The wide application of fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) materials has given rise to the problem of their durability and performance over time. These problems are largely associated with their environmental conditions and service procedures, including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Here, we propose the production of polyester-based composites with different contents of synthesized Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺,Ga (YAG:Ce,Ga) particles to provide sensing abilities towards material degradation. In this regard, the composites were subjected to UV radiation exposure, and its influence on the morphological, mechanical, and optical properties of the materials was investigated. Our findings reveal the self-sensing capabilities of the developed FRPC. The results indicate the potential of the system for the development of highly effective coatings allowing to detect and monitor UV degradation in composite materials for demanding applications.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key nodes in the environmental dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), although their net role as sources or barriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) under full-scale conditions remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the occurrence and dynamics of ARB and ARG in a full-scale urban WWTP and its receiving river over a two-year monitoring campaign. Samples were collected from the WWTP influent and effluent, and from river water upstream and downstream of the discharge point, enabling an integrated assessment of treatment performance and potential environmental dissemination. Wastewater treatment markedly reduced AMR indicators, with ARG concentrations decreasing by at least 90% from influent to effluent. No consistent increase in ARB or ARG levels was observed downstream compared with upstream, indicating no measurable dissemination attributable to the WWTP discharge. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were prevalent across all compartments, highlighting widespread background resistance in the urban water cycle. Temporal analysis revealed higher ARG abundances in 2021 and 2022 than 2020, consistent with possible changes in antibiotic consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the investigated WWTP did not act as a net AMR source, highlighting its potential role as a control point and the value of integrated monitoring for assessing AMR dynamics and environmental risk.

La formación de subproductos de desinfección (DBPs) en la potabilización de aguas depende de diferentes factores; entre los que destacan las características del agua a tratar, el tipo de oxidante empleado, así como el proceso de tratamiento. En el presente artículo se muestran los resultados del estudio realizado en una planta a escala real en la que se evaluaron todas estas variables. El trabajo se centró en la formación de los siguientes DBPs: trihalometanos, cloritos, cloratos y bromatos. En el estudio se evidenció la necesidad de implementar la filtración con carbón activo en la potabilización de agua de río (Nervión) en caso de emplear cloro como preoxidante y ser la temperatura elevada. Asimismo, se constató la necesidad de realizar el seguimiento tanto de cloratos como de bromuros en este tipo de agua influente. Además, se comprobó cómo la filtración en carbón activo contribuía a la reducción de los DBPs generados.