In the face of escalating water pollution, the development of innovative and sustainable processes for wastewater treatment has become imperative to safeguard ecosystems. The current review explores the integration of nanotechnology with lignocellulosic materials to develop cost-effective, high-performance nanoadsorbents for wastewater treatment. The nanostructured cellulose and lignin exhibit enhanced porosity, surface area, and functionalization capabilities, enabling efficient removal of environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. The advancements in using nanocellulose/nanolignin for removing water pollutants and understanding the underlying mechanisms, as well as life cycle analysis, are discussed. These bio-based nanomaterials reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
{"title":"Sustainable nanoadsorbents from lignocellulosic waste: A green approach to wastewater treatment","authors":"Parushi Nargotra , Mei-Ling Tsai , Cheng-Di Dong , Chia-Hung Kuo , Bijender Kumar Bajaj , Vishal Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the face of escalating water pollution, the development of innovative and sustainable processes for wastewater treatment has become imperative to safeguard ecosystems. The current review explores the integration of nanotechnology with lignocellulosic materials to develop cost-effective, high-performance nanoadsorbents for wastewater treatment. The nanostructured cellulose and lignin exhibit enhanced porosity, surface area, and functionalization capabilities, enabling efficient removal of environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. The advancements in using nanocellulose/nanolignin for removing water pollutants and understanding the underlying mechanisms, as well as life cycle analysis, are discussed. These bio-based nanomaterials reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100665"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121009","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100680
Alessia Marzo , Juliano Rezende Mudadu Silva , Fabio Masi , Anacleto Rizzo , Giuseppe Luigi Cirelli
Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been demonstrated to be effective solution for treating winery wastewater (WWW). In this paper, worldwide experiences over the last 25 years of full-scale CWs for WWW treatment are gathered. In total, three CW types were identified: horizontal subsurface flow, vertical subsurface flow and hybrid CWs. The organic and hydraulic loading rate ranged between 15.74–315 gCODm−2d−1 and 13–313 mmd-1, respectively. The most common plant species were Phragmites australis, Typha spp., and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani. In this review, treatment efficiency of CWs is presented as well as their operational challenges and opportunities.
{"title":"A review of the full-scale constructed wetlands for the treatment and management of winery wastewater","authors":"Alessia Marzo , Juliano Rezende Mudadu Silva , Fabio Masi , Anacleto Rizzo , Giuseppe Luigi Cirelli","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been demonstrated to be effective solution for treating winery wastewater (WWW). In this paper, worldwide experiences over the last 25 years of full-scale CWs for WWW treatment are gathered. In total, three CW types were identified: horizontal subsurface flow, vertical subsurface flow and hybrid CWs. The organic and hydraulic loading rate ranged between 15.74–315 gCODm<sup>−2</sup>d<sup>−1</sup> and 13–313 mmd<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. The most common plant species were <em>P</em><em>hragmites australis, Typha</em> spp.<em>,</em> and <em>Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani</em>. In this review, treatment efficiency of CWs is presented as well as their operational challenges and opportunities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100680"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145571358","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100664
Fan Zhou , Yuxuan Xie , Yu Wang , Xiaobin Liao , Chao Chen
This paper summarizes recent progress in identifying sources of nitrosamines (NAs) and their precursors in water resources. Natural sources include humic substances, microbial and algal metabolites, which will be exacerbated by natural disasters and extreme climate events. Anthropogenic sources include domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater and agricultural wastewater. Natural sources generally contribute a few to dozens of ng/L of precursors but provide minimal NAs, while anthropogenic sources provide a few to hundreds of ng/L of NAs and higher levels of precursors. These insights aid differentiation of natural vs. anthropogenic contributions, providing guidance for pollution control and sustainable management of water resources.
{"title":"Which sources contribute more to nitrosamines and their precursors in water resources: The natural or the anthropogenic?","authors":"Fan Zhou , Yuxuan Xie , Yu Wang , Xiaobin Liao , Chao Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper summarizes recent progress in identifying sources of nitrosamines (NAs) and their precursors in water resources. Natural sources include humic substances, microbial and algal metabolites, which will be exacerbated by natural disasters and extreme climate events. Anthropogenic sources include domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater and agricultural wastewater. Natural sources generally contribute a few to dozens of ng/L of precursors but provide minimal NAs, while anthropogenic sources provide a few to hundreds of ng/L of NAs and higher levels of precursors. These insights aid differentiation of natural vs. anthropogenic contributions, providing guidance for pollution control and sustainable management of water resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100664"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050573","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100681
Ismael Vera-Puerto , Darja Istenič , Pascal Molle , Carmen Hernández-Crespo , Carlos A. Arias
Combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges pose a significant challenge to urban water management. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a promising blue-green infrastructure solution for CSO management and water quality improvement, with recognized economic, social, and environmental benefits. This review synthesizes the state-of-the-art in CSO treatment using CWs over the past 30 years and explores current trends and future projections. A bibliometric analysis of 68 papers from the Web of Science Core Collection revealed that although CWs have been applied at a full scale for CSO treatment since the 1990s, they remain an emerging research topic. Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America lead in literature production and application. However, there is a significant lack of information from the Global South (developing countries) and tropical/subtropical regions. Reports from temperate developed countries indicate good performance, with removal efficiencies above 70 % for conventional pollutants such as solids, organic matter, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). However, pathogen removal was limited. Contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and microplastics, have also been investigated in CW-treated CSOs with divergent results. This review also discusses various aspects, including regulations, design, environmental performance, and trade-offs. While CWs demonstrate substantial potential for preventing surface water pollution, their application and associated knowledge must expand beyond developed temperate regions, mirroring the global adoption of CWs for domestic wastewater and stormwater treatment. This expansion is crucial for CWs to be considered a truly global solution for CSO treatment.
复合式污水溢流（CSO）排放对城市水管理提出了重大挑战。人工湿地（CWs）是一种很有前途的蓝绿色基础设施解决方案，用于公民社会组织的管理和水质改善，具有公认的经济、社会和环境效益。本综述综合了过去30年来使用化学武器治疗CSO的最新进展，并探讨了目前的趋势和未来的预测。对Web of Science核心合集68篇论文的文献计量分析表明，尽管自20世纪90年代以来，CWs已经全面应用于CSO治疗，但它们仍然是一个新兴的研究课题。德国、法国、意大利、英国和美国在文献生产和应用方面处于领先地位。然而，全球南方（发展中国家）和热带/亚热带地区的资料严重缺乏。来自温带发达国家的报告显示了良好的性能，对固体、有机物和营养物质（氮和磷）等常规污染物的去除效率超过70%。然而，病原菌的去除是有限的。新出现的关注污染物，如药物、多环芳烃（PAHs）和微塑料，也在化化水处理的公民社会组织中进行了研究，结果不同。本综述还讨论了各个方面，包括法规、设计、环境性能和权衡。虽然化粪池在防止地表水污染方面显示出巨大的潜力，但它们的应用和相关知识必须扩展到发达温带地区以外，反映出全球在生活废水和雨水处理中采用化粪池的情况。这一扩展对于将CWs视为CSO治疗的真正全球解决方案至关重要。
{"title":"Constructed wetlands for combined sewer overflow treatment: A 30-year review, current trends and future projections","authors":"Ismael Vera-Puerto , Darja Istenič , Pascal Molle , Carmen Hernández-Crespo , Carlos A. Arias","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges pose a significant challenge to urban water management. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are a promising blue-green infrastructure solution for CSO management and water quality improvement, with recognized economic, social, and environmental benefits. This review synthesizes the state-of-the-art in CSO treatment using CWs over the past 30 years and explores current trends and future projections. A bibliometric analysis of 68 papers from the Web of Science Core Collection revealed that although CWs have been applied at a full scale for CSO treatment since the 1990s, they remain an emerging research topic. Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America lead in literature production and application. However, there is a significant lack of information from the Global South (developing countries) and tropical/subtropical regions. Reports from temperate developed countries indicate good performance, with removal efficiencies above 70 % for conventional pollutants such as solids, organic matter, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). However, pathogen removal was limited. Contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and microplastics, have also been investigated in CW-treated CSOs with divergent results. This review also discusses various aspects, including regulations, design, environmental performance, and trade-offs. While CWs demonstrate substantial potential for preventing surface water pollution, their application and associated knowledge must expand beyond developed temperate regions, mirroring the global adoption of CWs for domestic wastewater and stormwater treatment. This expansion is crucial for CWs to be considered a truly global solution for CSO treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100681"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145571357","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100673
Katherine Lizama-Allende, Diego Bravo-Riquelme
Constructed wetlands are a promising arsenic removal technology. Laboratory-scale experiments have proved their arsenic removal capacity and identified the main factors affecting it. However, very few pilot and full-scale systems are reported. Most of the recent studies report on laboratory-scale systems operated during short periods, therefore lifespan, seasonal effects, and the long-term effects of vegetation cannot be evaluated. Recent work on mechanistic models could guide the development of design guidelines, which are not currently available. Confirming laboratory-scale results in pilot and full-scale systems remains a challenge, as well as the use of their data for future calibration and validation of models.
{"title":"Arsenic removal in constructed wetlands","authors":"Katherine Lizama-Allende, Diego Bravo-Riquelme","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Constructed wetlands are a promising arsenic removal technology. Laboratory-scale experiments have proved their arsenic removal capacity and identified the main factors affecting it. However, very few pilot and full-scale systems are reported. Most of the recent studies report on laboratory-scale systems operated during short periods, therefore lifespan, seasonal effects, and the long-term effects of vegetation cannot be evaluated. Recent work on mechanistic models could guide the development of design guidelines, which are not currently available. Confirming laboratory-scale results in pilot and full-scale systems remains a challenge, as well as the use of their data for future calibration and validation of models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100673"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321320","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100668
Jan Vymazal
The most important processes responsible for nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs) are nitrification and denitrification. These processes were well-described in the second part of the 19th century and are still valid. During the recent years, other processes responsible for nitrogen removal in CWs have been identified, namely anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox), anaerobic ammonia-oxidation-coupled-to-dissimilatory ferric iron reduction (Feammox) and autotrophic denitrification. Also, bacteria that can perform complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate (Comammox) have been discovered. This review is mostly aimed at these newly discovered processes in relation to wastewater treatment in CWs.
{"title":"Nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands","authors":"Jan Vymazal","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The most important processes responsible for nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs) are nitrification and denitrification. These processes were well-described in the second part of the 19th century and are still valid. During the recent years, other processes responsible for nitrogen removal in CWs have been identified, namely anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox), anaerobic ammonia-oxidation-coupled-to-dissimilatory ferric iron reduction (Feammox) and autotrophic denitrification. Also, bacteria that can perform complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate (Comammox) have been discovered. This review is mostly aimed at these newly discovered processes in relation to wastewater treatment in CWs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100668"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222485","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-11DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100678
Peta A. Neale , Beate I. Escher , Frederic D.L. Leusch
Effect-based methods (EBM) are increasingly used to assess disinfected water quality as they can detect the mixture effects of all bioactive chemicals, including disinfection by-products (DBPs). In this review, we discuss the application of EBM to extracts of disinfected water, with bioassays for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress response being the most responsive to DBPs. The contribution of known DBPs to the mixture effect can be predicted from single DBPs’ effects using established mixture models. Regulated DBPs typically have a minor contribution to the observed effect. Effect-based trigger values can be used to determine if the treated water quality is acceptable.
{"title":"Applying effect-based methods to evaluate the mixture effects of disinfection by-products and other chemicals in disinfected water","authors":"Peta A. Neale , Beate I. Escher , Frederic D.L. Leusch","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effect-based methods (EBM) are increasingly used to assess disinfected water quality as they can detect the mixture effects of all bioactive chemicals, including disinfection by-products (DBPs). In this review, we discuss the application of EBM to extracts of disinfected water, with bioassays for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress response being the most responsive to DBPs. The contribution of known DBPs to the mixture effect can be predicted from single DBPs’ effects using established mixture models. Regulated DBPs typically have a minor contribution to the observed effect. Effect-based trigger values can be used to determine if the treated water quality is acceptable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100678"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145417058","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 : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-01DOI: 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 : 2025-10-01Epub Date: 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100655
Le Thi Lan Anh, Tran Le Luu
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are significant contributors to global climate change. This study addresses the lack of data in Vietnam's fragmented and under-monitored wastewater systems by integrating field measurements, dynamic modeling, and life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify GHG emissions from 29 centralized plants and multiple decentralized systems. The results indicate that CH4 and N2O emissions amount to 378 and 79.7 million tons of CO2-equivalent annually, with local emission factors significantly exceeding the IPCC Tier 1 defaults. Methane is primarily produced from anaerobic sludge digestion and septic tanks, while N2O arises from nitrogen removal processes under low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions. Indirect CO2 emissions from electricity and fuel consumption contribute an additional 17 % to the sector's GHG footprint. Technologies such as Johkasou, Anammox, and biogas recovery demonstrate strong mitigation potential, with Johkasou reducing emissions by approximately 16 % and Anammox lowering N2O outputs. Additional solutions including photovoltaic (PV) systems, machine learning-based process optimization, and microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer promising pathways for operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. These findings provide critical inputs for Vietnam's carbon market implementation and align with global efforts to improve the accuracy of GHG accounting in wastewater systems.
{"title":"Greenhouse gas emissions from municipal wastewater treatment: Global insights and Vietnam's approach","authors":"Le Thi Lan Anh, Tran Le Luu","doi":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coesh.2025.100655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), including carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>), and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O), are significant contributors to global climate change. This study addresses the lack of data in Vietnam's fragmented and under-monitored wastewater systems by integrating field measurements, dynamic modeling, and life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify GHG emissions from 29 centralized plants and multiple decentralized systems. The results indicate that CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions amount to 378 and 79.7 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub>-equivalent annually, with local emission factors significantly exceeding the IPCC Tier 1 defaults. Methane is primarily produced from anaerobic sludge digestion and septic tanks, while N<sub>2</sub>O arises from nitrogen removal processes under low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions. Indirect CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from electricity and fuel consumption contribute an additional 17 % to the sector's GHG footprint. Technologies such as Johkasou, Anammox, and biogas recovery demonstrate strong mitigation potential, with Johkasou reducing emissions by approximately 16 % and Anammox lowering N<sub>2</sub>O outputs. Additional solutions including photovoltaic (PV) systems, machine learning-based process optimization, and microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer promising pathways for operational efficiency and long-term sustainability. These findings provide critical inputs for Vietnam's carbon market implementation and align with global efforts to improve the accuracy of GHG accounting in wastewater systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52296,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100655"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144919784","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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