Environmental Science · Pollution
Laboratory tests found that plastic particles carrying pyrene or methyl chlorpyrifos increased the acute immobilization of water fleas. During chronic exposure, the contaminants affected survival and reproduction, with stronger effects when they were attached to polystyrene particles.
Hospital wastewater can provide a pooled view of antimicrobial resistance, but its results did not consistently match traditional hospital surveillance. A review of 36 studies found that differing sampling and testing methods, along with poor timing alignment, make comparisons difficult.
A model trained on results from 73 laboratory studies linked chemical structures with changes in the transfer of the RP4 antibiotic-resistance plasmid. Quaternary ammonium and long-chain alkyl compounds were associated with reduced transfer, while sulfonamide- and amine-containing compounds were associated with increased transfer.
Researchers converted discarded gelatin capsules into porous activated carbon and mineral-rich ash. The carbon adsorbed methylene blue, acetaminophen and bisphenol A, while one ash material removed about 70% of methylene blue under ultraviolet light after 350 minutes.
A review of 46 studies finds antibiotic residues across several environmental systems in Ghana. The contamination may provide reservoirs for resistant bacteria and resistance genes, raising concerns about the spread of drug resistance.
