Publications by authors named "Heidi De la Cruz"

Introduction: Contamination of drinking water by can cause serious diseases, including cancer. The determinants of the infection rate are socioeconomic status, low standard of living and overcrowding. In addition, exposure to environmental sources contaminated with feces, such as water and vegetables, is another risk factor for infection.

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The study evaluated microbial and Potentially Toxic Elements-PTEs risks in high Andean river water in Peru using Monte Carlo simulation. A total of 144 water samples were collected from four rivers and evaluated for physicochemical parameters, PTEs and bacterial pathogens. The microbial risk analysis for exposure to pathogens present in the water was based on the probability of occurrence of diseases associated with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci.

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The use of antibiotics in fish production can induce bacterial populations to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics and transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other bacteria, including clinically relevant bacteria. This study evaluated the diversity of Enterobacterales in sediment from lagoons with fish farming activity and analyzed antibiotic resistance in the central region of Peru. Sediment samples were collected from four fish-active ponds and transported to the laboratory for analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study highlights how environmental exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can harm ecosystems and human health, indicating the need for a comprehensive assessment of this global issue.
  • - Conducted across 258 rivers in 104 countries, the research found notably high levels of API contamination in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South America, often linked to poor waste management and pharmaceutical production practices.
  • - Over 25% of the sampling sites had API concentrations exceeding safe levels for aquatic life, raising concerns about environmental risks and the potential for increased antimicrobial resistance, which threatens progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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