Global Climate News

A FAO-led study has highlighted that improving livestock productivity is crucial for reducing antibiotic use in farming. The study warns that without intervention, global antibiotic use in livestock is projected to rise by almost 30% by 2040, reaching 143,481 tons. However, it also notes that targeted productivity gains could cut this use by up to 57%, bringing it down to approximately 62,000 tons. To support these efforts, FAO has initiated the RENOFARM program aimed at reducing antimicrobial dependence in agrifood systems.

A recent study has examined the long-term impacts of graphene on anaerobic sequencing batch reactors, highlighting potential risks during wastewater treatment. It was found that low-concentration graphene (5 mg/L) significantly inhibited the removal of chemical oxygen demand, while high-concentration (100 mg/L) showed less of an effect. The research utilized various scientific techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing to analyze changes in microbial community structures and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics influenced by graphene concentrations.

A novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst NU/BiOClxBr1-x was constructed by the controllable deposition of NH2-UiO-66 on 3D flower-shaped BiOClxBr1-x. Under visible light, this composite exhibited a tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal efficiency of 94.88% within 120 minutes, outperforming pure BiOCl and NH2-UiO-66. The high efficiency is attributed to enhanced interfacial electric fields and active surface sites created in the heterostructure, providing new ideas for photocatalytic remediation of antibiotic wastewater.

The study evaluated the impact of veterinary antibiotics on aquatic ecosystems in Europe, emphasizing the urgent need for effective regulations and monitoring to prevent environmental contamination. The research highlighted the risks posed by persistent antibiotics in water systems and stressed the importance of eliminating sources of contamination. The European Commission has identified antibiotic resistance as a pressing health threat, prompting proposals for new legislation targeting environmental risk assessments.

US-based 6K has developed new microwave plasma technology called UniMelt that eliminates toxic waste while recycling all byproducts. The company is scaling up production of battery materials and critical minerals processing, with a new 100,000-square-foot facility set to begin construction in Jackson, Tennessee, expected to produce 13,000 tons of material annually. This technology addresses U.S. national security concerns by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

The five EU health and environment agencies – EFSA, ECDC, ECHA, EEA, and EMA, supported by the JRC, collaborated under a One Health approach to tackle the risk of azole fungicide resistance in Aspergillus fungi. They reviewed the substantial use of azole fungicides in agriculture and its impact on public health, calling for tighter regulations and research into new fungicides to mitigate this growing threat.

Researchers have developed a novel core-shell structural catalyst (FeNC@C) for efficient antibiotic degradation that requires no additional energy input. The catalyst achieved 90% degradation efficiency and over 47% total organic carbon removal within 60 minutes, demonstrating significant potential for energy-efficient water treatment and antibiotic decomposition.

The study improved knowledge on the photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals in water using a heterojunction design and defect engineering. The Bi2MoO6/Sx@g-C3N(4-y) photocatalysts achieved a 92.4% degradation efficiency of tetracycline in 60 minutes, surpassing the performance of individual components. The photocatalyst demonstrated stability and reusability, with 84% efficiency over five cycles, and the treated effluent was non-phytotoxic, suitable for irrigation.

Researchers have developed a novel photocatalyst composite (g-C3N4:Tm@Ba4Yb3F17:Tm Z-scheme) that can effectively utilize near-infrared sunlight for antibiotic degradation. The catalyst achieved 93% degradation efficiency of tetracycline after 12 hours of near-infrared light exposure, demonstrating significant potential for sustainable water treatment and antibiotic removal applications.

China-based researchers from Chongqing University of Technology and Sinopec Lubricant Co. have developed an enhanced water treatment catalyst system using phosphorized magnetic Fe3O4 for removing tetracycline antibiotics from water. The novel P-RC-Fe3O4/PMS system demonstrated high efficiency in degrading tetracycline through both radical and non-radical pathways, with excellent stability and easy magnetic separation capabilities.

Researchers have engineered double perovskite La2NiMnO6 (LNMO) nanoparticles through co-precipitation method for effective photocatalytic degradation of dyes and antimicrobial applications. The nanoparticles demonstrated 84.57% degradation of methyl orange and 64.29% degradation of methylene blue dyes under UV irradiation, while also showing significant antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi.