Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; School of Science and Computer Studies, Food Technology Department, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State 360231, Nigeria. Electronic address: oluwasolaebenezer@gmail.com
  • 2 School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Electronic address: chlatif@usm.my
  • 3 Gold, Rare Earth, and Material Technopreneurship Centre (GREAT), Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address: fazliani.s@umk.edu.my
  • 4 School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Electronic address: chsuzy@usm.my
J Contam Hydrol, 2022 Oct;250:104057.
PMID: 36130428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2022.104057

Abstract

The current toxicity concerns of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have birthed the need to regulate and, sometimes restrict its clinical administration. However, tolerable concentration levels of Gd in the water sector have not been set. Therefore, the detection and speedy increase of the anthropogenic Gd-GBCAs in the various water bodies, including those serving as the primary source of drinking water for adults and children, is perturbing. Nevertheless, the strongly canvassed risk-benefit considerations and superior uniqueness of GBCAs compared to the other ferromagnetic metals guarantees its continuous administration for Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations regardless of the toxicity concerns. Unfortunately, findings have shown that both the advanced and conventional wastewater treatment processes do not satisfactorily remove GBCAs but rather risk transforming the chelated GBCAs to their free ionic metal (Gd 3+) through inadvertent degradation processes. This unintentional water processing-induced GBCA dechelation leads to the intricate  pathway for unintentional human intake of Gd ion. Hence exposure to its probable ecotoxicity and several reported inimical effects on human health such as; digestive symptoms, twitching or weakness, cognitive flu, persistent skin diseases, body pains, acute renal and non-renal adverse reactions, chronic skin, and eyes changes. This work proposed an economical and manageable remediation technique for the potential remediation of Gd-GBCAs in wastewater, while a precautionary limit for Gd in public water and commercial drinks is advocated.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.