Removal of Iodine-Containing X-ray Contrast Media from Environment: The Challenge of a Total Mineralization

Abstract

Iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) as emerging micropollutants have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their high detected concentration in water systems. It results in environmental issues partly due to the formation of toxic by-products during the disinfection process in water treatment. Consequently, various approaches have been investigated by researchers in order to achieve ICM total mineralization. This review discusses the different methods that have been used to degrade them, with special attention to the mineralization yield and to the nature of formed by-products. The problem of pollution by ICM is discussed in the first part dedicated to the presence of ICM in the environment and its consequences. In the second part, the processes for ICM treatment including biological treatment, advanced oxidation/reductive processes, and coupled processes are reviewed in detail. The main results and mechanisms involved in each approach are described, and by-products identified during the different treatments are listed. Moreover, based on their efficiency and their cost-effectiveness, the prospects and process developments of ICM treatment are discussed.

Image quality of abdominal photon-counting CT with reduced contrast media dose: Evaluation of reduced contrast media protocols during the COVID19 pandemic supply shortage

“…Iodinated contrast agents are increasingly found in drinking water sources and their breakdown products are deemed to be toxic [ 4 , 24 ]. As iodinated contrast media contamination of drinking water constitutes a major global environmental issue there is an urgent need for reduction of iodinated contrast agents, especially as currently there is no established method for their removal [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Determinants and Clinical Relevance of Iodine Contrast Extravasation after Endovascular Thrombectomy: A Dual-Energy CT Study

“…Nevertheless, the concept of minimizing the usage of iodine contrast media in our diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures is gaining traction, driven by economic and environmental concerns. 41,42 The study's retrospective, single-center design poses a significant limitation, exposing to intractable inherent selection bias, though we aimed to minimize this bias by using prospectively collected data by using a stroke registry.…”

“…There was no significant difference in the median attenuation values for the spontaneously hyperattenuated area on the reconstructed conventional images when comparing the ICE and ICH groups, which were previously identified on IOM and VNC maps (P ¼ .349; 48.5 HU IQR 25 -IQR 75 [40. versus 49HU IQR 25 -IQR 75 [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]). This analysis was conducted separately for all locations of ICE (n ¼ 53) and ICH (n ¼ 58), with the understanding that patients with both ICE and ICH were included within each comparison group.…”