Bioengineered is seeking submissions for an Article Collection on the topic of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the Environment: Problems and Solutions.
Rapid and uncontrolled increase in urbanization and industrial activities along with human population growth, especially in developing countries, is a serious threat to the environment and human health. Contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) include a diverse group of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disruptors (EDCs), antibiotics, microplastics, nanoparticles, hormones, and surfactants. These compounds are not significantly removed in conventional sewage treatment plants and are released into the environment, presenting a threat to many natural ecosystems, public water supply, and human health. Among these chemicals, antibiotics have received significant attention due to increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. The advances made in the area of Environmental Science and Engineering Research on a global scale to address the CECs will be the theme of this special collection of papers. This special collection aims to show not only the problems posed by the CECs but also will provide sustainable biotechnological methods for water and soil treatment to eliminate/or reduce the concentrations of CECs in the environment towards a practical application.
CECs enter the environment every day. For the past three decades, studies around the globe have shown how a wide range of CECs make it into nations’ waterways. Traditionally, people were not seriously concerned – as the old adage says, “dilution is the solution to pollution.” After CECs make it into rivers, streams, and estuaries, tests show that there are measurable quantities of CECs in the water, sediments, and also groundwater. The CECs are also reported in the food chain, from insects to fish to predatory wildlife. CECs are persistent in the environment as wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove these compounds. Moreover, many of these compounds are recalcitrant because of their complexity in chemical structures. Various CEC chemicals have been detected in drinking water supplies and the risk to human health is alarmingly increasing. Studies on the removal of CECs in the environment is one of the priority topics of environmental and public health research. Many university and government scientists are spending considerable amounts of time studying the extent of damage caused by CECs to many ecosystems and specifically to human health. Research is also focused on how to remove or reduce the concentrations of CECs in the environment using various physical, chemical, and biological methods. This special collection is dedicated to such a cause and will provide a valuable resource to environmental and public health scientists. We will call for papers on the following focused areas:
- Extent of the problem of CECs in various ecosystems.
- Application of Membrane Technology & Nanotechnology in treating various waste streams to enhance biodegradation of CECs.
- Wastewater and sludge: Pollution Prevention & Treatment emphasizing biodegradation.
- Application of nature-based systems in waste management and Microbial eco-systems and bioprocess in wetland systems.
- Advanced Oxidation Processes
- Alternatives to CECs.
Dr. Raj Boopathy is an Alcee Fortier Distinguished Service Professor of biological sciences at Nicholls State University, USA. He has more than 30 years of research experience in the area of bioremediation and bio-processing. He has published more than 250 research papers in peer- reviewed journals and 20 book chapters. He edited two books. His research work has been cited more than 9,900 times with an h-index of 52. Dr. Raj Boopathy is the recipient of Fulbright, Leverhulme Commonwealth, and European Union- US Biotechnology Fellowships.
