Evaluation of Environmental Pollution and Microbial Treatment of Shallow Groundwater in El Omayed Area, Egypt

Adverse health and environmental outcomes of sewage treatment plant on surrounding groundwater with emphasis on some mitigation recommendations

Water quality deterioration hinders economic and social development in developing countries that are facing freshwater security and shortages. Based on the collection of 29 water samples, this study focused on the relationship between sewage treatment plant and groundwater system surrounding it using multidisciplinary approach that combines the characterization of groundwater system and its connection with surrounding canal and drains, using chemical and isotopic characterization revealing that there is a direct relation between the surface water system and surrounding groundwater system. About 58% of the groundwater samples and all surface water samples in the investigated area are threatened by high concentrations of trace elements. The multivariate statistical analysis elucidates that anthropogenic effect and fertilizers sewage contamination are the main causes of groundwater pollution. Nearly, 31% and 11.5% of groundwater samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk and dermal chronic risk for adult, respectively, while all surface water samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk, with no dermal hazard. The uncharged species of Fe and Al are expected to be more mobile in groundwater because they would not be attracted to the surface charge of minerals. Inorganic ligands (HCO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Cl^-, and NO₃^-) act as nucleation centers that were linked with those trace elements creating new species with higher solubility degree in water that are transported away randomly for long distances in the water path.

Analysis of endometrial lavage microbiota reveals an increased relative abundance of the plastic-degrading bacteria Bacillus pseudofirmus and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila in women with endometrial cancer/endometrial hyperplasia

The pathogenic influences of uterine bacteria on endometrial carcinogenesis remain unclear. The aim of this pilot study was to compare the microbiota composition of endometrial lavage samples obtained from women with either endometrial hyperplasia (EH) or endometrial cancer (EC) versus those with benign uterine conditions. We hypothesized that specific microbiota signatures would distinguish between the two groups, possibly leading to the identification of bacterial species associated with endometrial tumorigenesis. A total of 35 endometrial lavage specimens (EH, n = 18; EC, n = 7; metastatic EC, n = 2; benign endometrial lesions, n = 8) were collected from 32 women who had undergone office hysteroscopy. Microbiota composition was determined by sequencing the V3−V4 region of 16S rRNA genes and results were validated by real-time qPCR in 46 patients with EC/EH and 13 control women. Surprisingly, we found that Bacillus pseudofirmus and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila – two plastic-degrading bacterial species – were over-represented in endometrial lavage specimens collected from patients with EC/EH. Using computational analysis, we found that the functional profile of endometrial microbiota in EC/EH was associated with fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. In summary, our hypothesis-generating data indicate that the plastic-degrading bacteria Bacillus pseudofirmus and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila are over-represented within the endometrial lavage microbiota of women with EC/EH living in Taiwan. Whether this may be related to plastic pollution deserves further investigation.

Impact of microecological agents on water environment restoration and microbial community structures of trench system in a Baiyangdian wetland ecosystem

AIMS

To evaluate effect of periodic application of effective microorganisms (EM) bacteria and calcium peroxide on water environment restoration of a trench wetland ecosystem and its impact on microbiota in water and sediment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The EM bacteria and calcium peroxide were alternately sprayed into the trench water and changes in the physicochemical indices of water and sediment, and in microbiota structure were subsequently investigated. Alternately spraying of calcium peroxide and EM bacteria improved the water quality, especially in terms of the dissolved oxygen and transparency of water body, and could further reduce the levels of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen. At the same time, the microbiota structure of the water body was significantly changed by spraying with calcium peroxide and EM bacteria, and the relative abundances of Pseudanabaena, Legionellaceae, Planktothrix, Planctomyces, Phenylobacterium, Rhodobacter, Rhodoferax, and Aquirestis were significantly increased. However, there was no significant effect on the physicochemical indexes and microbiota composition of the sediment.

CONCLUSIONS

The water quality of the Baiyangdian trench could be significantly restored by regular sprinkling of calcium peroxide and EM bacteria.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

The results provide an effective technical method for the restoration of trench wetland water.