Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39422714›Full record

ReviewAnalytical and bioanalytical chemistry2025

A critical review of wastewater-based epidemiology as a tool to evaluate the unintentional human exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Rodrigo B Carneiro, Maria-Christina Nika, Rubén Gil-Solsona, Konstantina S Diamanti, Nikolaos S Thomaidis, Lluís Corominas, Pablo Gago-Ferrero

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rodrigo B CarneiroLaboratory of Chromatography, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry (IQSC), University of São Paulo (USP), 400, Trabalhador São-Carlense Ave., São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil. rodrigocarneiro@sc.usp.br.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9188-4133
Maria-Christina NikaDepartment of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Severo Ochoa Excellence Center, Spanish Council of Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
Rubén Gil-SolsonaLaboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Konstantina S DiamantiLaboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos S ThomaidisLaboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Lluís CorominasCatalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
Pablo Gago-FerreroDepartment of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Severo Ochoa Excellence Center, Spanish Council of Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain. pablo.gago@idaea.csic.es.

Funding

European Comission / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Project EnviBrain) 101105240Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo 2019/22532- 0Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo 2022/09239-5Generalitat de Catalunya 2021 SGR 00753Generalitat de Catalunya ICRA-Tech 2021-SGR-01283Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation 6627MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and "ERDF A way of making Europe" (Project Expowaste) PID2022-139446OB-C21MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and "ERDF A way of making Europe" (Project Expowaste) PID2022-139446OB-C22
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a powerful tool to gather epidemiological insights at the community level, providing objective data on population exposure to harmful substances. A considerable portion of the human exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals occurs unintentionally, unlike substances such as pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, or alcohol. In this context, this comprehensive review analyzes WBE studies focused on classes of organic chemicals to which humans are unintentionally exposed, namely organophosphorus flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles, phthalates and terephthalates, benzophenones, pesticides, bisphenols, and parabens. The review highlights some advantages of WBE for public health surveillance, e.g., non-invasive analysis, predictive capability, nearly real-time data, population-wide insights, no ethical approval, and unbiased sampling. It also discusses challenges and future research directions in WBE regarding exposure to harmful chemicals from various sources. The review emphasizes the critical role of wastewater sampling, sample preparation, quality control, and instrumental analysis in achieving accurate and reliable results. Furthermore, it examines the selection of human biomarkers for WBE studies and explores strategies to link WBE with human biomonitoring (HBM), which together enhance both the precision and effectiveness of exposure assessments.

Indexed as

WastewaterEnvironmental ExposureEnvironmental MonitoringHumansWastewater-Based Epidemiological MonitoringWater Pollutants, ChemicalWastewaterWater Pollutants, ChemicalBiomarkers of exposureHuman biomonitoringHuman healthMass spectrometryPopulation normalized mass loadWastewater analysis

Identifiers

PMID39422714
PMCPMC11700037

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.