water contamination – mycolab.ai

Editorial: Pharmaceutically active micropollutants – how serious is the problem and is there a microbial way out?

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Medicines we take don’t fully disappear—30 to 90% are excreted unchanged and end up in water supplies. These pharmaceutical residues contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic life worldwide. Scientists are discovering that certain fungi and bacteria can break down these drug residues through natural metabolic processes. By harnessing these microbes in treatment systems and improving waste management practices, we could significantly reduce pharmaceutical pollution.

Biodegradation of Microcystins by Aquatic Bacteria Klebsiella spp. Isolated from Lake Kasumigaura

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Scientists discovered three bacteria from a Japanese lake that can effectively break down microcystins, toxic substances produced by harmful algal blooms. These bacteria work well at warm temperatures and alkaline conditions typical of contaminated lakes during summer. The research shows these bacteria contain a special gene that helps them degrade different types of microcystins, offering a promising biological solution for cleaning contaminated water without harmful side effects.

Cellulose-Based Hydrogels for Wastewater Treatment: A Focus on Metal Ions Removal

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Heavy metal pollution from industrial activities poses serious health risks including cancer, kidney damage, and neurological problems. This review explores how cellulose-based hydrogels—soft, water-absorbing materials made from natural plant sources—can effectively remove toxic metals from contaminated water. These hydrogels are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and can be reused multiple times, making them promising alternatives to conventional water treatment methods for industrial and municipal applications.

Mycofiltration of Aqueous Iron (III) and Imidacloprid Solutions, and the Effects of the Filtrates on Selected Biomarkers of the Freshwater Snail Helisoma duryi

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Researchers investigated using oyster mushroom mycelium to filter contaminated water containing iron and pesticides. They found that the mushroom-based filter effectively removed iron (III) from water, reducing it by 94% in column experiments. Tests on freshwater snails exposed to the filtered water showed improved water quality. This approach offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional water treatment methods.

Analytical Determination of Heavy Metals in Water Using Carbon-Based Materials

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This review examines how special carbon-based materials can detect toxic metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury in water quickly and inexpensively. These sensors use electrochemical methods to identify metal contamination at extremely low levels, far below what could harm human health. Some newer sensors are self-powered and can show results with color changes visible to the naked eye, making them perfect for rapid testing in the field without expensive laboratory equipment.

Exploring metal bioaccumulation ability of boreal white-rot fungi on fiberbank material

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This study examined how different types of fungi can absorb toxic metals from polluted sediments in the Baltic Sea caused by old paper mills. Researchers tested 26 native Swedish fungi species and found that Phlebia tremellosa was especially effective at absorbing various toxic metals like zinc, cadmium, and copper. These findings suggest that fungi could be used as a natural way to clean up contaminated waterways, offering a sustainable solution to an environmental problem affecting Nordic countries.

Application of Modified Spent Mushroom Compost Biochar (SMCB/Fe) for Nitrate Removal from Aqueous Solution

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This research developed a new material made from leftover mushroom compost mixed with iron to clean water polluted with nitrate, a common problem in farming areas. The material works by attracting and trapping nitrate particles, and when tested, it successfully removed up to 19.88 mg of nitrate per gram of the material used. The best results occurred at neutral pH levels and after two hours of contact time. This affordable, environmentally friendly solution could help communities improve their water quality without expensive chemical treatments.

Biochar from fungiculture waste for adsorption of endocrine disruptors in water

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Researchers developed a new material called biochar from leftover mushroom growing waste that can effectively remove harmful hormones from water. By heating the mushroom waste to 600°C, they created a porous material with a large surface area that can trap and remove synthetic estrogen and progesterone from contaminated water. Testing showed this biochar removed over 95% of these hormones, making it a promising sustainable solution for cleaning water supplies.

Research Keyword: water contamination