Ensuring effective disinfection of wastewater remains a critical challenge for environmental protection and public health under the new European Directive for wastewater 2024/3019. This study evaluates how conventional treatment processes impact the removal efficiency of microorganisms. Standard treatment steps were assessed, including mechanical processes such as primary sedimentation and coarse screening, biological oxidation, and secondary clarification, to determine their role in reducing both microbial contamination and organic and inorganic loads. The research focused on measuring the removal efficiency of suspended solids, ammonium, chemical oxygen demand (COD-Cr), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and microbial populations (fungi, mesophilic bacteria, total and faecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, and selected pathogenic bacteria) at three key points: influent, post-biological treatment, and final effluent. Results showed that microbial removal efficiencies at the final discharge stage ranged from 89% to 100%. Despite these high removal rates, a notable proportion of microorganisms still reached natural receiving waters, potentially impacting aquatic ecosystems and public health. This highlights the need for implementing more effective and environmentally sustainable disinfection methods in the final treatment stage. The findings provide a foundation for further research aimed at optimizing disinfection strategies in relation to influent characteristics, operational control, and compliance with environmental safety requirements.

Climate change represents one of the most significant global challenges, transcending environmental dimensions to directly impact public health and food security. This review explores the complex relationship between climate change and nutritional biochemistry, focusing on the molecular and hormonal mechanisms that control human growth and development. Increased temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and soil degradation reduce the availability of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, iodine, and essential vitamins, negatively impacting metabolic absorption, hormonal balance, and vital enzyme function. Oxidative stress resulting from harsh climatic conditions also contributes to the accumulation of free radicals, weakens antioxidant defenses, and disrupts growth-related cellular signaling pathways. Vulnerable groups, particularly children and pregnant women, are most vulnerable to these effects, as micronutrient deficiencies are associated with delayed physical and mental development, impaired immunity, and increased rates of chronic and infectious diseases. Heat stress and malnutrition during pregnancy are also associated with increased rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Evidence from scientific literature and international reports confirms that addressing these risks requires integrated adaptation strategies that include climate-smart agriculture, enhanced crop biofortification programs, and the development of health and nutrition policies targeting the most vulnerable groups. Understanding the interplay between climate, nutrition, and hormones is a fundamental step toward protecting the health of current and future generations in the face of accelerating climate change.

Water as a high value resource is constantly used in every activity (from households to industries) and that’s why wastewater treatment is essential to ensure the protection of human and environmental health by removing pollutants and pathogens from wastewater before releasing into environment or reused. Among the emerging technologies, membrane separation processes are efficient, eco-friendly and relatively low-cost solutions that address this problem. This work explores the benefits of cellulose acetate membranes in wastewater treatment. These natural based membranes offer a sustainable and eco-friendly approach in removing pollutants due to their biodegradability, high permeability and selectivity, showing high efficiency in the separation process. Also the fouling degree is quite low which ensures multiple separation cycles without anti-fouling treatment which overall translates as cost-effective. Three types of cellulose acetate membranes (8%, 10%, 12% wt) were prepared by phase inversion. Each membrane was subject to morphological analysis using SEM which revealed an active layer between 4.468 – 8.324 µm. Secondly the membrane flow characteristics were measured at various pressures, obtaining a maximum average ultrapure water flow of 7868 L/m2h at 3 bar pressure for 8% CA membrane. Preliminary tests for real wastewater membrane separation showed a maximum efficiency of 93% for CA 8% and 12%, and 81% for CA 10%. The fouling degree was measured after 5 separation cycles showing 15.27% clogging for 12%, 45.12% for 8% and 45.30% for 10% CA. Total suspended solids were reduced from an initial concentration of 110-134 mg/L to values lower than 5 mg/L.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose significant concerns due to their harmful impacts on both wildlife and human health. This study analyzed the concentrations and distribution patterns of OCPs and PCBs in surface sediments collected from Porto-Romano and Petrolifera ports. The results showed that sediment samples from Porto-Romano contained higher levels of OCPs and PCBs than those from Petrolifera. Notably, Petrolifera Port dominated low-chlorinated PCBs, such as PCB28 and PCB52, whereas Porto-Romano displayed a mixture of both high- and low-chlorinated PCBs. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for aquatic ecosystems were used to assess the potential impact of the detected PCBs and OCPs in sediments from both sites.

At the European Community level, several issues have been identified regarding the accessibility, quality, availability, organization, and sharing of spatial data necessary for achieving the goals outlined in public policies and environmental management. To address these challenges, the establishment of an infrastructure for spatial information, known as INSPIRE, was mandated through Directive 2007/2/EC. This paper outlines the solution developed by the INFRAINIS project for distributing geospatial information, which aligns with the objectives of the INSPIRE Directive. The proposed solution will provide the technical means for entities holding geospatial datasets, coordinated by the National Research Authority of Romania, to publish these datasets in accordance with the INSPIRE Directive. The IT infrastructure developed will utilize a foundation of free and open-source software solutions that have been proven to be highly effective in other projects, while also offering lower implementation and administrative costs compared to proprietary solutions. Institutions holding relevant datasets will upload them to the platform via a web application that enables automatic publication as web GIS services. The INSPIRE themes that will be addressed include land cover, geology, soil, oceanographic features, geographical features, and maritime regions. This IT infrastructure is expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, facilitating informed decision-making on policies and activities with direct or indirect environmental impacts. The proposed platform will also enhance access to harmonized spatial data for public authorities, researchers, academics, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the general public.

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the effects of severe flood stress on the phytochemical composition and multifunctional characteristics of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Ural licorice). Aqueous extracts from different plant parts collected before (2023) and after flooding (2024) were analyzed using spectrophotometric, photometric, and gravimetric methods to evaluate antioxidant capacity, sun protection potential, and corrosion inhibition efficiency. Flooding induced a pronounced metabolic reorganization, marked by a significant increase in total phenolic content (TPC) and a decrease in total flavonoid content (TFC), resulting in an elevated TPC/TFC ratio. These changes reflected the accumulation of more conjugated, redox-active phenolic structures with extended π-systems, enhancing both electron-donating ability and metal adsorption efficiency. Functionally, post-flood extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity, greater photostability, and improved corrosion inhibition in both neutral and acidic media. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed that TPC and TFC were the primary determinants of multifunctional performance, though partial correlation reversals indicated a redistribution of biochemical roles under stress. Research findings highlight flooding as a powerful biochemical modulator that increases G. uralensis protection potential and provide valuable insights into how environmental extremes change plant metabolism for adaptive multifunctionality.

In the last years more and more attention has been paid to the surface chemistry of the active carbons selected for the adsorption of ions from solution. The purpose of this work was to study the adsorption of nitrite ions from solutions on CAN-7 active carbon that is a mesoporous active carbon with acidic surface due to method of obtaining (chemical activation with phosphoric acid). For the description of the nitrite ions adsorption process on CAN-7 active carbon the influence of various experimental parameters (pH value, initial concentration, and contacting time) was evaluated in batch experiments, at the ratio: liquid solid of 1: 500, the fraction of activated carbon was between 0.8 ÷ 2.0 mm. Adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and to different kinetic models (pseudo-first and pseudo-second kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion). The equilibrium adsorption data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm; this means that the adsorption process is dominated by chemosorption on the energetic homogeneous surface.

A comprehensive trace analysis method was developed in this study for the quantification of four commonly used pharmaceuticals, namely diclofenac, cetirizine, triclosan, and phenylephrine, in Winestead drain river water from the Humber Region United Kingdom. The method involved a combination of solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), offering a sensitive and selective approach for the detection and quantification of these pharmaceutical compounds. The water samples were collected from three different locations along the Winestead drain and subjected to SPE using a suitable sorbent material. The analytes were retained on the sorbent, The interfering matrix components were washed away while the retained analytes were eluted using an appropriate solvent, the eluted samples were then analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for selective detection and quantification of the pharmaceuticals. The method exhibited excellent linearity over a wide concentration range for all target analytes, with correlation coefficients (R2) ≥0.99, indicating the method's capability to detect these compounds at low concentrations. The precision and accuracy were evaluated by analysing spiked multicomponent solvent, and the results demonstrated satisfactory precision (%RSD < 10%) and accuracy (recovery rates ranging from 55% to 80%). The method developed was applied to analyse river water samples collected from Winestead drain. The presence and concentrations of diclofenac, cetirizine, triclosan, and phenylephrine were determined, highlighting the occurrence of these pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic environment.

Large amounts of tanned leather waste can be utilized as a valuable raw material in the fertilizer industry by embracing circular economy principles. Due to their high collagen content, which provides an essential nitrogen source (14%), these wastes hold significant potential. However, to incorporate them into fertilizer formulations, leather waste must first be hydrolysed to produce gelatine. This study focuses on developing an optimal method for hydrolysing tanned leather waste. The experiments investigated the effects of several parameters - including the type and concentration of hydrolysis agent, temperature, and contact time - on the degree of hydrolysis achieved. Leather waste samples were treated with various hydrolysis agents (water, sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, potassium hydroxide, and ash) at different concentrations and temperatures ranging from 40°C to 110°C for periods between 60 and 160 minutes. Results indicated that basic hydrolysis was the most effective approach. Treating leather waste with 0.5 M KOH at 100°C for 120 minutes, with a stirring speed of 400 rpm and a 1:10 solid-to-liquid ratio, resulted in a degree of hydrolysis of 98.58%. Comparable results (97.25% hydrolysis) were obtained with a 1:2 ash-to-water leachate under similar conditions (100°C for 100 minutes, 400 rpm, 1:10 ratio). These findings demonstrate that both potassium hydroxide and ash leachate are highly effective agents for the hydrolysis of tanned leather waste, supporting their integration into sustainable fertilizer production.

Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease. Using UK Biobank data, we examined associations between World Health Organization PM2.5 classes and 18 blood biomarkers. We conducted (i) descriptive class-mean summaries and (ii) individual-level Pearson trend tests with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (BH-FDR) control across biomarkers. PM2.5 class showed a positive association with platelet count and a negative association with serum creatinine; both signals were consistent across descriptive trajectories and remained significant after BH-FDR adjustment. While several additional biomarkers reached statistical significance, effect sizes were uniformly small. Findings support the hypothesis that ambient air pollution is linked with systemic physiological changes relevant to cardiovascular (pro-thrombotic) and renal health and underscore the potential value of biomarker monitoring in population health assessments.

Tetracycline is one of the most worldwide used antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately, it is partially metabolized by human body and a significant amount is excreted unchanged into wastewater. In addition, its resistance to biodegradation during wastewater treatment leads to a persistent occurrence in aquatic environments. There, tetracycline exerts a selective pressure on microbial communities, promoting the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes such as tetA and tetM. Tetracycline concentrations in surface waters could reach up to 20 µg/L. This concentration level has been sufficient to induce sublethal effects in sensitive bacteria and to promote adaptive mechanisms within aquatic microbial populations. The aim of this study was to explore microbial adaptation mechanisms, especially of Vibrio fischeri incubated in presence of 0.3÷5 mg/L tetracycline. Tested tetracycline concentrations were higher than those typically found in the environment, but they were selected to define adaptation limits and clearly observe toxic effects under controlled laboratory conditions such as Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence and optical density (OD₆₀₀). Results revealed significant reductions in both bioluminescence and viability at concentrations as low as 0.6 mg/L and a complete inhibition at 5 mg/L. The Relative Light Units (RLU) / OD₆₀₀, ratio indicated changes in bacterial metabolic efficiency across the tested range. The dose–response patterns were aligned with ecotoxicity thresholds and supported the integration of V. fischeri-based assays into environmental risk assessment frameworks. Chronic exposure results further suggested that sublethal antibiotic levels may influence microbial community structure and resistance development in aquatic ecosystems.

Marine pollution is a critical problem for water ecosystems, human health and global ecology. Ships pollute the sea with oil discharges, garbage, air emissions, chemical spills and ballast water, so that it is important to adopt proper pollution prevention solutions. According to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), vessels have to use oil-water separators, double hulls, emission control systems, and waste management devices to limit their environmental footprint. The control of liquid pollution is performed with the help of innovative response plans, procedures and the development of oil absorbing technologies. The release of garbage is reduced by sorting waste and using recycling, incineration and other techniques. Reducing air pollution means using renewable energy sources, scrubbers, low sulfur fuels, energy-efficient engines, wind-solar associated propulsion systems, and treating ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive species. Ships must also have wastewater treatment plants as well as stocks of biodegradable cleaning products to comply with sewage and chemical discharge regulations. Artificial intelligent based pollution monitoring, hybrid and alternative energies (hydrogen and ammonia) are modern technical solutions to address this problem.