The time for ambitious action is now: Science-based recommendations for plastic chemicals to inform an effective global plastic treaty.

The ubiquitous and global ecological footprint arising from the rapidly increasing rates of plastic production, use, and release into the environment is an important modern environmental issue. Of increasing concern are the risks associated with at least 16,000 chemicals present in plastics, some of which are known to be toxic, and which may leach out both during use and once exposed to environmental conditions, leading to environmental and human exposure. In response, the United Nations member states agreed to establish an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, the global plastics treaty.

Plastiome: Plastisphere-enriched mobile resistome in aquatic environments.

Aquatic microplastics (MPs) act as reservoirs for microbial communities, fostering the formation of a mobile resistome encompassing diverse antibiotic (ARGs) and biocide/metal resistance genes (BMRGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). This collective genetic repertoire, referred to as the "plastiome," can potentially perpetuate environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our study examining two Japanese rivers near Tokyo revealed that waterborne MPs are primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and sheets of diverse origin.

Effect of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as a biocarrier on volatile fatty acids production of a two-stage thermophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

This work studied the effect of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-gel) beads, as an effective biocarrier for volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in hydrolytic reactor of a two-stage thermophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (TAnMBR). The two-stage TAnMBR, treating synthetic high strength particulate wastewater with influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) [16.4±0.

Effect of organic loading rate on VFA production, organic matter removal and microbial activity of a two-stage thermophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

This study focused on the VFA (volatile fatty acid) profile variation with organic loading rate (OLR) of a two stage thermophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (TAnMBR). The two stage TAnMBR treating high strength molasses-based synthetic wastewater was operated under a side-stream partial sedimentation mode at 55°C. Reactor performances were studied at different OLR ranging from 5 to 12 kg COD m(-3) d(-1).

Performance comparison of mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic sidestream membrane bioreactors treating high strength wastewater.

This study compares membrane fouling and removal efficiencies of organic and nitrogen in thermophilic (47 and 60°C) and mesophilic (30°C) aerobic sidestream airlift membrane bioreactors (SA-MBRs). These reactors were fed with high strength molasses-based synthetic wastewater at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 24.75 kg COD/m(3)d.

Mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic batch biodegradation, utilization of carbon and nitrogen sources in high-strength wastewater.

This study compares organic and nitrogen removals of thermophilic and mesophilic aerobic processes. The experiments were performed in three 7.2L sequential batch reactors (SBRs) operated at 30, 47 and 60°C.