A new “smart rust” could potentially help remove pollutants from waterways, resulting in cleaner water. This technology has the potential to reduce the harmful effects of excess estrogen on animals, particularly those living in waterways. According to Müller from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, the nanoparticles enable the cleaning of various environmental pollutants. Estrogen hormones typically enter waterways through human and animal waste, even in low concentrations, which can have chronic harmful effects on aquatic life such as increased instances of cancer or reproductive issues. Konrad Wojnarowski, a biologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München who was not involved in the study, explains that while wastewater treatment plants can remove some estrogen hormones, the process is expensive and not energy efficient.
2023-08-16 04:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org