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Haldar K, Kujawa-Roeleveld K, Hofstra N, Datta DK, Rijnaarts H. Microbial contamination in surface water and potential health risks for peri-urban farmers of the Bengal delta. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 244:114002. [PMID: 35759864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ensuring safe irrigation practices is vital to sustaining food production in water-scarce delta areas. Bangladesh and many other developing countries discharge untreated wastewater into their surrounding surface water bodies, serving as the primary irrigation source. This indirect irrigation of wastewater is believed to pose threats to the farmers, consumers and market vendors and may also affect crop and soil quality. To assess the risk, peri-urban farmers who use surrounding water bodies of Khulna city, Bangladesh, for crop irrigation were selected for the study. The microbial and heavy metal concentrations were measured in water samples collected from various locations over different seasons. For heavy metals As, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb, concentrations were below the detection limit, whereas Al, Fe, Mn, Ti and Zn were present but below the FAO recommendation limit for safe irrigation. The mean concentrations of microbial parameters were above the thresholds of WHO guidelines for crop irrigation intended for human consumption. Significant temporal variations in Faecal Coliform, E. coli and Enterococcus concentrations in the water samples were observed. The annual risk of infection for farmers was determined using the screening-level Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). The results indicated that the annual probability of infection with pathogenic E. coli in different seasons ranges between 5 × 10-3 to 5 × 10-2, above the WHO's acceptable threshold for annual risk of infection for safe water reuse in agriculture. During the farmers' survey, around 45% reported health-related issues and more than 26% reported suffering from water-borne diseases after getting in contact with polluted surface water. This illustrates the actuality of the risks in practice. To ensure safe irrigation, the health risks need to be reduced below the acceptable limits. Suggested technical measures include adequate treatment of wastewater before disposal into rivers and access to protective equipment for farmers. This should be complemented by raising awareness through education programs among farmers to reduce accidental ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamonashish Haldar
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Katarzyna Kujawa-Roeleveld
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nynke Hofstra
- Water Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dilip Kumar Datta
- Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Huub Rijnaarts
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Topić N, Cenov A, Jozić S, Glad M, Mance D, Lušić D, Kapetanović D, Mance D, Vukić Lušić D. Staphylococcus aureus-An Additional Parameter of Bathing Water Quality for Crowded Urban Beaches. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105234. [PMID: 34069077 PMCID: PMC8156458 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
During the last years, the report of the occurrence of waterborne disease symptoms related to non-enteric pathogens has increased, without any record of higher levels of indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci). Therefore, the use of current indicators is not always adequate when assessing the overall potential health risk and the inclusion of additional parameters needs to be examined. This paper reports on the incidence and levels of Staphylococcus aureus at 258 locations in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (Croatia) recorded by official bathing water quality monitoring, as well as supplemental monitoring carried out at the two most frequented beaches in the City of Rijeka. The number of bathers was found to be the main factor affecting S. aureus levels (r = 0.321, p < 0.05). The share of S. aureus positive samples from the official monitoring was significantly lower, when compared to the share of samples from supplemental monitoring (2.2% and 36.3%, respectively; p < 0.01). Besides the number of bathers, one of the main reasons is likely the higher sampling frequency. No correlation was found between S. aureus levels and the indicator bacteria. The results indicate that the determination of S. aureus and increased sampling frequency is recommended for overcrowded beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Topić
- Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (N.T.); (A.C.); (M.G.); (D.V.L.)
| | - Arijana Cenov
- Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (N.T.); (A.C.); (M.G.); (D.V.L.)
| | - Slaven Jozić
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, P.O. Box 500, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-(0)-2140-8052
| | - Marin Glad
- Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (N.T.); (A.C.); (M.G.); (D.V.L.)
| | - Diana Mance
- Department of Physics, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Dražen Lušić
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Viktora Cara Emina 5, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Damir Kapetanović
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Davor Mance
- Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Ivana Filipovića 4, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| | - Darija Vukić Lušić
- Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia; (N.T.); (A.C.); (M.G.); (D.V.L.)
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
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Towards Intangible Freshwater Cultural Ecosystem Services: Informing Sustainable Water Resources Management. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13040535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rivers provide a range of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) such as aesthetic values, sense of place and inspiration, which remain insufficiently studied due to challenges associated with the assessment of their subjective and intangible attributes. However, the understanding of CES remains important as they are strongly linked to human wellbeing. This study utilizes a questionnaire-based survey to capture views from two villages along the mainstream of the Beas River in India, to identify the CES it provides, to assess how local communities appreciate their importance and how they relate to river flows. In total, 62 respondents were interviewed. Findings show that the Beas River provides several CES but among these, spiritual/religious ceremonies and rituals, aesthetic values and inspiration benefits were indicated as absolutely essential to the local communities. Results also demonstrate that people’s perception of the quality of CES is sometimes linked to river flows. It can be concluded that the Beas River is crucial in the functioning and livelihoods of local communities as it lies within the core of their cultural, religious and spiritual practices. This study reinforces the need to consider the full suite of ecosystem service categories in sustainable water resources development, planning and decision making.
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Hung DT, Thi Cuc V, Thi Bich Phuong V, Thi Thanh Diu D, Thi Huyen Trang N, Phuong Thoa N, Thi Tuyet Chinh D, Manh Hung T, Manh Linh C, Van Long N. Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality in Schools in a District Area in Hanoi, Vietnam. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2020; 14:1178630220959672. [PMID: 33013160 PMCID: PMC7513401 DOI: 10.1177/1178630220959672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drinking water quality affects directly human health. Assessment and prevention of water-borne diseases are crucial for primary prevention, especially for children. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to investigate the quality of drinking water from tap water in preschools and primary schools in a district area in Hanoi City, Vietnam. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed from August to October 2019. Water samples from tap water of 154 schools in a district area of Hanoi were collected to determine the quality of drinking water. From each school, at least 2 bottles of water samples were collected on the basis of a standard operating procedure (SOP). Each water sample was analyzed for microbial and physicochemical parameters, including Color, Taste and Odor, Turbidity, pH, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonium, Total Iron, Permanganate, Chloride, Hardness, Total Manganese, Sulfate, Arsenic, Coliform, and E.coli, by analytical methods. The obtained values of each parameter were compared with the standard values set by WHO and National Technical Regulation on Domestic Water Quality of Vietnam. RESULTS All of the schools employed community water system as a main source for drinking water. The results showed that all tested samples were found to be within the standards for some physicochemical properties, including Color, Taste and Odor, Hardness, Chloride, Total Iron (Fe2+ và Fe3+), Total Manganese (Mn), Nitrate (NO3 -), Sulfate (SO4 2-), and Total Arsenic (As). On the other hand, some samples did not meet the allowable limits of the national standard, due to pH (3.9%), Turbidity (0.6%), Nitrite (3.2%), Permanganate (6.5%), and Ammonium (5.8%). Furthermore, the microbial data revealed that the substandard water samples from municipal water systems were contaminated by Coliform (9.7%) and/or E.coli (7.8%). CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Contaminants such as bacterial and chemical agents in to drinking water could be occurred during transport, storage and handling before using by the consumer without regular surveillance. A periodic treatment procedure and monitoring system to keep the level of microbial and chemical contamination of drinking water in schools under control should be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dang The Hung
- Laboratory Center, Hanoi University of
Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Vu Thi Cuc
- Laboratory Center, Hanoi University of
Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Dao Thi Thanh Diu
- Laboratory Center, Hanoi University of
Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | | | | | - Ta Manh Hung
- National Institute of Drug Quality
Control, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Chu Manh Linh
- Laboratory Center, Hanoi University of
Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Van Long
- Laboratory Center, Hanoi University of
Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Assessing Potable Water Quality and Identifying Areas of Waterborne Diarrheal and Fluorosis Health Risks Using Spatial Interpolation in Peshawar, Pakistan. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12082163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Waterborne diseases have become one of the major public health concerns worldwide. This study is aimed to investigate and develop spatial distribution mapping of the potable water quality parameters in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 108 water samples collected across the entire study area were subjected to physio-chemical and biological analyses. Tested parameters included pH, turbidity, temperature, fluoride concentration levels, and bacterial counts (faecal coliforms). Inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation in geographic information systems (GIS) was used for spatial analysis. Test results revealed that 48% of water samples had faecal coliforms count (per 100 mL) greater than World Health Organization (WHO) minimum limits, while 31% of samples had fluoride concentrations in excess of the WHO maximum guide values. Spatial distribution mapping was developed for faecal coliforms count and fluoride ion concentration using ArcGIS to highlight the high-risk settlements in the study area. Results showed that around 20% area under faecal coliforms and approximately 33% area based on fluoride concentrations fall under the need for treatment category. The pH and turbidity were found in compliance with WHO desirable limits. The sanitary inspection score significantly depicted that ineffective multi-barrier approaches consequently deteriorated the water quality at the consumer’s end. Findings from the present study shall be useful to policymakers for adopting necessary remedial measures before it severely affects public health.
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Faecal Indicator Bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Marine Coastal Waters: Is there a Relationship? Pathogens 2019; 9:pathogens9010013. [PMID: 31877730 PMCID: PMC7169392 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
To estimate the quality of coastal waters, European Union Directive 2006/7/EC provides guidelines to assess levels of faecal bacteria, including Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. These microbiological criteria are based on studies that determine the risk of bathers having diseases caused by enteric bacteria, not necessarily measuring the potential danger associated with the presence of nonenteric pathogens. The association between the presence of faecal contaminant indicators and nonenteric pathogenic microorganisms has not been well defined yet. The purpose of this study is to establish a relationship between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and microbiological indicators of faecal contamination. Presence of microbiological contamination in the coastal waters near the sewage treatment plant (STP) of Peniche (Portugal) was confirmed (P. aeruginosa 135.8 Colony Forming Unit/100 mL, Escherichia coli 1100.1 Most Probable Number/100 mL, intestinal enterococci 2685.9 MPN/100 mL) with much lower levels in the areas located south of the STP, along the main water coastal current (beach 1: 0.7 CFU/100 mL, 16.5 MPN/100 mL, 100.5 MPN/100 mL; beach 2: 0.3 CFU/100 mL, 74.0 MPN/100 mL, 145.9 MPN/100 mL, respectively). Analysis of Pearson’s correlation revealed a strong positive correlation between E. coli and P. aeruginosa, suggesting E. coli as an indicator of P. aeruginosa presence.
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Suely A, Zabed H, Ahmed ABA, Mohamad J, Nasiruddin M, Sahu JN, Ganesan P. Toxicological and hematological effect of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on a freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2016; 42:431-444. [PMID: 26501361 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-015-0149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Increasing demand for eco-friendly botanical piscicides and pesticides as replacements for harmful synthetic chemicals has led to investigation of new sources of plant materials. Stem bark of Terminalia arjuna, which has been used as a popular folk medicine since ancient time, was examined for its piscicidal activity. This study aims to determine toxicity of ethanol extract of T. arjuna bark on fresh water stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis), along with evaluation of changes in hematological parameters of the fishes exposed to a lethal concentration. The percent mortality of fishes varied significantly in response to concentrations of the extract and exposure times (between exposure time F = 36.57, p < 0.001; between concentrations F = 39.93, p < 0.001). The lethal concentrations (LC50) of ethanol extract were found to be 12.7, 8.94, 5.63 and 4.71 mg/l for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. During acute toxicity test, blood samples of treatment fishes showed significant decreases in the red blood cells count, hematocrit content, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and plasma protein level when compared to those of the control group, while there were significant increases in the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, white blood cells count and plasma glucose concentration. These results suggest that T. arjuna bark extract could be considered as a potent piscicide due to its toxic effect on fish, particularly fish hematology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Suely
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - H Zabed
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - A B A Ahmed
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - J Mohamad
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - M Nasiruddin
- Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, 4331, Bangladesh
| | - J N Sahu
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Program Area, Faculty of Engineering, Institut Teknologi Brunei, Tungku Gadong, P.O. Box 2909, Brunei-Muara, Brunei Darussalam.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - P Ganesan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Rani N, Vajpayee P, Bhatti S, Singh S, Shanker R, Gupta KC. Quantification of Salmonella Typhi in water and sediments by molecular-beacon based qPCR. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2014; 108:58-64. [PMID: 25042245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A molecular-beacon based qPCR assay targeting staG gene was designed for specific detection and quantification of S. Typhi and validated against water and sediment samples collected from the river Ganga, Yamuna and their confluence on two days during Mahakumbha mela 2012-2013 (a) 18 December, 2012: before six major religious holy dips (Makar Sankranti, Paush Poornima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Maghi Poornima and Mahashivratri) (b) 10 February, 2013: after the holy dip was taken by over 3,00,00,000 devotees led by ascetics of Hindu sects at Sangam on 'Mauni Amavasya' (the most auspicious day of ritualistic mass bathing). The assay could detect linearly lowest 1 genomic equivalent per qPCR and is highly sensitive and selective for S. Typhi detection in presence of non specific DNA from other bacterial strains including S. Paratyphi A and S. Typhimurium. It has been observed that water and sediment samples exhibit S. Typhi. The mass holy dip by devotees significantly affected the water and sediment quality by enhancing the number of S. Typhi in the study area. The qPCR developed in the study might be helpful in planning the intervention and prevention strategies for control of enteric fever outbreaks in endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetika Rani
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India
| | - Poornima Vajpayee
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India.
| | - Saurabh Bhatti
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India
| | - Smriti Singh
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India
| | - Rishi Shanker
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India
| | - Kailash Chand Gupta
- Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Toxicology Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Post Box 80, M.G. Marg, Lucknow 226001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India.
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