels in liquid streams while facilitating their accumulation in substrates. This reservoir may pose environmental risks, particularly through the reuse of CW biomass in agriculture. Therefore, future research should prioritize risk assessment of CW substrates as potential vectors of AR dissemination.
{"title":"Capacity of constructed wetlands to control antibiotic resistance during wastewater treatment: Removal or dissemination?","authors":"Ana María Leiva , Gladys Vidal","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100687","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Within the One Health framework, constructed wetlands (CWs) are increasingly recognized as sustainable systems for mitigating antibiotic resistance (AR). However, their effectiveness in reducing—or potentially contributing to—the dissemination of AR remains debated. This review analyzes recent literature (2024–2025) to clarify the capacity of CWs in AR control. Bibliometric analysis indicates that current research mainly focuses on (1) novel substrates such as biochar, (2) integration with innovative technologies such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and (3) characterization of resistant microbial communities. Reported performances of CWs with biochar or coupled with MFCs show antibiotic removal efficiencies of 41–99 % and AR genes (ARGs) reductions of 0.5–1.0 log units. These results evidence that CWs are capable of decreasing ARGs and antibiotics rates from wastewater. However, more research is needed for improving performance and for scaling laboratories prototypes to real-scale CWs. Focusing on ARGs’ occurrence, they are frequently detected in CW substrates and effluents, with abundances up to 10<sup>4</sup> copies/mL and 10<sup>−2</sup> copies/16S rDNA gene copy, respectively. Microbial community studies further suggest ARGs mobilization within CWs—from influent to substrates and plants—and their potential release into surrounding environments. Overall, CWs appear to function as “AR buffer systems”: reducing ARGs levels in liquid streams while facilitating their accumulation in substrates. This reservoir may pose environmental risks, particularly through the reuse of CW biomass in agriculture. Therefore, future research should prioritize risk assessment of CW substrates as potential vectors of AR dissemination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100687"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145617654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100686
Rakesh Kumar, Jasmeet Lamba
Prolonged contamination of soil and water ecosystems with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is reported globally due to their widespread use in various products. Hydrophobicity and strong covalent bonds in PFAS lead to interactions with surrounding media under varying environmental conditions, and PFAS exposure severely impacts human, animal, and environmental health. This opinion article presents novel insights on challenges and opportunities associated with biochar selection for PFAS remediation considering the influence of solution chemistry, batch/fixed-bed column sorption methods, pyrolysis temperature, and long-chain/short-chain length PFAS. Higher pyrolysis temperatures (>700 °C) lead to high PFAS sorption onto biochar surfaces due to pore filling, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic attractions. Long-chain PFAS shows higher affinity due to its strong hydrophobic nature, and π-π interactions enhance the aromaticity of biochar. Also, long-chain PFAS possess high sorption at the biochar–soil interface due to the hydrophobicity of soil; however, in situ sorption–desorption at varying soil chemistry still poses challenges to retain PFAS in soil and leads to groundwater contamination. Lastly, considering agricultural and environmental sustainability, this review concluded with challenges for PFAS removal remediation strategies, including soil washing technology and adsorption, which aim to stabilize PFAS within the soil and water matrix, ultimately hindering their bioavailability and mobility.
{"title":"Remediation of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances using biochar from contaminated soil and water ecosystems: Challenges and environmental sustainability","authors":"Rakesh Kumar, Jasmeet Lamba","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prolonged contamination of soil and water ecosystems with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is reported globally due to their widespread use in various products. Hydrophobicity and strong covalent bonds in PFAS lead to interactions with surrounding media under varying environmental conditions, and PFAS exposure severely impacts human, animal, and environmental health. This opinion article presents novel insights on challenges and opportunities associated with biochar selection for PFAS remediation considering the influence of solution chemistry, batch/fixed-bed column sorption methods, pyrolysis temperature, and long-chain/short-chain length PFAS. Higher pyrolysis temperatures (>700 °C) lead to high PFAS sorption onto biochar surfaces due to pore filling, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic attractions. Long-chain PFAS shows higher affinity due to its strong hydrophobic nature, and π-π interactions enhance the aromaticity of biochar. Also, long-chain PFAS possess high sorption at the biochar–soil interface due to the hydrophobicity of soil; however, <em>in situ</em> sorption–desorption at varying soil chemistry still poses challenges to retain PFAS in soil and leads to groundwater contamination. Lastly, considering agricultural and environmental sustainability, this review concluded with challenges for PFAS removal remediation strategies, including soil washing technology and adsorption, which aim to stabilize PFAS within the soil and water matrix, ultimately hindering their bioavailability and mobility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100686"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145617686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100683
Kirin Emlet Furst , Daniel Worthington Smith
Over one billion people gained access to disinfected drinking water in the last 25 years, which is a major public health achievement. However, this inadvertently expanded the population exposed to disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Conditions in low-income communities can exacerbate DBP formation but research is critically limited by 1) focus on trihalomethanes over likely toxicity drivers, 2) overabundance of case studies, 3) lack of epidemiologic studies in relevant communities, and 4) overemphasis on novel treatment technologies. Future research should prioritize the roles of institutional and individual behavior in DBP exposure and mitigation, and incorporating DBPs into global burden of waterborne disease calculations.
{"title":"Disinfection byproducts in low-income communities","authors":"Kirin Emlet Furst , Daniel Worthington Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over one billion people gained access to disinfected drinking water in the last 25 years, which is a major public health achievement. However, this inadvertently expanded the population exposed to disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Conditions in low-income communities can exacerbate DBP formation but research is critically limited by 1) focus on trihalomethanes over likely toxicity drivers, 2) overabundance of case studies, 3) lack of epidemiologic studies in relevant communities, and 4) overemphasis on novel treatment technologies. Future research should prioritize the roles of institutional and individual behavior in DBP exposure and mitigation, and incorporating DBPs into global burden of waterborne disease calculations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100683"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145617692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-30DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100696
Manish Kumar , Aseem Saxena , Sachin Tripathi , Durga Prasad Panday , Juan Antonio Torres-Martínez
Urban runoff, shaped by human activities and land use, is a key source of microplastics (MPs), contributing to the contamination of rivers, groundwater, and coastal systems. Understanding MP sources, variability, and behaviour in urban runoff remains challenging due to their diverse origins and dynamic transport processes. Flood events accelerate the mobilisation of MPs, redistributing particles across catchments and ecosystems. Processes like fragmentation, ageing, and retention alter MPs’ size, shape, and surface properties, influencing their transport, accumulation, and interactions in different environments. This opinion article examines the potential of MP profiling to evaluate the extent and pathways of surface-groundwater interactions in urbanizing landscapes, with a focus on flood impacts. The study further highlights the coexistence of MPs with other pollutants and their potential infiltration into groundwater. Through analysis of microplastic contaminant loads, composition, and transport during and after flood events, this opinion demonstrates their dual function as markers of flood occurrences and tools for evaluating hydrological connectivity altered by urban development. The findings highlight the promise of MP hydro(bio)logy as a sensitive, cost-effective approach for integrated water management, improved flood impact assessment, and the formulation of urban planning strategies tailored to mitigate environmental risks in rapidly changing catchments.
{"title":"Harnessing microplastic contaminant hydro(bio)logy: Proxies for flood impact, surface-groundwater connectivity, and urbanisation","authors":"Manish Kumar , Aseem Saxena , Sachin Tripathi , Durga Prasad Panday , Juan Antonio Torres-Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban runoff, shaped by human activities and land use, is a key source of microplastics (MPs), contributing to the contamination of rivers, groundwater, and coastal systems. Understanding MP sources, variability, and behaviour in urban runoff remains challenging due to their diverse origins and dynamic transport processes. Flood events accelerate the mobilisation of MPs, redistributing particles across catchments and ecosystems. Processes like fragmentation, ageing, and retention alter MPs’ size, shape, and surface properties, influencing their transport, accumulation, and interactions in different environments. This opinion article examines the potential of MP profiling to evaluate the extent and pathways of surface-groundwater interactions in urbanizing landscapes, with a focus on flood impacts. The study further highlights the coexistence of MPs with other pollutants and their potential infiltration into groundwater. Through analysis of microplastic contaminant loads, composition, and transport during and after flood events, this opinion demonstrates their dual function as markers of flood occurrences and tools for evaluating hydrological connectivity altered by urban development. The findings highlight the promise of MP hydro(bio)logy as a sensitive, cost-effective approach for integrated water management, improved flood impact assessment, and the formulation of urban planning strategies tailored to mitigate environmental risks in rapidly changing catchments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 100696"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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