Journal of water and health最新文献

The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 significantly enhanced the application of wastewater monitoring for detecting SARS-CoV-2 circulation within communities. From October 2021 to October 2022, we collected 406 wastewater samples weekly from the Córdoba Central Pipeline Network (BG-WWTP) and six specific sewer manholes from sanitary zones (SZs). Following WHO guidelines, we processed samples and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA and variants using real-time PCR. Monitoring at the SZ level allowed for the development of a viral activity flow map, pinpointing key areas of SARS-CoV-2 circulation and tracking its temporal spread and variant evolution. Our findings demonstrate that wastewater-based surveillance acts as a sensitive indicator of viral activity, detecting imminent increases in COVID-19 cases before they become evident in clinical data. This study highlights the effectiveness of targeted wastewater monitoring at both municipal and SZ levels in identifying viral hotspots and assessing community-wide circulation. Importantly, the data shows that environmental wastewater studies provide valuable insights into virus presence, independent of clinical COVID-19 case records, and offer a robust tool for adapting to future public health challenges.

The microbiological quality of water plays a crucial role in the relationship among human, animal, and environmental health. This research gives insight into the relationship between concentrations of Escherichia coli bacteria and physiochemical parameters in water, which is captured from the Butoniga reservoir and then used for treatment in the drinking water treatment plant Butoniga. Analysis was carried out using statistical analysis through the Pearson correlation coefficient and supported with PCA. The conducted analysis revealed that turbidity and Fe have the highest correlation coefficients with E. coli bacteria. Turbidity was also identified as a potential indicator for E. coli bacteria. Additionally, parameters such as Mn and UV 254 were also found to be closely related to E. coli bacteria, alongside turbidity and Fe. Furthermore, a relationship between E. coli bacteria and different water intakes was conducted. This shows that higher concentrations of E. coli bacteria were present when water was captured from lower water intakes, characterized by increased water turbidity. Thus, the research results provide important information on influential water quality parameters related to E. coli bacteria, especially in the Butoniga reservoir and related drinking water treatment plant, creating a foundation for future water quality management.

Maine is a largely rural state where nearly half of the population uses drinking water from private wells. Arsenic (As) is present in some Maine groundwater, has been linked to cancer, and a lack of testing and treatment may expose people with private wells to elevated As levels. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) include known and suspected carcinogens that form when chlorine or chloramines are added to water. People served by public water systems may be exposed to elevated levels of regulated DBPs such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids associated with chlorine and/or unregulated nitrogenous DBPs, or N-DBPs, such as nitrite and N-nitrosodimethylamine associated with chloramines. Contrary to initial expectations, there were no significant associations between median town As in well water and bladder, lung, kidney, or skin cancer incidence. Furthermore, bladder, melanoma, and other skin cancer incidence rates were negatively correlated with the percent of the town population using private wells. Analysis of cancer incidence associated with chlorine and chloramine disinfection showed elevated melanoma, and other skin cancer with chloramine use and elevated bladder and non-melanoma skin cancer with chlorine use compared to the no disinfectant case. We recommend more research on the links between disinfectant use and cancer.

Three aquatic macrophytes were used to treat wastewater using a pilot-constructed wetland (CW) system to determine the most efficient plants for removing contaminants from wastewater. The three macrophytes are water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), and duckweed (Lemna minor). Three 150 L capacity tanks with sand and gravel as substrates were used as the pilot CW for each plant. Upon initial examination, the raw wastewater was not compliant with standard discharge limits. The wastewater samples were collected every 7 days for 3 weeks for treatment. From the findings, at 14 days hydraulic retention time (HRT), E. crassipes and P. stratiotes achieved the highest total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen deman (COD) reductions of 99.3 and 99.4%, respectively. E. crassipes indicated better biological oxygen demand removal efficiency of 91.3%, COD (85.0%), electrical conductivity (90.4%), total dissolved solids (89.7%), and total coliforms (66.0%). Albeit, P. stratiotes indicated better results for total suspended solids (96.2%), TP (7.55%), and E. coli (94.4%), while L. minor was better with 90.8% total nitrogen removal. The overall analysis showed E. crassipes to be more efficient than the three macrophytes. However, the other two plants are replaceable options and large-scale implementation of this project in the community would be a major contributor to actualizing SDG number 6.

Media filters are important in wastewater recycling schemes for pathogen removal. Filter selection depends on health targets and plant scale; however, there is a data gap concerning pathogen removal efficacy at full scale. This study compared the pathogen removal performance of two full-scale filtration technologies, including a small 17,000 m³/d pressurized media filtration (PMF) plant and a large 120,000 m³/d gravity filter in the form of dissolved air flotation filtration (DAFF). The preceding clarification processes were also assessed. Validation of protozoa and virus removal was estimated by dosing model organisms yeast and MS2 bacteriophage to demonstrate removal potential. The DAFF process (coagulation, flotation and filtration) was most efficient at removing bacteriophage with a mean log₁₀ reduction value (LRV) of 2.90 (±0.64), compared with 0.98 (±0.37) achieved by coagulation, sedimentation and PMF. Yeast log₁₀ reduction though both systems were similar measuring 3.80 (±1.06) through DAFF and 4.57 (±0.14) through coagulation, sedimentation and PMF. The DAFF process showed greater variability in MS2 and yeast removal, which was attributed to filtration. Energy and chemical usage were also evaluated, revealing trade-offs between these factors, treatment scale and pathogen LRVs, offering practical insights into the technological and economic aspects of designing fit-for-purpose recycled water schemes.

Despite evidence emphasizing women's responsibility for collecting water in sub-Saharan Africa, more needs to be known about the gender-specific consequences of this obligation, especially in rural Ghana, where water inaccessibility is a persistent issue. Employing a community-based case study, this research aimed to explore the gendered consequences of women's water collection responsibility, using a coupled systems framework. Data were gathered from surveys and focus groups and analysed statistically and thematically, respectively. Key findings highlighted intersecting influences in women's water access and collection difficulties, including distance to water sources, poverty, and health issues. Results revealed that over 50% of women experienced multiple consequences, including physical and psychological injuries (>80%), animal attacks (≤12%), spousal violence (>40%), nutritional challenges (>30%), hygiene problems (>40%), and socioeconomic issues (>50%). Over half faced three to seven intersecting water-related consequences, which intensified their difficulty in accessing and collecting water. Differences were observed across sub-communities. Interestingly, not all men had knowledge of these consequences, highlighting the crucial need to broaden their understanding as part of the solution to ease women's burdens. Addressing sociocultural norms and the various factors influencing access through effective and gendered water management and planning is imperative to alleviate women's burdens and improve equitable access.

Our study investigated the presence of Cryptosporidium hominis-parvum-meleagridis and Giardia duodenalis in shallow wells used for drinking water (DW) in a rural area. Also, bovine feces were collected from their vicinity. Our findings highlight significant potential risks associated with these pathogens in DW sources. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, samples were collected in two phases: September/2019 to March/2020 and October/2021 to April/2022. Water samples (n = 69) and feces (n = 13) were collected biweekly and analyzed using the USEPA 1623.1 method and molecular tools for species identification, and feces by direct DNA extraction. During the first phase, oocysts and cysts were detected at frequencies ranging from 9.1 to 41.7 and 27.3 to 83.3, respectively. In the second phase, oocyst frequencies ranged from not detected to 25%, while cyst ranged from 18.2 to 83.3%. Escherichia coli concentrations were significant at all collection points. C. hominis-parvum-meleagridis and G. duodenalis were notably detected in bovine feces. Our study revealed the presence of anthropogenic parasites and E. coli in DW sources intended for human consumption. These findings underscore the urgent need for preventive measures to ensure safe DW and prevent future contamination. Effective water quality surveillance is crucial in this regard.

Legionella is an important waterborne pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease (LD). Several outbreaks associated with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been reported in recent years; however, the prevalence of Legionella in WWTPs in Japan has rarely been investigated. In this study, we investigated the distribution of Legionella in influent wastewater collected from two WWTPs in Kobe, Japan between April 2023 and March 2024. The concentrations for Legionella in all seasons varied between 10⁴ and 10⁶ copies/100 mL in all seasons. Among the 10 Legionella species detected in the influent wastewater, Legionella pneumophila was the most commonly isolated. Genotyping revealed that pathogenic L. pneumophila strains were widely distributed in the influent wastewater in Japan with genetic diversity. LD is one of the most important infectious diseases during natural disasters. This study highlights the importance of influent wastewater as a potential source of LD in Japan, where natural disasters occur frequently.

The review examines how climate change adversely affects maternal health and pregnancy outcomes in Africa, a region particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. It highlights the increased incidence of tropical and waterborne illnesses due to climate change, disproportionately impacting expectant mothers. The study thoroughly evaluates the effects of extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods on maternal health, both directly and indirectly. It underscores significant gaps in policy and research within African health sectors regarding these issues. Key findings reveal that maternal death rates remain alarmingly high, with risks like preterm birth, stillbirth, and maternal hypertension exacerbated by climate change. The review calls for urgent action, including enhanced research, increased funding for climate adaptation, and the integration of maternal health into broader climate resilience strategies. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for greater awareness and international collaboration to strengthen health systems in Africa, particularly addressing the vulnerabilities of pregnant women. This work aims to enhance understanding among policymakers and researchers about the critical health impacts of climate change on pregnant women in Africa.

Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic, free-living amoeba ubiquitous in the environment. Despite reports of its wide distribution in the Philippines' freshwater resources, more information on the long-term viability of the Acanthamoeba species is needed. This study aimed to define the long-term viability of Acanthamoeba species in unpreserved environmental freshwater samples after 3 years of storage at room temperature. Stored water samples from 15 study sites were filtered through a 1.2-μm pore size glass microfiber filter, cultured in non-nutrient agar (NNA) lawned with Escherichia coli, and observed for amoebic growth for 14 days using light microscopy. Isolates from positive NNA culture were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using JDP1 and JDP2 Acanthamoeba-specific primers. The study site positivity was 33% (5/15). Acanthamoeba genotype T4 and Acanthamoeba lenticulata were isolated from Luzon; Acanthamoeba divionensis was isolated from Visayas; and Acanthamoeba sp. and genotype T20 were isolated from Mindanao. The long-term viability of Acanthamoeba species is an added risk factor for the sustained contamination of aquatic resources and other sample matrices. This heightens the risk of transmission to humans and animals. This study demonstrated that water samples fated for Acanthamoeba studies can be stored unpreserved at room temperature for several years.