High-technology metals as emerging contaminants: Strong increase of anthropogenic gadolinium levels in tap water of Berlin, Germany, from 2009 to 2012

Abstract Background Nowadays, emergence of unexpected contaminants in drinking water is a challenging environmental problem facing humanity. Objective Two eco-friendly spectrofluorimetric methods were proposed for the determination of three unexpected contaminants in drinking tap water. Methods The first method is first derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetric method which was developed for simultaneous determination of atenolol (ATN) and diclofenac (DCF) without prior separation at Δλ = 70 nm and at Δλ = 80 nm for ATN and DCF, respectively. The second method was based on using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as fluorescent enhancer of triclosan (TCS) native fluorescence. TCS exhibits enhanced fluorescence at λ emission = 600 nm upon excitation at λ excitation = 299.4 nm. Solid phase extraction was carried out in both methods. Results Linear calibration curves were obtained in concentration range of (4–3000 ng/mL) for ATN and (4–2000 ng/mL) for DCF, by measuring first derivative signal of fluorescence at 300 nm and 375.2 nm, respectively. TCS exhibits linear range (0.1–1 ng/mL) at 600 nm. Mean percentage recoveries were 101.04 ± 0.571, 99.66 ± 1.443, and 99.73 ± 0.566 for ATN, DCF, and TCS, respectively. Conclusions Validation of both methods were performed according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Results obtained were statistically compared with published methods and no significant differences were found. The proposed methods’ greenness is evaluated using analytical Eco-scale and Green Analytical Procedure Index. A greenness comparison with previously published methods has been performed. Highlights Both methods were found to be eco-friendly and were successfully applied for the determination of the emerging contaminants in drinking tap water.

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Sources, behaviour, and environmental and human health risks of high-technology rare earth elements as emerging contaminants

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.235 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 636 ◽

pp. 299-313 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Willis Gwenzi ◽

Lynda Mangori ◽

Concilia Danha ◽

Nhamo Chaukura ◽

Nothando Dunjana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Human Health ◽

Health Risks ◽

Emerging Contaminants ◽

High Technology ◽

Human Health Risks

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Anthropogenic gadolinium as a microcontaminant in tap water used as drinking water in urban areas and megacities

Applied Geochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.06.011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 1877-1885 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Serkan Kulaksız ◽

Michael Bau

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Tap Water ◽

Anthropogenic Gadolinium

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Microplastics in Honey, Beer, Milk and Refreshments in Ecuador as Emerging Contaminants

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12145514 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 5514 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Milene F. Diaz-Basantes ◽

Juan A. Conesa ◽

Andres Fullana

Keyword(s):

Emerging Contaminants ◽

Tap Water ◽

Deionized Water ◽

Anthropogenic Activity ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Composition Analysis ◽

Table Salt ◽

The Us ◽

Risk Research ◽

Marine Products

According to the latest research, marine products have the greatest potential for microplastic (MPs) contamination. Therefore, their presence in terrestrial food has not managed to attract much attention—despite the fact that in the future they may represent a serious environmental risk. Research conducted in Europe and the US has indicated the presence of MPs in tap water, bottled water, table salt, honey, beer and snails for human consumption. The presence of MPs in food has not yet been evaluated in Latin America. This work focused on evaluating two widely consumed beverages: milk and soft drinks. Furthermore, honey and beer samples were analyzed and compared to findings in the literature. All products were sourced in Ecuador. In order to determine correlations with the intensity of anthropogenic activity, samples of both industrially processed and craft products were studied. For the analysis, an improvement of previous techniques used to determine MPs in honey was applied. This technique uses microfiltration followed by degradation of organic matter with hydrogen peroxide—and finally, continuous rinsing with deionized water. Size ranges were established between 0.8–200 mm. The number of microplastics found was between 10 and 100 MPs/L, with an average of around 40 MPs/L. The sizes of the particles found in the study are in the range of 13.45 and 6742.48 μm for the fibers, and between 2.48 and 247.54 μm for the fragments. From the composition analysis carried out with FTIR, we were able to confirm the presence of 12% of microplastic. The results generally showed a greater presence of MPs compared to those registered in Europe, probably due to processing methods rather than environmental pollution. Regarding composition, the main microplastics found were polyethylene, polypropylene and polyacrylamide.

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How to Address Consumers’ Concerns and Information Needs about Emerging Chemical and Microbial Contaminants in Drinking Water; The Case of GenX in The Netherlands

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010615 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10615

Author(s):

Liesbeth Claassen ◽

Julia Hartmann ◽

Susanne Wuijts

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Information Needs ◽

Emerging Contaminants ◽

Tap Water ◽

Safe Drinking Water ◽

Important Condition ◽

Perceived Safety ◽

Microbial Contaminants ◽

Increases In Risk ◽

Model Approach

The perceived safety of tap water is an important condition for consumers to drink it. Therefore, addressing consumers’ concerns should be included in the roadmap towards the UN SDG 6 on safe drinking water for all. This paper studies consumers’ information needs regarding emerging contaminants in drinking water using a mental model approach for the development of targeted risk communication. As most consumers expect safe drinking water, free of contamination, communication on emerging contaminants may increase concerns. Here, we showed that communication strategies better tailored to consumers’ information needs result in smaller increases in risk perception compared with existing strategies.

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Titania nano-coated quartz wool for the photocatalytic mineralisation of emerging organic contaminants

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2017.457 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 409-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Saracino ◽

L. Pretali ◽

M. L. Capobianco ◽

S. S. Emmi ◽

M. L. Navacchia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Contaminants ◽

High Performance ◽

Emerging Contaminants ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Tap Water ◽

Quartz Wool ◽

Emerging Organic Contaminants ◽

Contaminant Remediation ◽

Pass Through ◽

Industrialised Countries

Abstract Many emerging contaminants pass through conventional wastewater treatment plants, contaminating surface and drinking water. The implementation of advanced oxidation processes in existing plants for emerging contaminant remediation is one of the challenges for the enhancement of water quality in the industrialised countries. This paper reports on the production of a TiO2 nano-layer on quartz wool in a relevant amount, its characterisation by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and its use as a photocatalyst under ultraviolet radiation for the simultaneous mineralisation of five emerging organic contaminants (benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and triton X-100) dissolved in deionised water and tap water. This treatment was compared with direct ultraviolet photolysis and with photocatalytic degradation on commercial TiO2 micropearls. The disappearance of every pollutant was measured by high performance liquid chromatography and mineralisation was assessed by the determination of total organic carbon. After 4 hours of treatment with the TiO2 nano-coated quartz wool, the mineralisation exceeds 90% in deionised water and is about 70% in tap water. This catalyst was reused for seven cycles without significant efficiency loss.

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Analysis of completed commercial semiconductors using EPMA

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100164970 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 502-503

Author(s):

R. Packwood ◽

M.W. Phaneuf ◽

V. Weatherall ◽

I. Bassignana

Keyword(s):

Electron Probe Microanalysis ◽

Electron Probe ◽

Semiconductor Industry ◽

Detection Limits ◽

High Technology ◽

Depth Resolution ◽

Analytical Instruments ◽

Wide Range ◽

Numerous Element ◽

Choice Method

The development of specialized analytical instruments such as the SIMS, XPS, ISS etc., all with truly incredible abilities in certain areas, has given rise to the notion that electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is an old fashioned and rather inadequate technique, and one that is of little or no use in such high technology fields as the semiconductor industry. Whilst it is true that the microprobe does not possess parts-per-billion sensitivity (ppb) or monolayer depth resolution it is also true that many times these extremes of performance are not essential and that a few tens of parts-per-million (ppm) and a few tens of nanometers depth resolution is all that is required. In fact, the microprobe may well be the second choice method for a wide range of analytical problems and even the method of choice for a few.The literature is replete with remarks that suggest the writer is confusing an SEM-EDXS combination with an instrument such as the Cameca SX-50. Even where this confusion does not exist, the literature discusses microprobe detection limits that are seldom stated to be as low as 100 ppm, whereas there are numerous element combinations for which 10-20 ppm is routinely attainable.

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