Author
Despo Fatta-Kassinos
Bio: Despo Fatta-Kassinos is an academic researcher from University of Cyprus. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wastewater & Effluent. The author has an hindex of 55, co-authored 138 publications receiving 12393 citations.
Topics: Wastewater, Effluent, Medicine, Sewage treatment, Photocatalysis
Papers
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TL;DR: The final objective is to implement wastewater treatment technologies capable of assuring the production of UWTPs effluents with an acceptable level of ARB, to understand the factors and mechanisms that drive antibiotic resistance maintenance and selection in wastewater habitats.
1,808 citations
TL;DR: The aim of the present paper is to critically review the fate and removal of various antibiotics in wastewater treatment, focusing on different processes (i.e. biological processes, advanced treatment technologies and disinfection) in view of the current concerns related to the induction of toxic effects in aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
1,516 citations
Dresden University of Technology1, Catholic University of Portugal2, Centre national de la recherche scientifique3, University of Cyprus4, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center5, Maynooth University6, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology7, Norwegian University of Life Sciences8, University of Lorraine9, Vienna University of Technology10, University of Turku11, University of Catania12, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology13, University of Tartu14, Cajal Institute15, Spanish National Research Council16
TL;DR: The main knowledge gaps, the future research needs and the policy and management options that should be prioritized to tackle antibiotic resistance in the environment are discussed.
Abstract: Antibiotic resistance is a threat to human and animal health worldwide, and key measures are required to reduce the risks posed by antibiotic resistance genes that occur in the environment. These measures include the identification of critical points of control, the development of reliable surveillance and risk assessment procedures, and the implementation of technological solutions that can prevent environmental contamination with antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes. In this Opinion article, we discuss the main knowledge gaps, the future research needs and the policy and management options that should be prioritized to tackle antibiotic resistance in the environment.
1,495 citations
TL;DR: This review tries to present part of the knowledge that is currently available with regard to the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic matrices, the progress made during the last several years on identification of such compounds down to trace levels, and of new, previously unidentified, pharmaceuticals such as illicit drugs, metabolites, and photo-products.
Abstract: Pollution from pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now recognized as an environmental concern in many countries. This has led to the creation of an extensive area of research, including among others: their chemical identification and quantification; elucidation of transformation pathways when present in wastewater-treatment plants or in environmental matrices; assessment of their potential biological effects; and development and application of advanced treatment processes for their removal and/or mineralization. Pharmaceuticals are a unique category of pollutants, because of their special characteristics, and their behavior and fate cannot be simulated with other chemical organic contaminants. Over the last decade the scientific community has embraced research in this specific field and the outcome has been immense. This was facilitated by advances in chromatographic techniques and relevant biological assays. Despite this, a number of unanswered questions exist and still there is much room for development and work towards a more solid understanding of the actual consequences of the release of pharmaceuticals in the environment. This review tries to present part of the knowledge that is currently available with regard to the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic matrices, the progress made during the last several years on identification of such compounds down to trace levels, and of new, previously unidentified, pharmaceuticals such as illicit drugs, metabolites, and photo-products. It also tries to discuss the main recent findings in respect of the capacity of various treatment technologies to remove these contaminants and to highlight some of the adverse effects that may be related to their ubiquitous existence. Finally, socioeconomic measures that may be able to hinder the introduction of such compounds into the environment are briefly discussed.
744 citations
TL;DR: This review paper tries to highlight some of the most relevant studies performed so far and to summarize the parameters that prevent scientists from reaching comprehensive conclusions in relation to the formation, fate, and effects of transformation products of pharmaceutical compounds during photo-driven and advanced oxidation processes.
451 citations
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2,261 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the fundamental mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis, advantages, challenges and the design considerations of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts are summarized, including their crystal structural, surface phisicochemical, stability, optical, adsorption, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and electronic properties.
2,132 citations
TL;DR: The main conclusions arrived at from the overall assessment of the literature are that more work needs to be done on degradation kinetics and reactor modeling of the combined process, and also dynamics of the initial attack on primary contaminants and intermediate species generation.
2,046 citations
TL;DR: The final objective is to implement wastewater treatment technologies capable of assuring the production of UWTPs effluents with an acceptable level of ARB, to understand the factors and mechanisms that drive antibiotic resistance maintenance and selection in wastewater habitats.
1,808 citations