Environmental Science and Technology Letters 

About: Environmental Science and Technology Letters is an academic journal published by American Chemical Society. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Chemistry & Environmental science. It has an ISSN identifier of 2328-8930. Over the lifetime, 1107 publications have been published receiving 43745 citations. The journal is also known as: Environmental science and technology letters & ES&T letters.

Presence of SARS-Coronavirus-2 RNA in Sewage and Correlation with Reported COVID-19 Prevalence in the Early Stage of the Epidemic in the Netherlands

Abstract: In the current COVID-19 pandemic, a significant proportion of cases shed SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) with their faeces. To determine if SARS-CoV-2 RNA was present in sewage during the emergence...

Impacts of Biofilm Formation on the Fate and Potential Effects of Microplastic in the Aquatic Environment

Abstract: In the aquatic environment, microplastic (MP; <5 mm) is a cause of concern because of its persistence and potential adverse effects on biota. Studies of microlitter impacts are mostly based on virgin and spherical polymer particles as model MP. However, in pelagic and benthic environments, surfaces are always colonized by microorganisms forming so-called biofilms. The influence of such biofilms on the fate and potential effects of MP is not understood well. Here, we review the physical interactions of early microbial colonization on plastic surfaces and their reciprocal influence on the weathering processes and vertical transport as well as sorption and release of contaminants by MP. Possible ecological consequences of biofilm formation on MP, such as trophic transfer of MP particles and potential adverse effects of MP, are virtually unknown. However, evidence is accumulating that the biofilm−plastic interactions have the capacity to influence the fate and impacts of MP by modifying the physical propertie...

Detection of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in U.S. Drinking Water Linked to Industrial Sites, Military Fire Training Areas, and Wastewater Treatment Plants.

Abstract: Drinking water contamination with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses risks to the developmental, immune, metabolic, and endocrine health of consumers. We present a spatial analysis of 2013–2015 national drinking water PFAS concentrations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) program. The number of industrial sites that manufacture or use these compounds, the number of military fire training areas, and the number of wastewater treatment plants are all significant predictors of PFAS detection frequencies and concentrations in public water supplies. Among samples with detectable PFAS levels, each additional military site within a watershed’s eight-digit hydrologic unit is associated with a 20% increase in PFHxS, a 10% increase in both PFHpA and PFOA, and a 35% increase in PFOS. The number of civilian airports with personnel trained in the use of aqueous film-forming foams is significantly associated with the detection of ...

Predicted Releases of Engineered Nanomaterials: From Global to Regional to Local

Abstract: A key question for industry, regulators, toxicologists, and risk assessors working with nanomaterials is what relevant environmental engineered nanomaterial (ENM) concentrations should be considered. Answering this question requires ENM material flow estimates at the local level. Using a life-cycle approach, global ENM production and application data were used to estimate releases at global, regional, national, and local levels. Local level emissions were then used to estimate releases to water (direct and from wastewater treatment effluent), soils (direct and from runoff and biosolids), and air (direct and from incineration of ENM-containing products). Waste management data for dozens of countries were used to estimate the flow of 10 major ENMs through eight world regions. A national and local release example was conducted with data from the United States, providing predicted wastewater effluent concentrations for the San Francisco Bay area, ranging from low nanograms per liter to micrograms per liter de...

The Critical Need for Increased Selectivity, Not Increased Water Permeability, for Desalination Membranes

Abstract: Desalination membranes are essential for the treatment of unconventional water sources, such as seawater and wastewater, to alleviate water scarcity. Promising research efforts on novel membrane materials may yield significant performance gains over state-of-the-art thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, which are constrained by the permeability–selectivity trade-off. However, little guidance currently exists on the practical impact of such performance gains, namely enhanced water permeability or enhanced water–solute selectivity. In this critical review, we first discuss the performance of current TFC membranes. We then highlight and provide context for recent module-scale modeling studies that have found limited impact of increased water permeability on the efficiency of desalination processes. Next we cover several important examples of water treatment processes in which inadequate membrane selectivity hinders process efficacy. We conclude with a brief discussion of how the need for enhanced selectivity ...