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Ben Nasr W, Huneau F, Trabelsi R, Zouari K, Garel E, Leydier T. Emerging organic compounds as markers of the degradation of groundwater qualitative and quantitative equilibrium in a context of rapid urban expansion. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 915:170068. [PMID: 38218473 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
With the neo-metamorphosis of the residential landscape worldwide and sluggish sanitation strategies in urban environments, rudimentary on-site sanitation systems remain commonly used, especially in developing countries, despite the risks of groundwater contamination. The effective management of such water resources relies on assessment of the sensitivity of anthropized aquifers to man-made impact, including groundwater behavioural alteration, in terms of both quality and quantity. Associated with tracking of changes in land use, this study proposes an approach involving emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) as indicators of the alteration of groundwater balance due the exposure of shallow aquifers to the risks of infiltration of untreated wastewater from soak pits. This methodology was applied to the shallow aquifer beneath the urban agglomeration of Grand-Sfax (Tunisia). Combined with an updated follow-up of groundwater piezometric fluctuations in relation with inputs from surface contamination sources, the spatialisation of contamination levels by EOCs provided a clear delineation of the most impacted aquifer zones. This approach revealed a significant link between the continuous rise in piezometric levels by contributions from untreated inputs and the accumulation of high levels of contamination in groundwater. The understanding of EOC underground pathways allowed the determination of the fates and processes responsible for the diffusion of contamination throughout the studied aquifer. The ability of groundwater to reflect population life style and the use patterns of such organic molecules was also assessed. Besides revealing the legacy of persistent contamination, this approach involving EOCs as tracers with different levels of persistence provided a spatial observation of the aquifer exposure to continuous contamination processes. This approach made it possible to develop a conceptual presentation of aquifer vulnerability to urban pressures and to predict the effects of subsequent expansion of unplanned urbanisation on groundwater quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ben Nasr
- Laboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National Engineering School of Sfax, BP1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - F Huneau
- Université de Corse Pascal Paoli, Département d'Hydrogéologie, Campus Grimaldi, BP52, 20250 Corte, France; CNRS, UMR 6134 SPE, BP52, 20250 Corte, France.
| | - R Trabelsi
- Laboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National Engineering School of Sfax, BP1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - K Zouari
- Laboratory of Radio-Analyses and Environment, National Engineering School of Sfax, BP1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - E Garel
- Université de Corse Pascal Paoli, Département d'Hydrogéologie, Campus Grimaldi, BP52, 20250 Corte, France; CNRS, UMR 6134 SPE, BP52, 20250 Corte, France
| | - T Leydier
- Université de Corse Pascal Paoli, Département d'Hydrogéologie, Campus Grimaldi, BP52, 20250 Corte, France; CNRS, UMR 6134 SPE, BP52, 20250 Corte, France
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Gwenzi W, Marumure J, Makuvara Z, Simbanegavi TT, Njomou-Ngounou EL, Nya EL, Kaetzl K, Noubactep C, Rzymski P. The pit latrine paradox in low-income settings: A sanitation technology of choice or a pollution hotspot? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163179. [PMID: 37003330 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Pit latrines are widely promoted to improve sanitation in low-income settings, but their pollution and health risks receive cursory attention. The present narrative review presents the pit latrine paradox; (1) the pit latrine is considered a sanitation technology of choice to safeguard human health, and (2) conversely, pit latrines are pollution and health risk hotspots. Evidence shows that the pit latrine is a 'catch-all' receptacle for household disposal of hazardous waste, including; (1) medical wastes (COVID-19 PPE, pharmaceuticals, placenta, used condoms), (2) pesticides and pesticide containers, (3) menstrual hygiene wastes (e.g., sanitary pads), and (4) electronic wastes (batteries). Pit latrines serve as hotspot reservoirs that receive, harbour, and then transmit the following into the environment; (1) conventional contaminants (nitrates, phosphates, pesticides), (2) emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and personal care products, antibiotic resistance), and (3) indicator organisms, and human bacterial and viral pathogens, and disease vectors (rodents, houseflies, bats). As greenhouse gas emission hotspots, pit latrines contribute 3.3 to 9.4 Tg/year of methane, but this could be an under-estimation. Contaminants in pit latrines may migrate into surface water, and groundwater systems serving as drinking water sources and pose human health risks. In turn, this culminates into the pit latrine-groundwater-human continuum or connectivity, mediated via water and contaminant migration. Human health risks of pit latrines, a critique of current evidence, and current and emerging mitigation measures are presented, including isolation distance, hydraulic liners/ barriers, ecological sanitation, and the concept of a circular bioeconomy. Finally, future research directions on the epidemiology and fate of contaminants in pit latrines are presented. The pit latrine paradox is not meant to downplay pit latrines' role or promote open defaecation. Rather, it seeks to stimulate discussion and research to refine the technology to enhance its functionality while mitigating pollution and health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willis Gwenzi
- Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Universität Kassel, Steinstraße 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany; Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Jerikias Marumure
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Off Old Great Zimbabwe Road, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - Zakio Makuvara
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Off Old Great Zimbabwe Road, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - Tinoziva T Simbanegavi
- Department of Soil Science and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment, and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare P.O. Box MP 167, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Esther Laurentine Nya
- Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 644, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - Korbinian Kaetzl
- Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Universität Kassel, Steinstraße 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
| | - Chicgoua Noubactep
- Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), University of Göttingen, Waldweg 26, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Applied Geology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, 211100 Nanjing, PR China.
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland.
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Silori R, Shrivastava V, Singh A, Sharma P, Aouad M, Mahlknecht J, Kumar M. Global groundwater vulnerability for Pharmaceutical and Personal care products (PPCPs): The scenario of second decade of 21st century. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115703. [PMID: 35932733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global production of PPCPs have increased by multiple folds promoting excessive exposure of its metabolites to humans via different aquatic systems. The higher residence time of toxic precursors of these metabolites pose direct human health risk. Among the different aquatic systems, the contamination of groundwater by PPCPs is the most concerning threat. This threat is especially critical considering the lesser oxidizing potential of the groundwater as compared to freshwater/river water. A major challenge also arises due to excessive dependency of the world's population on groundwater, which is exponentially increasing with time. This makes the identification and characterization of spatial contamination hotspots highly probabilistic as compared to other freshwater systems. The situation is more vulnerable in developing countries where there is a reported inadequacy of wastewater treatment facilities, thereby forcing the groundwater to behave as the only available sequestrating sink for all these contaminants. With increased consumption of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals compounds, these wastes have proven capability in terms of enhancing the resistance among the biotic community of the soil systems, which ultimately can become catastrophic and carcinogenic in near future. Recent studies are supporting the aforementioned concern where compounds like diclofenac (analgesic) have attained a concentration of 1.3 mgL-1 in the aquifer systems of Delhi, India. The situation is far worse for developed nations where prolonged and indiscriminate usage of antidepressants and antibiotics have life threating consequences. It has been confirmed that certain compounds like ofloxacin (antibiotics) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate are present in some of the most sensitive wells/springs of the United States and Mexico. The current trend of the situation has been demonstrated by integrating a comparative approach of the published literatures in last three years. This review provides first-hand information report for formulating a directive policy framework for tackling PPCPs issues in the groundwater system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Silori
- School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Vikalp Shrivastava
- School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Ashwin Singh
- Discipline of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, 382355, Gujarat, India
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - Marwan Aouad
- College of Engineering, Applied Science University (ASU), Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Jürgen Mahlknecht
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterey, Monterrey, 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Manish Kumar
- School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India.
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