Pub Date : 2024-08-08DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000259
Debashis Chatterjee, Prithwish Ghosh, Amlan Banerjee, S. S. Das
In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of machine learning techniques in predicting water potability based on water quality attributes. Initially, we applied seven classification-based methods directly to the original dataset, yielding varying accuracy scores. Notably, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) achieved the highest accuracy of 69%, while other methods such as XGBoost, k-Nearest Neighbors, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and Random Forest demonstrated competitive performance with scores ranging from 62% to 68%. Subsequently, we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dataset’s dimensionality to six principal components, followed by reapplication of the machine learning techniques. The results showed an increase in accuracy across all classifiers, increasing to nearly 100%. This study provides insights into the impact of dimensionality reduction on predictive accuracy and underscores the importance of selecting appropriate techniques for water potability prediction.
{"title":"Optimizing machine learning for water safety: A comparative analysis with dimensionality reduction and classifier performance in potability prediction","authors":"Debashis Chatterjee, Prithwish Ghosh, Amlan Banerjee, S. S. Das","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000259","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of machine learning techniques in predicting water potability based on water quality attributes. Initially, we applied seven classification-based methods directly to the original dataset, yielding varying accuracy scores. Notably, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) achieved the highest accuracy of 69%, while other methods such as XGBoost, k-Nearest Neighbors, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and Random Forest demonstrated competitive performance with scores ranging from 62% to 68%. Subsequently, we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dataset’s dimensionality to six principal components, followed by reapplication of the machine learning techniques. The results showed an increase in accuracy across all classifiers, increasing to nearly 100%. This study provides insights into the impact of dimensionality reduction on predictive accuracy and underscores the importance of selecting appropriate techniques for water potability prediction.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"2 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141929006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-08DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000276
Patrick Vander Kelen, Joseph P. Laco, Shannon McClenahan, Christopher Fletcher, Brian Hubbard
Despite the development of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), U.S. public health departments and aquatics agencies face obstacles in incorporating this guidance into their pool codes. A cross comparison of five state pool codes with the MAHC was conducted to quantify MAHC incorporation into these state codes. The proportion of MAHC code agreement with state codes in this study had a range of 14%–86%. Only 2% of all the MAHC codes available were present in all five state codes, conversely, 12% of the MAHC codes were not found in any state. These differences in code agreement highlight the challenge of measuring MAHC effectiveness at the national level. To improve aquatic safety at a national level, a potential solution is development and use of common core elements in state and local pool codes. Once there is a basis for code comparisons across states, public health programs can investigate whether core MAHC codes result in reduced waterborne illness outbreaks, drowning incidents, injuries from pool chemicals, health outcomes from exposure to disinfection by-products, and swimming-related emergency department visits.
{"title":"Assessing state partner use of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC): A cross comparison of five states with varying degrees of self-reported adoption status","authors":"Patrick Vander Kelen, Joseph P. Laco, Shannon McClenahan, Christopher Fletcher, Brian Hubbard","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000276","url":null,"abstract":"Despite the development of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), U.S. public health departments and aquatics agencies face obstacles in incorporating this guidance into their pool codes. A cross comparison of five state pool codes with the MAHC was conducted to quantify MAHC incorporation into these state codes. The proportion of MAHC code agreement with state codes in this study had a range of 14%–86%. Only 2% of all the MAHC codes available were present in all five state codes, conversely, 12% of the MAHC codes were not found in any state. These differences in code agreement highlight the challenge of measuring MAHC effectiveness at the national level. To improve aquatic safety at a national level, a potential solution is development and use of common core elements in state and local pool codes. Once there is a basis for code comparisons across states, public health programs can investigate whether core MAHC codes result in reduced waterborne illness outbreaks, drowning incidents, injuries from pool chemicals, health outcomes from exposure to disinfection by-products, and swimming-related emergency department visits.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141926239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-08-08DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000275
Xiawei Liao, Ao Liu, L. Chai
Virtual water was introduced by John Anthony Allan in 1998 as a measure of the amount of water required for the production of goods and services. Following the initiation of the Sustainable Development Goals in recent years, an intensified focus on environmental sustainability, particularly regarding water sustainability, has emerged. In this context, virtual water, as a crucial tool for water resources management, garnering attention from the academic community. Existing studies on virtual water have made significant contributions on quantifying the virtual water content embedded in commodities, delineating cross-regional patterns of virtual water flows, unveiling the temporal evolution and spatial distribution patterns of virtual water trade, assessing the economic valuation of virtual water through shadow pricing techniques, and analyzing the drivers influencing virtual water flows. However, there are still research gaps in the current literature on virtual water trade forecasting, virtual water accounting in different sectors (such as services and light industry), grey water footprint estimation and water scarcity indices. Moreover, virtual water research involves hydrology, economics and ecology. Multidisciplinary crossover will be an important trend in virtual water research in the future. This article seeks to comprehensively review current dialogues and investigations regarding virtual water and virtual water trade, assessing their impacts on a range of natural, social, and economic dimensions, and help scientists advance the frontiers of the field, as well as help policymakers adapt regional trade patterns and manage water resources more efficiently.
{"title":"Virtual water flows in a real world","authors":"Xiawei Liao, Ao Liu, L. Chai","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000275","url":null,"abstract":"Virtual water was introduced by John Anthony Allan in 1998 as a measure of the amount of water required for the production of goods and services. Following the initiation of the Sustainable Development Goals in recent years, an intensified focus on environmental sustainability, particularly regarding water sustainability, has emerged. In this context, virtual water, as a crucial tool for water resources management, garnering attention from the academic community. Existing studies on virtual water have made significant contributions on quantifying the virtual water content embedded in commodities, delineating cross-regional patterns of virtual water flows, unveiling the temporal evolution and spatial distribution patterns of virtual water trade, assessing the economic valuation of virtual water through shadow pricing techniques, and analyzing the drivers influencing virtual water flows. However, there are still research gaps in the current literature on virtual water trade forecasting, virtual water accounting in different sectors (such as services and light industry), grey water footprint estimation and water scarcity indices. Moreover, virtual water research involves hydrology, economics and ecology. Multidisciplinary crossover will be an important trend in virtual water research in the future. This article seeks to comprehensively review current dialogues and investigations regarding virtual water and virtual water trade, assessing their impacts on a range of natural, social, and economic dimensions, and help scientists advance the frontiers of the field, as well as help policymakers adapt regional trade patterns and manage water resources more efficiently.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"54 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141927841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-25DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000161
Sabrina S Haque, M. Kirby, Laurien Iyakaremye, Alemayehu Gebremariam, Matthew C. Freeman, Howard H. Chang, Thomas F. Clasen
Household water treatment and safe storage interventions can improve microbiological water quality and reduce diarrheal disease in areas lacking access to safe water. However, with few studies evaluating effectiveness of interventions delivered programmatically for more than a year post-implementation, little is known about their sustainability. We aimed to assess the longer-term use and health effects of a household-based filter with a safe storage tank delivered through Rwanda’s Community based Environmental Health Promotion Programme (CBEHPP). We undertook a 30-month longitudinal study in Rwamagana district, following 608 households across 30 villages receiving the intervention. We conducted four unannounced follow-up visits and measured filter presence, condition and use as well as drinking water quality and child diarrhea prevalence approximately 6, 15, 24, and 30 months after the delivery of the intervention. Coverage of the water filter remained high throughout the follow-up period, with 94% of households observed to have the filter by the 30-month visit. Compared to the 6-month visit, the households with filters observed to be in good condition declined from 94.0% to 84.5% at the 30 month-visit. Reported use declined over this period from 96.9% to 84.3% of households, though presence of water in the storage tank of the filter fell from 81.4% to 59.4%. Fecal contamination of point-of-use drinking water did not get worse over the follow-ups compared to the 6-month visit. Child diarrhea prevalence in the study population varied over the follow up period, from 5.7% to 3.9%, 2.9% and 5.9% at 6, 15, 24 and 30 month visits, respectively. In summary, an intervention to promote uptake and use of water filters as part of the Rwandan national environmental health program was found to show that filters were still largely present, in good condition and in use after 30 months, meaning that the intervention effects were largely maintained.
{"title":"Assessing the sustained effects of a water filter intervention: A 30-month longitudinal study in Rwamagana, Rwanda","authors":"Sabrina S Haque, M. Kirby, Laurien Iyakaremye, Alemayehu Gebremariam, Matthew C. Freeman, Howard H. Chang, Thomas F. Clasen","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000161","url":null,"abstract":"Household water treatment and safe storage interventions can improve microbiological water quality and reduce diarrheal disease in areas lacking access to safe water. However, with few studies evaluating effectiveness of interventions delivered programmatically for more than a year post-implementation, little is known about their sustainability. We aimed to assess the longer-term use and health effects of a household-based filter with a safe storage tank delivered through Rwanda’s Community based Environmental Health Promotion Programme (CBEHPP). We undertook a 30-month longitudinal study in Rwamagana district, following 608 households across 30 villages receiving the intervention. We conducted four unannounced follow-up visits and measured filter presence, condition and use as well as drinking water quality and child diarrhea prevalence approximately 6, 15, 24, and 30 months after the delivery of the intervention. Coverage of the water filter remained high throughout the follow-up period, with 94% of households observed to have the filter by the 30-month visit. Compared to the 6-month visit, the households with filters observed to be in good condition declined from 94.0% to 84.5% at the 30 month-visit. Reported use declined over this period from 96.9% to 84.3% of households, though presence of water in the storage tank of the filter fell from 81.4% to 59.4%. Fecal contamination of point-of-use drinking water did not get worse over the follow-ups compared to the 6-month visit. Child diarrhea prevalence in the study population varied over the follow up period, from 5.7% to 3.9%, 2.9% and 5.9% at 6, 15, 24 and 30 month visits, respectively. In summary, an intervention to promote uptake and use of water filters as part of the Rwandan national environmental health program was found to show that filters were still largely present, in good condition and in use after 30 months, meaning that the intervention effects were largely maintained.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"57 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141805918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-24DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000238
David McDonald, Daniel Ma, Natalie M. Hull
Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light has been widely used to inactivate pathogens in water. Emerging alternatives to conventional low pressure (LP) mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm, such as krypton chloride (KrCl) excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm, are gaining acceptance and popularity due to advantages in human safety and disinfection mechanisms. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation kinetics and photolyase damage kinetics were quantified in E. coli for 222 nm and 254 nm UV. Molecular damage and cell regrowth were also quantified after UV irradiation under photorepair and dark repair incubation conditions using a standardized photorepair fluence response protocol. CPDs and photolyase were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). A novel ELISA for photolyase was developed for this study. Culture-based log inactivation UV fluence responses were similar for 254 nm and 222 nm, with Geeraerd model estimates for rate constants of 1.18±0.09 and 1.24±0.08 cm2 mJ−1 for LP and KrCl lamps, respectively. Molecular UV fluence kinetics showed that the rate of CPD formation was greater by LP, but the rate of photolyase damage was greater by KrCl, as supported by the intercepts of repair kinetics. Compared to LP irradiated samples, KrCl irradiated samples exhibited less repair overall. For a given lamp, similar repair was observed between light and dark repair incubations. Percent reactivation rates with respect to photorepair fluence were (3.7±1.4)×10−5 and (–1.3±2.5)×10−5 cm2 mJ-1 for LP and KrCl lamps, respectively. CPDs decreased at a higher rate during repair incubations in LP samples than KrCl samples, and photolyase concentration increased in LP samples but decreased in KrCl samples. The results quantify contributions of photolyase protein damage to disinfection and repair prevention mechanism of KrCl lamps. This study mechanistically demonstrates why KrCl lamps can be applied for UV water disinfection to limit photorepair after treatment. Synopsis: This study used a novel photolyase assay to demonstrate photolyase damage inflicted by krypton chloride excimer lamps contributes to disinfection of bacteria to prevent bacterial photorepair of damaged DNA and regrowth in drinking water treatment.
{"title":"222 nm causes greater protein damage and repair inhibition of E. coli than 254 nm for water disinfection","authors":"David McDonald, Daniel Ma, Natalie M. Hull","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000238","url":null,"abstract":"Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light has been widely used to inactivate pathogens in water. Emerging alternatives to conventional low pressure (LP) mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm, such as krypton chloride (KrCl) excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm, are gaining acceptance and popularity due to advantages in human safety and disinfection mechanisms. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation kinetics and photolyase damage kinetics were quantified in E. coli for 222 nm and 254 nm UV. Molecular damage and cell regrowth were also quantified after UV irradiation under photorepair and dark repair incubation conditions using a standardized photorepair fluence response protocol. CPDs and photolyase were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). A novel ELISA for photolyase was developed for this study. Culture-based log inactivation UV fluence responses were similar for 254 nm and 222 nm, with Geeraerd model estimates for rate constants of 1.18±0.09 and 1.24±0.08 cm2 mJ−1 for LP and KrCl lamps, respectively. Molecular UV fluence kinetics showed that the rate of CPD formation was greater by LP, but the rate of photolyase damage was greater by KrCl, as supported by the intercepts of repair kinetics. Compared to LP irradiated samples, KrCl irradiated samples exhibited less repair overall. For a given lamp, similar repair was observed between light and dark repair incubations. Percent reactivation rates with respect to photorepair fluence were (3.7±1.4)×10−5 and (–1.3±2.5)×10−5 cm2 mJ-1 for LP and KrCl lamps, respectively. CPDs decreased at a higher rate during repair incubations in LP samples than KrCl samples, and photolyase concentration increased in LP samples but decreased in KrCl samples. The results quantify contributions of photolyase protein damage to disinfection and repair prevention mechanism of KrCl lamps. This study mechanistically demonstrates why KrCl lamps can be applied for UV water disinfection to limit photorepair after treatment.\u0000Synopsis: This study used a novel photolyase assay to demonstrate photolyase damage inflicted by krypton chloride excimer lamps contributes to disinfection of bacteria to prevent bacterial photorepair of damaged DNA and regrowth in drinking water treatment.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"50 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141808745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-11DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000251
R. Cronk, Clarissa Brocklehurst, Barbara Evans, Laura Gomez Rodriguez, Daniele Lantagne, Cameron Mcbroom-Fitterer, Eric Momanyi, K. Nyarko, Cecilia Scharp
{"title":"Missing in action: The UN Water Action Agenda needs an overhauled commitment-setting process","authors":"R. Cronk, Clarissa Brocklehurst, Barbara Evans, Laura Gomez Rodriguez, Daniele Lantagne, Cameron Mcbroom-Fitterer, Eric Momanyi, K. Nyarko, Cecilia Scharp","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000251","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"94 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141658029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-10DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000263
Margot W. Parkes, Stephen J. Déry, Philip N. Owens, E. Petticrew, B. Booth
Understanding of upstream and downstream dynamics of continental river basins demands attention to the influence of important tributaries and watersheds. This is exemplified by the 47,200 km2 Nechako Watershed, the second largest sub-watershed of British Columbia’s Fraser River Basin. Although the Nechako (derived from the Indigenous Dakelh word meaning “big river”) is recognised for its ecological, societal and cultural importance, attention to this sub-watershed has often been overshadowed by a focus on the iconic Fraser River. This paper examines insights from a purposeful response to this gap, whereby a team of researchers has worked together to strengthen understanding of cumulative stressors and changes in the Nechako, focusing on climate change and water security, sediment sources and quality, and health and well-being dynamics within the Nechako Watershed. Lessons learned from a decade of this collaboration are presented, reflecting on the Nechako Watershed’s past, present, and future through the lens of a unique case study of interdisciplinary research. Emerging research and knowledge exchange partnerships are highlighted along with growing concerns for the Nechako’s keystone aquatic species including three species of Pacific salmon and the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. Drawing on the natural, social and health sciences, we examine strengths and challenges of connecting research across interrelated watershed security issues ranging from climate change, landcover disturbances (e.g., wildfires, mountain pine beetle outbreaks and forest harvesting), land use changes (e.g., expansion of Vanderhoof’s agricultural belt), and the far-reaching impacts of the damming of the Nechako River mainstem in the 1950’s. Our paper brings necessary attention to these and other influences on waterways, landscapes and communities of the Nechako Watershed, highlighting new research opportunities arising among diverse knowledges and disciplines, and the ongoing collaborative effort required to address emerging challenges for the Nechako and wider Fraser River Basin, with consequences for current and future generations.
{"title":"Towards an integrative understanding of British Columbia’s Nechako Watershed: Connecting knowledge systems to strengthen understanding of climate change, watershed security, health and well-being","authors":"Margot W. Parkes, Stephen J. Déry, Philip N. Owens, E. Petticrew, B. Booth","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000263","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding of upstream and downstream dynamics of continental river basins demands attention to the influence of important tributaries and watersheds. This is exemplified by the 47,200 km2 Nechako Watershed, the second largest sub-watershed of British Columbia’s Fraser River Basin. Although the Nechako (derived from the Indigenous Dakelh word meaning “big river”) is recognised for its ecological, societal and cultural importance, attention to this sub-watershed has often been overshadowed by a focus on the iconic Fraser River. This paper examines insights from a purposeful response to this gap, whereby a team of researchers has worked together to strengthen understanding of cumulative stressors and changes in the Nechako, focusing on climate change and water security, sediment sources and quality, and health and well-being dynamics within the Nechako Watershed. Lessons learned from a decade of this collaboration are presented, reflecting on the Nechako Watershed’s past, present, and future through the lens of a unique case study of interdisciplinary research. Emerging research and knowledge exchange partnerships are highlighted along with growing concerns for the Nechako’s keystone aquatic species including three species of Pacific salmon and the endangered Nechako white sturgeon. Drawing on the natural, social and health sciences, we examine strengths and challenges of connecting research across interrelated watershed security issues ranging from climate change, landcover disturbances (e.g., wildfires, mountain pine beetle outbreaks and forest harvesting), land use changes (e.g., expansion of Vanderhoof’s agricultural belt), and the far-reaching impacts of the damming of the Nechako River mainstem in the 1950’s. Our paper brings necessary attention to these and other influences on waterways, landscapes and communities of the Nechako Watershed, highlighting new research opportunities arising among diverse knowledges and disciplines, and the ongoing collaborative effort required to address emerging challenges for the Nechako and wider Fraser River Basin, with consequences for current and future generations.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"1 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141661220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-05DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000244
B. H. Hauptman, Thomas C. Harmon, Ziad Nasef, Angela A. Rosales, Colleen C. Naughton
In rural agricultural regions characterized by historical fumigant use and in industrial areas, groundwater contamination by 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) poses a significant environmental and health concern due to its potential as a carcinogen. This study evaluates the effectiveness of commercially available water pitchers equipped with carbon filters and almond biochar for point-of-use TCP treatment. The study found that the filters were able to remove TCP (>98%) from untreated groundwater during their lifespan, and different filter brands with varying flow rates showed no significant difference in TCP removal. These results suggest that these pitchers may provide a simple and efficient short-term solution. Furthermore, the study explored the feasibility of low-cost, locally sourced biochar derived from almond shells as a sustainable alternative to traditional carbon feedstocks. Batch isotherm tests, BET analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging were used for biochar studies. The study found that the almond biochar used had a low surface area and total pore volume in comparison to commercial Granular Activated Carbons (GACs) and that more than half of the total area was composed of micropores (< 2 nm), while XPS surveys revealed the presence of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Potassium on the char’s surface. Finally, batch isotherm studies show that almond biochar exhibits lower TCP absorption efficiency compared to commercially available granulated carbon. However, further research into biochar produced under varied pyrolysis conditions is needed to determine its potential as a substitute for coconut shells. These findings can provide affected communities with information on efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies of TCP at the domestic well and household levels.
{"title":"Evaluation of point-of-use treatments and biochar to reduce 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) contamination in drinking water","authors":"B. H. Hauptman, Thomas C. Harmon, Ziad Nasef, Angela A. Rosales, Colleen C. Naughton","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000244","url":null,"abstract":"In rural agricultural regions characterized by historical fumigant use and in industrial areas, groundwater contamination by 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) poses a significant environmental and health concern due to its potential as a carcinogen. This study evaluates the effectiveness of commercially available water pitchers equipped with carbon filters and almond biochar for point-of-use TCP treatment. The study found that the filters were able to remove TCP (>98%) from untreated groundwater during their lifespan, and different filter brands with varying flow rates showed no significant difference in TCP removal. These results suggest that these pitchers may provide a simple and efficient short-term solution. Furthermore, the study explored the feasibility of low-cost, locally sourced biochar derived from almond shells as a sustainable alternative to traditional carbon feedstocks. Batch isotherm tests, BET analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging were used for biochar studies. The study found that the almond biochar used had a low surface area and total pore volume in comparison to commercial Granular Activated Carbons (GACs) and that more than half of the total area was composed of micropores (< 2 nm), while XPS surveys revealed the presence of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Potassium on the char’s surface. Finally, batch isotherm studies show that almond biochar exhibits lower TCP absorption efficiency compared to commercially available granulated carbon. However, further research into biochar produced under varied pyrolysis conditions is needed to determine its potential as a substitute for coconut shells. These findings can provide affected communities with information on efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies of TCP at the domestic well and household levels.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":" 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141676495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-02DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000223
Julie Watson, Noah Okumu, Joseph O. Wasonga, H. Majiwa, Alice Kiarie, Sherril P. Masudi, Linnet Ochieng, Lorren Alumasa, Christine Mutisya, E. Cook, Oliver Cumming
Young children are particularly vulnerable to foodborne disease due to their immature immune systems. Safe food hygiene behaviours by caregivers can potentially reduce this disease burden. Here, we evaluate the potential for a locally designed intervention to improve caregivers’ food hygiene behaviour in a peri-urban, low-income area of Nairobi, Kenya. In this cluster-randomised proof-of-concept trial, 50 community health volunteers (CHVs) were randomly assigned to intervention or control arm (1:1). 101 households under the CHV’s catchment (2-3/CHV), with at least one child aged 6–24 months, participated. Caregivers in intervention households (n = 50) received the CHV-delivered food hygiene intervention. The control arm (n-51) received no intervention. Blinding was not possible due to the nature of the intervention. Our primary outcome was the proportion of caregivers observed to practice all five pre-specified food hygiene behaviours, four weeks post intervention delivery. Secondary outcomes assessed the five observed behaviours individually plus a sixth behaviour—the proportion of caregivers who report always boiling the child’s drinking water. We found no between-arm difference in the proportion of caregivers practising all five observed behaviours. However individually, five behaviours were significantly improved. Specifically, caregivers in the intervention arm had higher odds of washing their hands before feeding the child (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.40, 95%CI 1.85, 29.62) and before preparing the child’s food (aOR = 7.05, 95%CI 1.52, 32.71), washing the child’s hands before eating (aOR = 21.57, 95%CI 1.15, 405.93) and heating the child’s food (aOR = 4.03, 95%CI 1.27, 12.85) and drinking water (aOR = 12.82, 95%CI 2.54, 64.77) to boiling. There was no effect on cleaning and storage of feeding utensils. This study offers promising preliminary evidence that a CHV-led intervention targeting caregivers of young children can improve their food hygiene behaviour. Our findings warrant further research to refine the intervention and undertake larger scale trials to explore the intervention’s potential impact more comprehensively. Trial registration: This trial was registered with Open Science Framework: osf.io/eu5kf.
{"title":"A proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial of an intervention designed to improve food hygiene behaviours among caregivers of young children living in low-income areas of Nairobi, Kenya","authors":"Julie Watson, Noah Okumu, Joseph O. Wasonga, H. Majiwa, Alice Kiarie, Sherril P. Masudi, Linnet Ochieng, Lorren Alumasa, Christine Mutisya, E. Cook, Oliver Cumming","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000223","url":null,"abstract":"Young children are particularly vulnerable to foodborne disease due to their immature immune systems. Safe food hygiene behaviours by caregivers can potentially reduce this disease burden. Here, we evaluate the potential for a locally designed intervention to improve caregivers’ food hygiene behaviour in a peri-urban, low-income area of Nairobi, Kenya. In this cluster-randomised proof-of-concept trial, 50 community health volunteers (CHVs) were randomly assigned to intervention or control arm (1:1). 101 households under the CHV’s catchment (2-3/CHV), with at least one child aged 6–24 months, participated. Caregivers in intervention households (n = 50) received the CHV-delivered food hygiene intervention. The control arm (n-51) received no intervention. Blinding was not possible due to the nature of the intervention. Our primary outcome was the proportion of caregivers observed to practice all five pre-specified food hygiene behaviours, four weeks post intervention delivery. Secondary outcomes assessed the five observed behaviours individually plus a sixth behaviour—the proportion of caregivers who report always boiling the child’s drinking water. We found no between-arm difference in the proportion of caregivers practising all five observed behaviours. However individually, five behaviours were significantly improved. Specifically, caregivers in the intervention arm had higher odds of washing their hands before feeding the child (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.40, 95%CI 1.85, 29.62) and before preparing the child’s food (aOR = 7.05, 95%CI 1.52, 32.71), washing the child’s hands before eating (aOR = 21.57, 95%CI 1.15, 405.93) and heating the child’s food (aOR = 4.03, 95%CI 1.27, 12.85) and drinking water (aOR = 12.82, 95%CI 2.54, 64.77) to boiling. There was no effect on cleaning and storage of feeding utensils. This study offers promising preliminary evidence that a CHV-led intervention targeting caregivers of young children can improve their food hygiene behaviour. Our findings warrant further research to refine the intervention and undertake larger scale trials to explore the intervention’s potential impact more comprehensively.\u0000Trial registration: This trial was registered with Open Science Framework: osf.io/eu5kf.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"24 32","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141685395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-01DOI: 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000102
S. Jupiter, Aaron P. Jenkins, J. Negin, Shylett Sonam Anthony, Ponipate Baleinamau, Rachel Devi, Sikeli Gavidi, Alice Latinne, Kinikoto Mailautoka, S. Mangubhai, Kelera Naivalu, Timoci Naivalulevu, Vilisi Naivalulevu, Nabeela Nasim, Sikeli Naucunivanua, Sarah Nelson, Ingrid Qauqau, Anaseini Ratu, Mereia Ravoka, Jacqueline Thomas, Andrew Tukana, Paul van Nimwegen, Ama Wakwella, Amelia Wenger, Donald Wilson, Pierre Horwitz
Watersheds offer opportunities for place-based interventions to transform systems health via preventative versus reactive approaches to management that achieve multiple co-benefits for public and environmental health. The Watershed Interventions for Systems Health in Fiji (WISH Fiji) project embraced participatory knowledge co-production and action-oriented research to identify risks to public and ecosystem health, prioritize interventions to address risks, and monitor responses of the system to interventions. We used screening filters and local knowledge to collaboratively identify five watersheds for action with high prior incidence of water-related diseases (Fiji’s “three plagues” of leptospirosis, typhoid and dengue) and high risk to downstream environmental health. We reviewed literature to identify disease risk factors, evaluated overlaps with risks for downstream environmental impact, and designed 13 instruments to collect information about baseline risk. Following consultations to obtain free, prior and informed consent, we enrolled 311 households across 29 communities. We synthesized data to identify key risks at the household, community, and landscape level, which were communicated to community water and resource management committees and government leaders as part of developing water and sanitation safety plans for each community. Local committees identified 339 priority risk reduction actions across nine main categories: animal management; drainage; health systems surveillance; hygiene; integrated planning; land use management; sanitation systems; waste management; and water systems. As of October 2022, 154 interventions were implemented in the five watersheds across different risk categories and scales. While we can track changes to factors that reduce risk of water-related disease and improve environmental health, direct evaluation of impacts to public health is limited due to poor geolocation of case records. The WISH Fiji project is a model of cross-sectoral coordination that efficiently progresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals, but scaling requires sustained investment in interventions to realize full benefits, particularly for nature-based solutions that exhibit lagged responses.
{"title":"Transforming place-based management within watersheds in Fiji: The watershed interventions for systems health project","authors":"S. Jupiter, Aaron P. Jenkins, J. Negin, Shylett Sonam Anthony, Ponipate Baleinamau, Rachel Devi, Sikeli Gavidi, Alice Latinne, Kinikoto Mailautoka, S. Mangubhai, Kelera Naivalu, Timoci Naivalulevu, Vilisi Naivalulevu, Nabeela Nasim, Sikeli Naucunivanua, Sarah Nelson, Ingrid Qauqau, Anaseini Ratu, Mereia Ravoka, Jacqueline Thomas, Andrew Tukana, Paul van Nimwegen, Ama Wakwella, Amelia Wenger, Donald Wilson, Pierre Horwitz","doi":"10.1371/journal.pwat.0000102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000102","url":null,"abstract":"Watersheds offer opportunities for place-based interventions to transform systems health via preventative versus reactive approaches to management that achieve multiple co-benefits for public and environmental health. The Watershed Interventions for Systems Health in Fiji (WISH Fiji) project embraced participatory knowledge co-production and action-oriented research to identify risks to public and ecosystem health, prioritize interventions to address risks, and monitor responses of the system to interventions. We used screening filters and local knowledge to collaboratively identify five watersheds for action with high prior incidence of water-related diseases (Fiji’s “three plagues” of leptospirosis, typhoid and dengue) and high risk to downstream environmental health. We reviewed literature to identify disease risk factors, evaluated overlaps with risks for downstream environmental impact, and designed 13 instruments to collect information about baseline risk. Following consultations to obtain free, prior and informed consent, we enrolled 311 households across 29 communities. We synthesized data to identify key risks at the household, community, and landscape level, which were communicated to community water and resource management committees and government leaders as part of developing water and sanitation safety plans for each community. Local committees identified 339 priority risk reduction actions across nine main categories: animal management; drainage; health systems surveillance; hygiene; integrated planning; land use management; sanitation systems; waste management; and water systems. As of October 2022, 154 interventions were implemented in the five watersheds across different risk categories and scales. While we can track changes to factors that reduce risk of water-related disease and improve environmental health, direct evaluation of impacts to public health is limited due to poor geolocation of case records. The WISH Fiji project is a model of cross-sectoral coordination that efficiently progresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals, but scaling requires sustained investment in interventions to realize full benefits, particularly for nature-based solutions that exhibit lagged responses.","PeriodicalId":93672,"journal":{"name":"PLOS water","volume":"14 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141708740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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