Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39910231›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Unraveling the levels of emerging contaminants along the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Fatima Haydous, Bilal Nehmeh, Joseph Rebehmed, Josephine Al-Alam, Christopher Saab, Sara Sabbagh, Ali Hamieh, Ali Yassin, Mahmoud Wazne, Elias Akoury

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 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. Article
  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

10 authors.

Fatima HaydousDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Bilal NehmehDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Joseph RebehmedDepartment of Computer Science, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Josephine Al-AlamCivil Engineering Department, Lebanese American University, 309 Bassil Building, Byblos, Lebanon.
Christopher SaabDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Sara SabbaghDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Ali HamiehDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Ali YassinDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Mahmoud WazneCivil Engineering Department, Lebanese American University, 309 Bassil Building, Byblos, Lebanon.
Elias AkouryDepartment of Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon. elias.akoury@lau.edu.lb.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean Sea, rich in environmental and cultural heritage, faces increasing threats from emerging contaminants like toxic metals and phthalates. This study evaluates their occurrence across 40 Lebanese Mediterranean coastal hotspots using advanced techniques such as Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Widespread contamination was detected in both water and sediments near landfills, sewage discharges, and industrial areas. Metal concentrations varied, with chromium (Cr) reaching 20.3 µg/L, arsenic (As) 12.1 µg/L, and lead (Pb) 30.6 µg/L, indicating pollution from urban and industrial activities. Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) were within safe limits, while selenium (Se) and arsenic posed ecological risks. Among 13 phthalates, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was the most prevalent, ranging from 15.57 to 72.88 µg/L. Sediments showed elevated calcium, strontium, and barium levels, exceeding safety thresholds. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between contaminants and spatial variability driven by industrial, agricultural, and urban activities. These findings highlight the need for proper regulations and routine monitoring to protect marine ecosystems and public health.

Indexed as

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometryInductively coupled plasma mass spectrometryMediterranean SeaPhthalatesToxic metalsWastewater

Identifiers

PMID39910231
PMCPMC11799151

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.