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Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to determine twelve potentially toxic elements (PTEs), encompassing aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn), in 120 samples of bottled water (mineral and drinking) collected from the market in Tehran, Iran, during the winter and summer seasons. The bottled water samples were assessed using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Furthermore, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were evaluated for adults and children using hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR). The maximum content of PTEs was attributed to Zn in bottled drinking water in winter, and the minimum content was attributed to V in bottled mineral water in summer. There was a significant difference in the concentration of Cu and Zn in the summer and winter (p < 0.05). Also, the concentration of Ni, V, and Zn in bottled drinking water and bottled mineral water revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In all cases, the values of THQ and HI were less than one and were acceptable. CR values for Cr and Ni were unacceptable.Article Highlights: 120 samples including drinking bottled water and mineral bottled water were collected in winter and summer. 12 trace elements were analysed in the samples by ICP-OES. There was a significant difference in the concentration of Cu and Zn in the summer and winter. The concentration of Ni, V and Zn in bottled drinking water and bottled mineral water revealed a statistically significant difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cukurova Medical Journal / Çukurova Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses the challenges faced by the water industry in maintaining public trust and providing safe drinking water. It emphasizes the importance of effective communication and proactive approaches in building and sustaining trust with water consumers. The article also highlights the role of technological advancements in analyzing water data and improving water systems. It suggests that a multifaceted approach, including communication, technology adoption, and collaboration, is necessary to address these challenges and ensure a sustainable water future. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To assess the fluoride concentration of bottled waters from municipalities in northeastern Brazil. Material and Methods: Bottled mineral waters were purchased in two periods at different commercial places of four large municipalities (João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Patos, and Cajazeiras) in the Paraíba state. The municipalities selected to present the following annual average temperature: João Pessoa 26.5 °C, Campina Grande 23.3 °C, Patos and Cajazeiras 27.5 °C. Fluoride concentration was determined using a combined ionspecific electrode. Readings (in mV) were conducted in triplicates for each standard solution and converted into fluoride concentration (mg F/L) using the Excel® software. Results: A total of 72 samples from six brands of bottled water were analyzed. The fluoride concentrations of all samples were low (0.11-0.21mg/L) but higher than those reported on the label and varied among different batches of the same brand. Conclusion: The fluoride levels in bottled water vary among brands, and these actual values are not stated in the labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper contributes to the under-researched domain of standard setting for bottled water quality in India. The paper opens-up the 'black box' of regulation-making by analysing the mandatory bottled water quality standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The regulation-making exercise is dominated by bureaucrats and technocrats representing government departments, publicly funded institutions and representatives of big industries. In the standard-setting committees, representation of NGOs, small firms, technology suppliers, independent experts, consumers and citizens are either missing or limited. The kind of experts enrolled by the technical committee and the practice and principles employed by BIS for decision-making have a strong bearing on the regulatory standards. The standard setting for bottled water was the outcome of a complex process that was significantly shaped by the views and values of the dominant regulatory actors, especially what was perceived as valid and superior 'regulatory knowledge'. Discrete actors, such as bureaucrats, technocrats, big firms and NGOs, supported the wider adoption of international standards, but they had different rationales for advocating the adoption. However, the uncritical adoption of international standards has resulted in a disregard for incorporating environmental, epidemiological, dietary and diverse socio-economic factors into setting standards. Inclusion of socio-economic and other contextual factors could increase the validity and effectiveness of regulatory standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) < 5 mm-sized are regarded as global environmental contaminants. This study analyzes MP concentrations in the Kaduna River (raw water), treated water from two conventional water treatment plants, brands of bottled water, and food-grade salts available in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria using standard methods. Data obtained show that levels of MPs ranged from 25 to 36 particles L-1 in treated water, and to 153 particles L-1 in raw water. While samples of bottled water contained 1.4 to 3.7 particles L-1 and samples of table salt contained 0.13 to 0.27 particles g-1. Water and salt samples contained five different types of polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate. Additionally, MPs were divided into three groups based on their physical characteristics. In both raw and treated water, fragments were clearly more prevalent; in samples of bottled water and table salt, fragments and fibers predominated. Microplastics in bottled water pose a medium pollution risk, according to pollution risk indices. The estimated daily intake was generally minimal, indicating little harm from daily consumption, but it also demonstrates that children have a larger intake of microplastics than adults. Leaching from the packing material was identified as the MPs' primary source. This study fills the knowledge gap in the area of emerging microplastic pollution of water sources, drinking water, and food-grade salt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cambodia is a rapidly developing country in south-east Asia, a region forecast as an outsized source of plastic pollution into the world's oceans. However, to date there has been no large-scale assessment of plastic pollution in the environment within the country. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of plastic items and hotspots across 243 coastal, river and inland sites along the entire coastline of Cambodia, recording 46,927 items in transects throughout the study area. Plastic densities along coastlines were more than ten times those on riverbanks and more than twenty times that of inland areas. Averaging 70 plastic items per metre of coastline, Cambodia has among the highest average loads of whole plastic items recorded on coastlines globally. Single-use plastic bottles were the most abundant whole item recorded, overrepresented by drinking water bottles. Polystyrene foam was the most common fragmented item. We provide specific recommendations to reduce plastic in Cambodia's environment. • First comprehensive assessment of litter in Cambodia's coastal environment • Scientific surveys following a stratified, representative, randomised design • Among the highest average loads of whole plastics recorded on world's coastlines • Water bottles dominated whole litter, an unusual finding in the Asia region. • Apart from water bottles, plastic pollution was similar to neighbouring countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has received widespread attention in recent years as the use of plastics continues to increase. However, currently no studies have reported the finding of MPs in human uterine fibroids (UFs) and myometrium tissues. In this study, UFs tissues (n = 48) and myometrium tissues (n = 40) from 48 patients and myometrium tissues (n = 8) from healthy population were collected. Following digestion of the samples by 10% KOH and 30% H 2 O 2 , MPs were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using Raman spectroscopy. The 16 UFs and myometrium tissue samples contained an average of 1.5 ± 1.17 MP particles per gram of tissue. Notably, the abundance of MPs in the UFs tissues (2.13 ± 1.17 particles per gram) was higher than in the myometrium tissues (0.88 ± 0.78 particles per gram). In the same cohort of individuals with UFs, the quantities of MPs detected in the affected UFs tissue (2.63 ± 1.77 particles per gram) exceeded those detected in healthy tissue (1.08 ± 0.93 particles per gram), particularly in elderly patients. A correlation was observed between elevated MP levels and frequent consumption of takeout meals and bottled water among patients, indicating that MP ingestion through food sources might have contributed to the increased abundance and variety of MPs within UFs. Furthermore, UFs increased in size with higher concentrations of MPs, which may have been related to elevated levels of MPs-induced hormones. This study provides new insights into the assessment of the relationship between exposure to MPs and human disease risk. In this study, the authors, through the integration of Raman spectroscopy and uterine fibroids (UFs) microscopy, achieve a comprehensive assessment of the pathological alterations in UFs. This is the first time that microplastics (MPs) particles have been identified in UFs and myometrium tissues. This study suggests that higher concentrations of MPs in diseased tissues compared to normal tissues. [Display omitted] • Microplastics are detected in female uterine fibroids tissues using Raman. • PE, PP, PE-co-PP are the dominant polymer types of microplastics. • The concentration of microplastics in uterine fibroids tissue increased with age. • Dietary habits may affect the levels and diversity of microplastics. • 5. The presence of microplastics may be associated with the growth of uterine fibroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we first report a novel Cu-Cu 2 O core-shell nanospheres (Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs) entrapped in carbon layer (Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs/C) nanocomposite as a versatile electrochemical sensing material for the BPA detection. This novel composite was synthesized via soft-template and glucose-assisted hydrothermal method. The sensor was characterized at all stages of fabrication by microscopic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs/C/GCE revealed an efficient electrochemical performance towards the BPA detection by having a large electroactive surface area and fast electron transfer rate than Cu-Cu 2 O NSs/GCE and bare GCE. Subsequently, the optimized electrode was employed for the electrochemical investigations involving pH, scan rate, concentration and real sample studies. The Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs/C/GCE sensor demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance, with low limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.025 and 0.083 µM, respectively. Moreover, the fabricated sensor showed satisfactory repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and selectivity, enabling reliable BPA detection. In order to evaluate the practical applicability, we successfully used the Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs/C/GCE to detect BPA in selected regular plastic consumable products, such as drinking water bottles and food containers, with high recovery rates. Based on the obtained results, this pioneering work opens the way for the development of rapid and cost-effective BPA monitoring platforms, promising significant advancements in environmental and healthcare sectors. [Display omitted] • Developed a novel electrochemical sensor using Cu-Cu 2 O CSNSs/C nanocomposite for BPA detection. • Superior electrocatalytic activity of reported sensor was attributed to its synergistic interaction and large surface area. • The sensor exhibited acceptable repeatability, reproducibility, stability and selectivity. • Achieved low detection (0.025 µM) and quantification limits (0.083 µM) for BPA. • The study validated the use of proposed sensor for real-time monitoring of BPA in regular plastic consumable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the relationship between the beverage industry and the water industry, emphasizing that bottled water is often used as a backup when tap water is unavailable or unsatisfactory. It highlights that emergencies and aesthetic issues with tap water can lead to increased sales of bottled water. However, the reliance on bottled water is costly and has negative environmental impacts. The article also mentions that distrust of tap water can reflect political activity and societal expectations, with consumers who use bottled water showing less trust in government. The author encourages water professionals to promote the reputation of safe tap water while acknowledging the need for bottled water in emergencies. [Extracted from the article]

Microplastics (MPs) have become an environmental and health threat to aquatic species and humans because they are small and can easily reach water bodies for municipal and agricultural uses. MPs have been traced in food commodities and products derived from animals and even found in bottles of drinking water. Current treatment techniques for permanently destroying MPs require high energy inputs and thus are generally cost-inefficient. Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a low-cost energy-efficient technology to produce highly reactive species that can induce physicochemical changes in plastic polymers. This study, for the first time, used ACP as a novel method for MPs treatment. Polypropylene (PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were used to prepare model MPs. The effects of plasma working gas (oxygen, nitrogen, or their mixture) and post-ACP treatment storage (24 h) on MPs were studied. ACP treatments for 30 min successfully degraded both MPs, by 1.4–11.3% in weight. PP MPs had larger weight reduction than LDPE and the ACP of mixture gas was most effective. PP MPs also showed increased carbonyl index after treatments, to up to 6.89, indicating hydrolytic degradation. For LDPE MPs, oxygen ACP caused more oxidation, but storage did not have an enhancing effect. The results of physicochemical analyses indicated that MPs degradation by ACP was possibly mainly through oxidative and hydrolytic reactions, but further characterizations are needed. This study proves that ACP is a promising strategy to remediate MPs pollution, and thus has great potential for addressing the severe challenges of MPs that the food and agriculture sectors are currently facing. [Display omitted] • Cold plasma is applied to degrade microplastics in water for the first time. • Plasma treatments of 30 min effectively reduce microplastics weight by up to 11.3%. • Storage after plasma treatment can enhance microplastics degradation. • Possible mechanisms of microplastics degradation include oxidation and hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Water Resources / Recursos Hídricos is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work is about investigated the effectiveness of inclusion of local waste, represented by plastic water drink bottles caps (CPPA), in the concrete as a partial substitute for coarse aggregates. Compressive, flexural and splitting strengths were evaluated for plain concrete. For reinforced concrete (R.C.), bond strength between reinforced bar and surrounding concrete has been evaluated. In additional, impact resistance, energy absorption capacity, mid-span deflection and crack width for Two-way R.C. slab subjected to repeated impact load have been evaluated. Five different content of plastic aggregate were examined; 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60% and 75% of CPPA. Tests Results showed that strengths (compressive, splitting, flexural and bond strengths) improved for plastic content 15% and 30% especially at 15%. While these strengths began to decrease with increasing plastic's content over 30%. For R.C. slabs, number of blows that caused failure increased with increasing plastic content up to 45%, which mean increasing in impact resistance and increasing in energy-absorbed capacity. Based on the experimental results, empirical equations were proposed of calculating splitting, flexural, bond strengths and energy-absorbed capacity for concrete incorporating CPPA. According to results of this investigation, for structural reinforced concrete, 15% and 30% of this type of plastic is recommended to be used as partial replacement of gravel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenols (BPs) pose a pervasive threat to human health due to their potential to leach from plastic packaging into food, thereby endangering the endocrine system. Given their low concentrations in complex samples, the development of a swift, efficient pretreatment method is imperative. In this study, a magnetic covalent organic framework (Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa) was synthesized via a layer-by-layer growth approach, utilized in rapid magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination BPs. This method exhibited remarkable sensitivity, detecting five BPs (BPS, BPF, BPA, BPB, and BPAF) at levels between 0.68 and 0.77 μg L−1. Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa nanocomposites maintained an extraction efficiency of approximately 98.0% over five cycles, ensuring robust and repeatable performance. Sample analysis, encompassing plastic bottled water, pear juice, mix juices, pop-top canned curry beef, and box-packed milk, yielded recoveries of 72.0%–114.0% (RSDs <7.5%, n = 5). Furthermore, BPs migration in sports cups and portable bottles was evaluated, revealing migration levels ranging from 0.0014 to 0.0058 mg kg−1. This study advances BP analysis by introducing a reliable method for their efficient determination in beverage samples from plastic food packages. The utilization of Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa underscores a pivotal advancement in sample preparation, enhancing both sensitivity and efficiency for the extraction and determination of BPs in food samples. [Display omitted] • Magnetic COF Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa was prepared by a layer-by-layer growth strategy. • Efficient of MSPE of BPs using Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa was achieved within 1 min. • Coupled with LC-MS/MS, Fe 3 O 4 @TzDa-MSPE was successfully used to detect BPs. • The developed method can detect BPs at trace-level in plastic-packaged food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics in drinking water captured widespread attention following reports of widespread detection around the world. Concerns have been raised about the potential adverse effects of microplastics in drinking water on human health. Given the widespread interest in this research topic, there is an urgent need to compile existing data and assess current knowledge. This paper provides a systematic review of studies on microplastics in drinking water, their evidence, key findings, knowledge gaps, and research needs. The data collected show that microplastics are widespread in drinking water, with large variations in reported concentrations. Standardized methodologies of sampling and analysis are urgently needed. There were more fibrous and fragmented microplastics, with the majority being <10 μm in size and composed of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Little attention has been paid to the color of microplastics. More research is needed to understand the occurrence and transfer of microplastics throughout the water supply chain and the treatment efficiency of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Methods capable of analyzing microplastics <10 μm and nanoplastics are urgently needed. Potential ecological assessment models for microplastics currently in use need to be improved to take into account the complexity and specificity of microplastics. [Display omitted] • A review of recent advances made on microplastics in drinking water is presented. • Methodology of characterizing microplastics in drinking water was evaluated. • Sources and transport of microplastics in drinking water were clarified. • Model of Potential risks assessment of microplastics was discussed. • Research gaps and priorities for future work were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research aim to investigate the effect on the mice blood and teeth after consumption of fluoride bottled water. Quasi-experimental research design with two groups of pure and adding fluoride of bottled water were made in the form of a sealed glass and stored at room temperature and exposed to sunlight. The in vivo test performed on two groups of Wistar mice to measure fluoride levels in blood plasma after consuming bottled water on days 1, 15 and 30, while the levels of fluoride on tooth measurements performed on day 30. ANOVA test was conducted to determine levels of fluoride in blood plasma. There are differences in fluoride concentration in the blood of mice and mice teeth after consumption of bottled water and non-SnF. SnF bottled water consumption increases the concentration of fluoride in the blood and teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Consumer purchasing decisions are essential for the bioplastics transition. • A Discrete Choice Experiment is used to evaluate consumer preferences. • Consumers positively evaluate bioplastics for food packaging. • Consumers are willing to pay more for bioplastics. • Recycled plastics are dispreferred with respect to virgin polymers. The market of bottled water is projected to become the largest beverage category by volume worldwide. Consumption data are already impressive in many countries, with Italy leading the path in the European Union. Such market expansion will come with environmental costs, due to increasing plastics production and increasing bottle leakage in the environment. To tackle the problem consumer purchasing decision can make the difference. Using a hypothetical Discrete Choice Experiment this study explores consumer preferences and willingness to pay for plastic water bottles made of conventional plastic polymer and of more sustainable plastic alternatives. Additionally, by comparing two experimental conditions the study investigates whether information on plastic-related sustainability might affect consumer purchasing decisions. The results provide insights that could be relevant from a market and policy perspective. They indicate that Italian consumers prefer Bio-bottles water bottles with respect to common PET, being willing to pay more for these alternatives. Furthermore, recycled materials are dispreferred compared to virgin plastics and information provision seems to help consumers discriminating across different plastic types although it is not effective in increasing willingness to pay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfite ion play a crucial role in the atmospheric environment, its presence in water system is very unsafe to both the human and food production due to the formation of acid after reaction with water (acid rain). In the current investigation, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) method was used for the identification and quantification of sulfite ion in drinking water and the process was optimized. In this study, a reversed phase BEH C 18 chromatography column was applied for the separation of sulfite ion using binary mobile phase comprising water and methanol (95:5, v/v), separation was attained in less than 1 min. Method validation parameters in terms of linearity (r2), limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ) and precision were established. The linearity (r2 > 0.999) and, LOD and LOQ were obtained 0.003 µg/mL and 0.01 µg/mL respectively. The precision in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be < 3.5%. The validated standard methodology was used for the quantitative determination of sulfite ion in water obtained from different sources. The sulfite ion amounts were found between 2.21 µg/mL and 90.11 µg/mL water sample, and the recovery values were obtained between 97.55% and 104.49%. It was observed from the data that the quantified levels of sulfite ion were above the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs, 10 μg/mL) according to US Environmental Protection Agency in all 100% metropolitan water samples and about 82% of the analyzed bottled waters. In addition, the comparison of results obtained in water samples from Saudi Arabia with formerly stated data were carried out. The benefits of applying UPLC-MS as a new method in competition with other techniques are smaller analysis time (<1 min), tremendous accuracy and higher recovery values. Nonetheless, the sulfite was still detected in drinking water samples from Saudi Arabia. Hence, the detecting and decreasing the level of sulfite in water samples needed further apprehensions to meet better needs of strategies for consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is considered the most important substance in the world. Without it, humans would not be able to survive, ecosystems could not be sustained, and major aspects of our economies, such as manufacturing products or the oil and gas sector, would not exist. The importance of water can be seen through its commodification by major industries, specifically the bottled water industry. The bottled water industry has taken a product and commodified it to great success. With the growth of the industry, also came governmental oversight of bottling practices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has regulatory control over monitoring the bottled water industry for product safety. While various local and state governmental organizations monitor how the water is extracted from the environment. There is a broad legal doctrine for the bottled water industry which exists through federal regulation and state and local law. This Note discusses regulation of the bottled water industry as a whole and how these regulations can, and should, be improved to promote consumer welfare, safety, and environmental sustainability. Specifically, this Note discusses how the lack of sufficient regulation allows various contaminants, such as cryptosporidium, perchlorate, BPA, and microplastics, to be included in bottled water supplies at levels that are potentially harmful. In addition, the lack of regulation over water extraction has a significant impact on groundwater depletion. As climate change progresses and water supplies deteriorate, it is vital that water systems are appropriately managed in order to maintain access to clean and safe water. Despite the complexity of regulating groundwater extraction across the United States, action is necessary to prevent critical overdraft of groundwater basins leading to issues with water availability. Since the bottled water industry relies heavily on groundwater extraction, the safety of bottled water and the protection of groundwater resources are dependent on each other. In total, this Note lays out recommendations for federal regulatory changes to promote consumer safety and legal changes to groundwater extraction to promote environmental sustainability and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of bisphenol A (BPA) was carried out using several simplified electrochemical sensors in which electroactive materials Heme, dopamine (DA), β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) or Fc-ECG were deposited on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) through one-step. The preparation of the developed sensors were verified by SEM, CV and DPV. Results shown that Heme/SPE sensor demonstrated notable electro-catalytic capabilities and a greater current response than other sensors for BPA detection and optimal operating conditions were determined. The current response vs concentration of BPA showed a linear relationship in the range of 0.05–0.50 μmol·l−1, the concentration limit of detection (S/N = 3) as 5.0 nmol·l−1 and 0.0013 μA·μM−1·cm−2 as the sensitivity of detection. There were no interferences arising from common elements that relate to BPA. Heme/SPE was applied for BPA detection in bottle drinking water, tap water and lake water; findings showed a total R.S.D. of less than 3.1% and average recovery from 95.0 to 104.0%. These results showed that the actual application of BPA detection was rapid and precise when placed in environmental water and even useful for safety verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality especially drinking water is highly significant to human lives. To access the safe and secure drinking water, nowadays it has become an issue of global concerns. A novel method using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was proposed to analyze sulfate level in bottled and metropolitan water collected from various provinces of Saudi Arabia. The chromatographic analysis was achieved within 1 min with reversed phase Waters Acquity® BEH C 18 column and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The performance of the optimized system was established, attaining linearity (r2 > 0.999) over a wide-ranging concentration from several below hundred mg/L to the detection limit of sulfate. In terms of relative standard deviation of the samples (RSD%), the excellent run-to-run (<2%, n = 5) and day-to-day (<4%, n = 5) precisions were achieved when examining a sulfate standard (0.01 mg/L) and non-spiked bottled water sample with the concentration of sulfate (4.76 mg/L). The developed method is helpful to identify sulfate in bottled and metropolitan water samples. Sulfate content in the bottled water ranged between 3.31 and 76.22 mg/L, while higher level was determined (36.78 to 268.42 mg/L) in metropolitan water samples. The excellent quality parameters and insignificant matrix effects achieved during analysis have made favorable to analyze sulfate in water samples, and offered advantages over conventional techniques and rigorous sample preparation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A voltammetric sensor for bisphenol A (BPA) detection was developed. It was based on a gold electrode modified by an electrodeposited molecularly imprinted chitosan (CS) film. Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electrochemistry were used to characterize and compare the surface of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and non-molecularly imprinted polymer (NIP) films. The analytical performance of this biosensor was then established using square wave voltammetry (SWV) of the ferro/ferricyanide redox probe, in the range of -300 and 600 mV. The oxidation peak current was proportional to the logarithm of BPA concentration in the range between 10-3 M to 10-21 M with a limit of detection of 0.67 × 10-21 M. The elaborated sensor showed good repeatability (RSD 2.08%), reusability and recognition of BPA in the presence of similar structural moieties. The proposed sensors were successfully employed to determine BPA in real plastic bottles for drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the mineralogy and strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) of 21 pathological biominerals (bladder and kidney stones) collected from patients admitted between 2018 and 2020 at the Department of Urology of the San Pio Hospital (Benevento, southern Italy). Urinary stones belong to the calcium oxalate, purine or calcium phosphate mineralogy types. Their corresponding 87Sr/86Sr range from 0.707607 for an uricite sample to 0.709970 for a weddellite one, and seem to be partly discriminated based on the mineralogy. The comparison with the isotope characteristics of 38 representative Italian bottled and tap drinking waters show a general overlap in 87Sr/86Sr with the biominerals. However, on a smaller geographic area (Campania Region), we observe small 87Sr/86Sr differences between the biominerals and local waters. This may be explained by external Sr inputs for example from agriculture practices, inhaled aerosols (i.e., particulate matter), animal manure and sewage, non-regional foods. Nevertheless, biominerals of patients that stated to drink and eat local water/wines and foods every day exhibited a narrower 87Sr/86Sr range roughly matching the typical isotope ratios of local geological materials and waters, as well as those of archaeological biominerals from the same area. Finally, we conclude that the strontium isotope signature of urinary stones may reflect that of the environmental matrices surrounding patients, but future investigations are recommended to ultimately establish the potential for pathological biominerals as reliable biomonitoring proxies, taking into the account the contribution of the external sources of Sr. [Display omitted] • 87Sr/86Sr ratios of Italian drinking waters and uroliths have been determined. • A general overlap between examined biominerals and drinking waters can be observed. • Slight discrepancies can be explained by additional external Sr inputs. • Patients stating to drink and eat local products delimited narrower 87Sr/86Sr range. • Uroliths could be promising proxies for a reliable biomonitoring purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health consequences arising from unsafe drinking water and water insecurity lead to increased reliance on usage of bottled water. Biofilm-producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in bottled water may pose a risk to public health. This study aims to assess the quality of bottled drinking water with a focus on biofilm-producing and drug-resistant coliform. We analyzed 60 bottled water samples of 30 different brands purchased from Kathmandu for physicochemical and microbial analysis. The parameters pH, iron, total coliform count, Escherichia coli count, and fecal coliform count exceeded National Drinking Water Quality Standards, 2022 in 30.00%, 16.67%, 66.67%, 23.33%, and 16.67% of samples, respectively. Water quality index measurement showed 36.67% and 6.67% of bottled water samples were categorized as grade A and grade B indicating excellent and good water quality, respectively. However, 56.67% of bottled water samples fall under grade E meaning unsuitable for drinking. Among 14 coliform isolates, 85.71% and 14.29% were identified as E. coli and Klebsiella spp, respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that 28.57% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant and Gentamicin resistant isolates comprised 71.43%. However, none of the isolates were carbapenem (meropenem) resistant. In this study, 42.87% of the isolates were found biofilm producers with 14.29% each of strong, moderate, and weak biofilm producers. The genetic potential of biofilm-producing capacity of the isolates was assessed by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification of bcsA and csgD genes. Our results showed that 66.67% and 50.00% of the isolates harbored bcsA and csgD genes, respectively. This study highlights potential public health hazards associated with the consumption of bottled water containing biofilm-producing and drug-resistant bacteria in Nepal. [Display omitted] • Bottled drinking water available in the market isn't as safe as it is perceived for drinking. • The antibiotic test found that 28.57% of the bacterial isolates were multidrug-resistant. • E. coli produced the most biofilms than Klebsiella spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source reduction of marine litter is the most preferred approach to addressing the global problem of the entry of plastics into the environment, including the ocean. Policies to achieve this reduction within the African region have so far had limited success. Studying the behavioural dimension of the use of single-use plastics (SuPs) may provide the knowledge basis for developing sustainable plastic policies for desired impact. This study sought to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors and awareness of environmental impacts of plastics on the use of SuPs in West Africa using Liberia as a case study. The SuPs studied include carrier bags, drinking water sachets and bottles, drink/beverage bottles and expanded polystyrene packs. The results show that different prevailing socio-demographic factors influence the different uses of SuPs. Level of education and income levels of the respondents, for instance, had significantly positive influence on the patronage of bottled water, bottled drinks and expanded polystyrene packs. While on the other hand, rising income level had a significant negative influence on the use of sachet water alone. It also showed that awareness of environmental impacts of SuPs had no significant influence on the use of plastic carrier bags and sachet water but rather increased significantly the use of all other SuPs. The observed patterns of use of the SuPs imply underlying factors that need to be thoughtfully considered in developing SuP reduction policies and SuP management infrastructure as matters of priority. The study recommends that similar studies should be conducted in other parts of Liberia as well as across Africa to provide a basis for the development of effective behaviour intervention programmes. This study also provides a scientific context to apply recommendations of this study to other West African countries with similar issues and challenges with marine litter menace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]