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Haley BM, Sun Y, Jagai JS, Leibler JH, Fulweiler R, Ashmore J, Wellenius GA, Heiger-Bernays W. Association between Combined Sewer Overflow Events and Gastrointestinal Illness in Massachusetts Municipalities with and without River-Sourced Drinking Water, 2014-2019. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:57008. [PMID: 38775485 PMCID: PMC11110654 DOI: 10.1289/ehp14213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combined sewer overflow (CSO) events release untreated wastewater into surface waterbodies during heavy precipitation and snowmelt. Combined sewer systems serve ∼ 40 million people in the United States, primarily in urban and suburban municipalities in the Midwest and Northeast. Predicted increases in heavy precipitation events driven by climate change underscore the importance of quantifying potential health risks associated with CSO events. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to a) estimate the association between CSO events (2014-2019) and emergency department (ED) visits for acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) among Massachusetts municipalities that border a CSO-impacted river, and b) determine whether associations differ by municipal drinking water source. METHODS A case time-series design was used to estimate the association between daily cumulative upstream CSO discharge and ED visits for AGI over lag periods of 4, 7, and 14 days, adjusting for temporal trends, temperature, and precipitation. Associations between CSO events and AGI were also compared by municipal drinking water source (CSO-impacted river vs. other sources). RESULTS Extreme upstream CSO discharge events (> 95 th percentile by cumulative volume) were associated with a cumulative risk ratio (CRR) of AGI of 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.42] over the next 4 days for all municipalities, and the association was robust after adjusting for precipitation [1.17 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.39)], although the CI includes the null. In municipalities with CSO-impacted drinking water sources, the adjusted association was somewhat less pronounced following 95th percentile CSO events [CRR = 1.05 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.33)]. The adjusted CRR of AGI was 1.62 in all municipalities following 99th percentile CSO events (95% CI: 1.04, 2.51) and not statistically different when stratified by drinking water source. DISCUSSION In municipalities bordering a CSO-impacted river in Massachusetts, extreme CSO events are associated with higher risk of AGI within 4 days. The largest CSO events are associated with increased risk of AGI regardless of drinking water source. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14213.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth M. Haley
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yuantong Sun
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jyotsna S. Jagai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jessica H. Leibler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robinson Fulweiler
- Department of Earth & Environment, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Gregory A. Wellenius
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wendy Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Masciopinto C. Extension of probability models of the risk of infections by human enteric viruses. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2023; 20:17499-17519. [PMID: 37920063 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a novel approach for obtaining reliable models and coefficients to estimate the probability of infection caused by common human enteric viruses. The aim is to provide guidance for public health policies in disease prevention and control, by reducing uncertainty and management costs in health risk assessments. Conventional dose-response (DR) models, based on the theory elaborated by Furumoto and Mickey [1], exhibit limitations stemming from the heterogeneity of individual host susceptibilities to infection resulting from ingesting aggregate viruses. Moreover, the scarcity of well-designed viral challenge experiments contributes to significant uncertainty in these DR models. To address these issues, we conducted a review of infection models used in health risk analysis, focusing on Norovirus (NoV) GI.1, pooled Enterovirus group (EV), Poliovirus 1/SM, and Echo-12 virus via contaminated water or food. Using a mechanistic approach, we reevaluated the known DR models and coefficients for the probability of individual host infection in the mentioned viruses based on dose-infection challenge experiments. Specifically, we sought to establish a relationship between the minimum infectious dose (ID) and the ID having a 50% probability of initiating host infection in the same challenge experiment. Furthermore, we developed a new formula to estimate the degree of aggregation of GI.1 NoV at the mean infectious dose. The proposed models, based on "exact" beta-Poisson DR models, effectively predicted infection probabilities from ingestion of both disaggregated and aggregate NoV GI.1. Through a numerical evaluation, we compared the results with the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) probability obtained from a controlled challenge trial with the NoV GI.1 virus described in the literature, demonstrating the accuracy of our approach. By addressing the indetermination of the unmeasured degree of NoV aggregation in each single infectious dose, our models reduce overestimations and uncertainties in microbial risk assessments. This improvement enhances the management of health risks associated with enteric virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costantino Masciopinto
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Bari viale F. De Blasio 5, 70132 Italia
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3
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Li C, Sylvestre É, Fernandez-Cassi X, Julian TR, Kohn T. Waterborne virus transport and the associated risks in a large lake. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 229:119437. [PMID: 36476383 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne enteric viruses in lakes, especially at recreational water sites, may have a negative impact on human health. However, their fate and transport in lakes are poorly understood. In this study, we propose a coupled water quality and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to study the transport, fate and infection risk of four common waterborne viruses (adenovirus, enterovirus, norovirus and rotavirus), using Lake Geneva as a study site. The measured virus load in raw sewage entering the lake was used as the source term in the water quality simulations for a hypothetical scenario of discharging raw wastewater at the lake surface. After discharge into the lake, virus inactivation was modeled as a function of water temperature and solar irradiance that varied both spatially and temporally during transport throughout the lake. Finally, the probability of infection, while swimming at a popular beach, was quantified and compared among the four viruses. Norovirus was found to be the most abundant virus that causes an infection probability that is at least 10 times greater than the other viruses studied. Furthermore, environmental inactivation was found to be an essential determinant in the infection risks posed by viruses to recreational water users. We determined that infection risks by enterovirus and rotavirus could be up to 1000 times lower when virus inactivation by environmental stressors was accounted for compared with the scenarios considering hydrodynamic transport only. Finally, the model highlighted the role of the wind field in conveying the contamination plume and hence in determining infection probability. Our simulations revealed that for beaches located west of the sewage discharge, the infection probability under eastward wind was 43% lower than that under westward wind conditions. This study highlights the potential of combining water quality simulation and virus-specific risk assessment for a safe water resources usage and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Li
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Émile Sylvestre
- Department Environmental Microbiology, Eawag-Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Fernandez-Cassi
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Timothy R Julian
- Department Environmental Microbiology, Eawag-Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tamar Kohn
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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4
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Flagellar Phenotypes Impact on Bacterial Transport and Deposition Behavior in Porous Media: Case of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214460. [PMID: 36430938 PMCID: PMC9698738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial contamination of groundwater has always been an ecological problem worthy of attention. In this study, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with different flagellar phenotypes mainly characterized during host-pathogen interaction were analyzed for their transport and deposition behavior in porous media. Column transport experiments and a modified mobile-immobile model were applicated on different strains with flagellar motility (wild-type) or without motility (ΔmotAB), without flagella (ΔflgKL), methylated and unmethylated flagellin (ΔfliB), and different flagella phases (fliCON, fljBON). Results showed that flagella motility could promote bacterial transport and deposition due to their biological advantages of moving and attaching to surfaces. We also found that the presence of non-motile flagella improved bacterial adhesion according to a higher retention rate of the ΔmotAB strain compared to the ΔflgKL strain. This indicated that bacteria flagella and motility both had promoting effects on bacterial deposition in sandy porous media. Flagella phases influenced the bacterial movement; the fliCON strain went faster through the column than the fljBON strain. Moreover, flagella methylation was found to favor bacterial transport and deposition. Overall, flagellar modifications affect Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium transport and deposition behavior in different ways in environmental conditions.
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Torii S, Corre MH, Miura F, Itamochi M, Haga K, Katayama K, Katayama H, Kohn T. Genotype-dependent kinetics of enterovirus inactivation by free chlorine and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118712. [PMID: 35691190 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Inactivation kinetics of enterovirus by disinfection is often studied using a single laboratory strain of a given genotype. Environmental variants of enterovirus are genetically distinct from the corresponding laboratory strain, yet it is poorly understood how these genetic differences affect inactivation. Here we evaluated the inactivation kinetics of nine coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), ten coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4), and two echovirus 11 (E11) variants by free chlorine and ultraviolet irradiation (UV). The inactivation kinetics by free chlorine were genotype- (i.e., susceptibility: CVB5 < CVB3 ≈ CVB4 < E11) and genogroup-dependent and exhibited up to 15-fold difference among the tested viruses. In contrast, only minor (up to 1.3-fold) differences were observed in the UV inactivation kinetics. The differences in variability between the two disinfectants could be rationalized by their respective inactivation mechanisms: inactivation by UV mainly depends on the genomic size and composition, which was similar for all viruses tested, whereas free chlorine targets the viral capsid protein, which exhibited critical differences between genogroups and genotypes. Finally, we integrated the observed variability in inactivation rate constants into an expanded Chick-Watson model to estimate the overall inactivation of an enterovirus consortium. The results highlight that the distribution of inactivation rate constants and the abundance of each genotype are essential parameters to accurately predict the overall inactivation of an enterovirus population by free chlorine. We conclude that predictions based on inactivation data of a single variant or reference pathogen alone likely overestimate the true disinfection efficiency of free chlorine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shotaro Torii
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Marie-Hélène Corre
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fuminari Miura
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime, Japan; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Masae Itamochi
- Department of Virology, Toyama Institute of Health, 17-1 Nakataikoyama, Imizu-shi, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kei Haga
- Laboratory of Viral Infection, Department of Infection Control and Immunology, Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute & Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Katayama
- Laboratory of Viral Infection, Department of Infection Control and Immunology, Ōmura Satoshi Memorial Institute & Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Katayama
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tamar Kohn
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Wang X, Wu T, Oliveira LFS, Zhang D. Sheet, Surveillance, Strategy, Salvage and Shield in global biodefense system to protect the public health and tackle the incoming pandemics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153469. [PMID: 35093353 PMCID: PMC8799268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic of COVID-19 challenges the global health system and raises our concerns on the next waves of other emerging infectious diseases. Considering the lessons from the failure of world's pandemic warning system against COVID-19, many scientists and politicians have mentioned different strategies to improve global biodefense system, among which Sheet, Surveillance, Strategy, Salvage and Shield (5S) are frequently discussed. Nevertheless, the current focus is mainly on the optimization and management of individual strategy, and there are limited attempts to combine the five strategies as an integral global biodefense system. Sheet represents the biosafety datasheet for biohazards in natural environment and human society, which helps our deeper understanding on the geographical pattern, transmission routes and infection mechanism of pathogens. Online surveillance and prognostication network is an environmental Surveillance tool for monitoring the outbreak of pandemic diseases and alarming the risks to take emergency actions, targeting aerosols, waters, soils and animals. Strategy is policies and legislations for social distancing, lockdown and personal protective equipment to block the spread of infectious diseases in communities. Clinical measures are Salvage on patients by innovating appropriate medicines and therapies. The ultimate defensive Shield is vaccine development to protect healthy crowds from infection. Fighting against COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases is a long rocky journey, requiring the common endeavors of scientists and politicians from all countries around the world. 5S in global biodefense system bring a ray of light to the current darkest and future road from environmental and geographical perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzi Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Tianyun Wu
- Research Institute for Environmental Innovation (Tsinghua-Suzhou), Suzhou 215163, PR China
| | - Luis F S Oliveira
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Arquitectura, Universidad de Lima, Avenida Javier Prado Este 4600, Santiago de Surco 1503, Peru; Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 #55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Dayi Zhang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
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7
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Nag R, Russell L, Nolan S, Auer A, Markey BK, Whyte P, O'Flaherty V, Bolton D, Fenton O, Richards KG, Cummins E. Quantitative microbial risk assessment associated with ready-to-eat salads following the application of farmyard manure and slurry or anaerobic digestate to arable lands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151227. [PMID: 34715220 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Farmyard manure and slurry (FYM&S) and anaerobic digestate are potentially valuable soil conditioners providing important nutrients for plant development and growth. However, these organic fertilisers may pose a microbial health risk to humans. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model was developed to investigate the potential human exposure to pathogens following the application of FYM&S and digestate to agricultural land. The farm-to-fork probabilistic model investigated the fate of microbial indicators (total coliforms and enterococci) and foodborne pathogens in the soil with potential contamination of ready-to-eat salads (RTEs) at the point of human consumption. The processes examined included pathogen inactivation during mesophilic anaerobic digestion (M-AD), post-AD pasteurisation, storage, dilution while spreading, decay in soil, post-harvest washing processes, and finally, the potential growth of the pathogen during refrigeration/storage at the retail level in the Irish context. The QMRA highlighted a very low annual probability of risk (Pannual) due to Clostridium perfringens, norovirus, and Salmonella Newport across all scenarios. Mycobacterium avium may result in a very high mean Pannual for the application of raw FYM&S, while Cryptosporidium parvum and pathogenic E. coli showed high Pannual, and Listeria monocytogenes displayed moderate Pannual for raw FYM&S application. The use of AD reduces this risk; however, pasteurisation reduces the Pannual to an even greater extent posing a very low risk. An overall sensitivity analysis revealed that mesophilic-AD's inactivation effect is the most sensitive parameter of the QMRA, followed by storage and the decay on the field (all negatively correlated to risk estimate). The information generated from this model can help to inform guidelines for policymakers on the maximum permissible indicator or pathogen contamination levels in the digestate. The QMRA can also provide the AD industry with a safety assessment of pathogenic organisms resulting from the digestion of FYM&S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Nag
- University College Dublin, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Lauren Russell
- Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland; University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Stephen Nolan
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Agathe Auer
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Bryan K Markey
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Paul Whyte
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Vincent O'Flaherty
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Declan Bolton
- Teagasc, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
| | - Owen Fenton
- Teagasc, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Karl G Richards
- Teagasc, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Enda Cummins
- University College Dublin, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Chen L, Deng Y, Dong S, Wang H, Li P, Zhang H, Chu W. The occurrence and control of waterborne viruses in drinking water treatment: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 281:130728. [PMID: 34010719 PMCID: PMC8084847 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
As the coronavirus disease 2019 continues to spread globally, its culprit, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been brought under scrutiny. In addition to inhalation transmission, the possible fecal-oral viral transmission via water/wastewater has also been brought under the spotlight, necessitating a timely global review on the current knowledge about waterborne viruses in drinking water treatment system - the very barrier that intercepts waterborne pathogens to terminal water users. In this article we reviewed the occurrence, concentration methods, and control strategies, also, treatment performance on waterborne viruses during drinking water treatment were summarized. Additionally, we emphasized the potential of applying the quantitative microbial risk assessment to guide drinking water treatment to mitigate the viral exposure risks, especially when the unregulated novel viral pathogens are of concern. This review paves road for better control of viruses at drinking water treatment plants to protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Deng
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - Shengkun Dong
- Key LLaboratory of Water Cycle and Water Security in Southern China of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Hong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
| | - Pan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
| | - Huaiyu Zhang
- Central and Southern China Institute of Municipal Engineering Design and Research, Hubei, China
| | - Wenhai Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Demeter K, Derx J, Komma J, Parajka J, Schijven J, Sommer R, Cervero-Aragó S, Lindner G, Zoufal-Hruza CM, Linke R, Savio D, Ixenmaier SK, Kirschner AKT, Kromp H, Blaschke AP, Farnleitner AH. Modelling the interplay of future changes and wastewater management measures on the microbiological river water quality considering safe drinking water production. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:144278. [PMID: 33736313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Rivers are important for drinking water supply worldwide. However, they are often impacted by pathogen discharges via wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and combined sewer overflows (CSO). To date, accurate predictions of the effects of future changes and pollution control measures on the microbiological water quality of rivers considering safe drinking water production are hindered due to the uncertainty of the pathogen source and transport variables. The aim of this study was to test an integrative approach for an improved understanding of these effects, i.e. climate change and population growth as well as enhanced treatment at WWTPs and/or prevention of CSOs. We applied a significantly extended version of QMRAcatch (v1.0 Python), a probabilistic-deterministic model that combines fate and transport modelling with quantitative microbial infection risk assessment. The impact of climatic changes until the period 2035-2049 was investigated by a conceptual semi-distributed hydrological model, based on regional climate model outputs. QMRAcatch was calibrated and validated using site- and source-specific data (human-associated genetic microbial source tracking marker and enterovirus). The study showed that the degree to which future changes affect drinking water safety strongly depends on the type and magnitude of faecal pollution sources and are thus highly site- and scenario-specific. For example, if the load of pathogens from WWTPs is reduced through enhanced treatment, climate-change driven increases in CSOs had a considerable impact. Preventing CSOs and installing enhanced treatment at the WWTPs together had the most significant positive effect. The simultaneous consideration of source apportionment and concentrations of reference pathogens, focusing on human-specific viruses (enterovirus, norovirus) and cross-comparison with bacterial and protozoan pathogens (Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium), was found crucial to quantify these effects. While demonstrated here for a large, wastewater-impacted river, the approach is applicable at other catchments and pollution sources. It allows assessing future changes and selecting suitable pollution control measures for long-term water safety planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Demeter
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria; Center for Water Resource Systems E222, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Derx
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222/2, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Komma
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222/2, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Juraj Parajka
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222/2, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jack Schijven
- Department of Statistics, Informatics and Modelling, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Regina Sommer
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Silvia Cervero-Aragó
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Lindner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christa M Zoufal-Hruza
- Division of Hygiene, Municipal Department 39, City Administration Vienna, Rinnböckstraße 15/2, A-1110 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Simone K Ixenmaier
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Kromp
- Vienna Water, City Administration Vienna, Grabnergasse 4-6, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management E222/2, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering E166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria; Division Water Quality and Health, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, A-3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria.
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10
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Sylvestre É, Prévost M, Burnet JB, Pang X, Qiu Y, Smeets P, Medema G, Hachad M, Dorner S. Demonstrating the reduction of enteric viruses by drinking water treatment during snowmelt episodes in urban areas. WATER RESEARCH X 2021; 11:100091. [PMID: 33598650 PMCID: PMC7868990 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2021.100091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates short-term fluctuations in virus concentrations in source water and their removal by full-scale drinking water treatment processes under different source water conditions. Transient peaks in raw water faecal contamination were identified using in situ online β-d-glucuronidase activity monitoring at two urban drinking water treatment plants. During these peaks, sequential grab samples were collected at the source and throughout the treatment train to evaluate concentrations of rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, enterovirus, JC virus, reovirus, astrovirus and sapovirus by reverse transcription and real-time quantitative PCR. Virus infectivity was assessed through viral culture by measurement of cytopathic effect and integrated cell culture qPCR. Virus concentrations increased by approximately 0.5-log during two snowmelt/rainfall episodes and approximately 1.0-log following a planned wastewater discharge upstream of the drinking water intake and during a β-d-glucuronidase activity peak in dry weather conditions. Increases in the removal of adenovirus and rotavirus by coagulation/flocculation processes were observed during peak virus concentrations in source water, suggesting that these processes do not operate under steady-state conditions but dynamic conditions in response to source water conditions. Rotavirus and enterovirus detected in raw and treated water samples were predominantly negative in viral culture. At one site, infectious adenoviruses were detected in raw water and water treated by a combination of ballasted clarification, ozonation, GAC filtration, and UV disinfection operated at a dose of 40 mJ cm-2. The proposed sampling strategy can inform the understanding of the dynamics associated with virus concentrations at drinking water treatment plants susceptible to de facto wastewater reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Émile Sylvestre
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Michèle Prévost
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Jean-Baptiste Burnet
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Pang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 116th & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
- Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, 8440-112nd, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J2, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Qiu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, 116th & 85 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Patrick Smeets
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Gertjan Medema
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
- Sanitary Engineering, Department of Water Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600GA, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Mounia Hachad
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Sarah Dorner
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3A7, Canada
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11
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Owens CEL, Angles ML, Cox PT, Byleveld PM, Osborne NJ, Rahman MB. Implementation of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for public drinking water supplies: Systematic review. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 174:115614. [PMID: 32087414 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In the more than 15 years since its introduction, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) has become a widely used technique for assessing population health risk posed by waterborne pathogens. However, the variation in approaches taken for QMRA in relation to drinking water supply is not well understood. This systematic review identifies, categorises, and critically synthesises peer-reviewed and academic case studies of QMRA implementation for existing distributed public drinking water supplies. Thirty-nine English-language, peer-reviewed and academic studies published from 2003 to 2019 were identified. Key findings were synthesised in narrative form. The overall designs of the included studies varied widely, as did the assumptions used in risk calculation, especially in relation to pathogen dose. There was also substantial variation in the degree to which the use of location-specific data weighed with the use of assumptions when performing risk calculation. In general, the included studies' complexity did not appear to be associated with greater result certainty. Factors relating to pathogen dose were commonly influential on risk estimates whereas dose-response parameters tended to be of low relative influence. In two of the included studies, use of the 'susceptible fraction' factor was inconsistent with recognised guidance and potentially led to the underestimation of risk. While approaches and assumptions used in QMRA need not be standardised, improvement in the reporting of QMRA results and uncertainties would be beneficial. It is recommended that future authors consider the water supply QMRA reporting checklist developed for the current review. Consideration of the broad types of uncertainty relevant to QMRA is also recommended. Policy-makers should consider emergent discussion on acute microbial health-based targets when setting normative guidelines. The continued representation of QMRA case studies within peer-reviewed and academic literature would also enhance future implementation. Further research is needed on the optimisation of QMRA resourcing given the application context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E L Owens
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia; Sydney Water Corporation, Parramatta NSW 2124, Australia.
| | - Mark L Angles
- Water Angles Consulting, Vaucluse NSW 2030, Australia
| | - Peter T Cox
- Sydney Water Corporation, Parramatta NSW 2124, Australia
| | | | - Nicholas J Osborne
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston QLD 4006, Australia; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3HD, United Kingdom
| | - Md Bayzid Rahman
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2052, Australia
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12
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Tolouei S, Dewey R, Snodgrass WJ, Edge TA, Andrews RC, Taghipour M, Prévost M, Dorner S. Assessing microbial risk through event-based pathogen loading and hydrodynamic modelling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 693:133567. [PMID: 31374504 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the variability of microbial risk associated with drinking water under various contaminant loading conditions in a drinking water source. For this purpose, a probabilistic-deterministic approach was applied to estimate the loadings of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) from fecal contamination sources during both dry and wet weather conditions. The relative importance of loads originating from various fecal contamination sources was also determined by a probabilistic approach. This study demonstrates that water resource recovery facilities were the dominant source of Giardia, yet rivers were more important with regards to Cryptosporidium. Estimated loadings were used as input to a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Lake Ontario; the fate and transport of microbial organisms were simulated at the influent of a drinking water intake. Discharge-based hydrodynamic modelling results were compared to observed concentrations. Simulated probability distributions of concentrations at the intake were used as an input to a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model such that the variability of microbial risk in the context of drinking water could be examined. Depending on wind and currents, higher levels of fecal contamination reached the intake during wet weather loading scenarios. Probability distribution functions of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and E. coli concentrations at the intake were significantly higher during wet weather conditions when compared to dry conditions (p < 0.05). For all contaminants studied, the QMRA model showed a higher risk during wet weather (over 1 order of magnitude) compared to dry weather conditions. When considering sewage by-pass scenarios, risks remained below 2.7 × 10-7 person-1 day-1 for Giardia and E. coli O157:H7. Limited data were available for Cryptosporidium in by-pass effluents and the risk is unknown; hence it is critical to obtain reliable loading data for the riskiest scenarios, such as those associated with water resource recovery facility by-passes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Tolouei
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Polytechnique Montréal, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3A7, Québec, Canada; NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Polytechnique Montréal, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3A7, Québec, Canada.
| | - Ray Dewey
- Modelling Surface Water Limited, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Thomas A Edge
- Environment Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, ON, L7S 4A1
| | - Robert C Andrews
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water Research, Dept. of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Milad Taghipour
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Polytechnique Montréal, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3A7, Québec, Canada
| | - Michèle Prévost
- NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Polytechnique Montréal, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3A7, Québec, Canada
| | - Sarah Dorner
- Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection, Polytechnique Montréal, Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering Department, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal H3C 3A7, Québec, Canada
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13
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Taghipour M, Shakibaeinia A, Sylvestre É, Tolouei S, Dorner S. Microbial risk associated with CSOs upstream of drinking water sources in a transboundary river using hydrodynamic and water quality modeling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 683:547-558. [PMID: 31146060 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban source water protection planning requires the characterization of sources of contamination upstream of drinking water intakes. Elevated pathogen concentrations following Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) represent a threat to human health. Quantifying peak pathogen concentrations at the intakes of drinking water plants is a challenge due to the variability of CSO occurrences and uncertainties with regards to the fate and transport mechanisms from discharge points to source water supplies. Here, a two-dimensional deterministic hydrodynamic and water quality model is used to study the fluvial contaminant transport and the impacts of the upstream CSO discharges on the downstream concentrations of Escherichia coli in the raw water supply of two drinking water plants, located on a large river. CSO dynamic loading characteristics were considered for a variety of discharges. As a result of limited Cryptosporidium data, a probability distribution of the ratio of E. coli to Cryptosporidium based on historical data was used to estimate microbial risk from simulated CSO-induced E. coli concentrations. During optimal operational performance of the plants, the daily risk target was met (based on the mean concentration during the peak) for 80% to 90% of CSO events. For suboptimal performance of the plants, these values dropped to 40% to 55%. Mean annual microbial risk following CSO discharge events was more dependent on treatment performance rather than the number of CSO occurrences. The effect of CSO-associated short term risk on the mean annual risk is largely dependent on the treatment performance as well as representativeness of the baseline condition at the intakes, demonstrating the need for assessment of treatment efficacy. The results of this study will enable water utilities and managers with a tool to investigate the potential alternatives in reducing the microbial risk associated with CSOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Taghipour
- Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada.
| | - Ahmad Shakibaeinia
- Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Émile Sylvestre
- Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada; NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Samira Tolouei
- Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada; NSERC Industrial Chair on Drinking Water, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada
| | - Sarah Dorner
- Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3A7, Canada
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14
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Brouwer AF, Masters NB, Eisenberg JNS. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment and Infectious Disease Transmission Modeling of Waterborne Enteric Pathogens. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 5:293-304. [PMID: 29679300 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-018-0196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Waterborne enteric pathogens remain a global health threat. Increasingly, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and infectious disease transmission modeling (IDTM) are used to assess waterborne pathogen risks and evaluate mitigation. These modeling efforts, however, have largely been conducted independently for different purposes and in different settings. In this review, we examine the settings where each modeling strategy is employed. RECENT FINDINGS QMRA research has focused on food contamination and recreational water in high-income countries (HICs) and drinking water and wastewater in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). IDTM research has focused on large outbreaks (predominately LMICs) and vaccine-preventable diseases (LMICs and HICs). Human ecology determines the niches that pathogens exploit, leading researchers to focus on different risk assessment research strategies in different settings. To enhance risk modeling, QMRA and IDTM approaches should be integrated to include dynamics of pathogens in the environment and pathogen transmission through populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Brouwer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Nina B Masters
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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15
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Masciopinto C, De Giglio O, Scrascia M, Fortunato F, La Rosa G, Suffredini E, Pazzani C, Prato R, Montagna MT. Human health risk assessment for the occurrence of enteric viruses in drinking water from wells: Role of flood runoff injections. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 666:559-571. [PMID: 30807946 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrated that floods can induce severe microbiological contamination of drinking water from wells and suggest strategies to better address water safety plans for groundwater drinking supplies. Since 2002, the Italian Water Research Institute (IRSA) has detected hepatitis A virus, adenovirus, rotavirus, norovirus, and enterovirus in water samples from wells in the Salento peninsula, southern Italy. Perturbations in the ionic strength in water flow can initiate strong virus detachments from terra rossa sediments in karst fractures. This study therefore explored the potential health impacts of prolonged runoff injections in Salento groundwater caused by severe flooding during October 2018. A mathematical model for virus fate and transport in fractures was applied to determine the impact of floodwater injection on groundwater quality by incorporating mechanisms that affect virus attachment/detachment and survival in flowing water at microscale. This model predicted target concentrations of enteric viruses that can occur unexpectedly in wells at considerable distances (5-8 km) from the runoff injection site (sinkhole). Subsequently, the health impact of viruses in drinking water supplied from contaminated wells was estimated during the summer on the Salento coast. Specific unpublished dose-response model coefficients were proposed to determine the infection probabilities for Echo-11 and Polio 1 enteroviruses through ingestion. The median (50%) risk of infection was estimated at 6.3 · 10-3 with an uncertainty of 23%. The predicted burden of diseases was 4.89 disability adjusted life years per year, i.e., twice the maximum tolerable disease burden. The results highlight the requirement for additional water disinfection treatments in Salento prior to the distribution of drinking water. Moreover, monthly controls of enteric virus occurrence in water from wells should be imposed by a new water framework directive in semiarid regions because of the vulnerability of karst carbonate aquifers to prolonged floodwater injections and enteric virus contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costantino Masciopinto
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque (IRSA), Reparto di Chimica e Tecnologia delle Acque, Bari, Italy.
| | - Osvalda De Giglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Università degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Scrascia
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Suffredini
- Dipartimento di Sicurezza Alimentare, Nutrizione e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Carlo Pazzani
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Prato
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Montagna
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Oncologia Umana, Università degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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16
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Daley K, Jamieson R, Rainham D, Truelstrup Hansen L, Harper SL. Screening-level microbial risk assessment of acute gastrointestinal illness attributable to wastewater treatment systems in Nunavut, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:1253-1264. [PMID: 30677892 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Most arctic communities use primary wastewater treatment systems that are capable of only low levels of pathogen removal. Effluent potentially containing fecally derived microorganisms is released into wetlands and marine waters that may simultaneously serve as recreation or food harvesting locations for local populations. The purpose of this study is to provide the first estimates of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) attributable to wastewater treatment systems in Arctic Canada. A screening-level, point estimate quantitative microbial risk assessment model was developed to evaluate worst-case scenarios across an array of exposure pathways in five case study locations. A high annual AGI incidence rate of 5.0 cases per person is estimated in Pangnirtung, where a mechanical treatment plant discharges directly to marine waters, with all cases occurring during low tide conditions. The probability of AGI per person per single exposure during this period ranges between 1.0 × 10-1 (shore recreation) and 6.0 × 10-1 (shellfish consumption). A moderate incidence rate of 1.2 episodes of AGI per person is estimated in Naujaat, where a treatment system consisting of a pond and tundra wetland is used, with the majority of cases occurring during spring. The pathway with the highest individual probability of AGI per single exposure event is wetland travel at 6.0 × 10-1. All other risk probabilities per single exposure are <1.0 × 10-1. The AGI incidence rates estimated for the other three case study locations are <0.1. These findings suggest that wastewater treatment sites may be contributing to elevated rates of AGI in some arctic Canadian communities. Absolute risk values, however, should be weighed with caution based on the exploratory nature of this study design. These results can be used to inform future risk assessment and epidemiological research as well as support public health and sanitation decisions in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiley Daley
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Rob Jamieson
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Daniel Rainham
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, 1318 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | | | - Sherilee L Harper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 87th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9, Canada.
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17
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Impact of Climate Forecasts on the Microbial Quality of a Drinking Water Source in Norway Using Hydrodynamic Modeling. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11030527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study applies hydrodynamic and water quality modeling to evaluate the potential effects of local climate projections on the mixing conditions in Lake Brusdalsvatnet in Norway and the implications on the occurrence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) at the raw water intake point of the Ålesund water treatment plant in the future. The study is mainly based on observed and projected temperature, the number of E. coli in the tributaries of the lake and projected flow. The results indicate a gradual rise in the temperature of water at the intake point from the base year 2017 to year 2075. In the future, vertical circulations in spring may occur earlier while autumn circulation may start later than currently observed in the lake. The number of E. coli at the intake point of the lake is expected to marginally increase in future. By the year 2075, the models predict an approximately three-fold increase in average E. coli numbers for the spring and autumn seasons compared to current levels. The results are expected to provide the water supply system managers of Ålesund with the information necessary for long-term planning and decisions in the protection of the drinking water source. The method used here can also be applied to similar drinking water sources in Norway for developing effective risk management strategies within their catchments.
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18
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Miura T, Gima A, Akiba M. Detection of Norovirus and Rotavirus Present in Suspended and Dissolved Forms in Drinking Water Sources. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2019; 11:9-19. [PMID: 30560490 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-018-9361-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the present forms of genogroup II norovirus and group A rotavirus in surface water used for drinking water production. River water samples (N = 15) collected at a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) monthly from June 2017 to August 2018 were fractioned by filtration through 10- and 0.45-μm-pore-size membranes, and viruses present in suspended and dissolved forms were quantitatively detected. Norovirus GII was present in > 10-μm- and 0.45-10-μm-suspended and dissolved forms with detection rates of 33%, 60%, and 87%, respectively. Rotavirus A was detected more frequently than norovirus GII in each form (> 10 μm suspended, 73%; 0.45-10 μm suspended, 93%; dissolved, 100%). We also analyzed surface water samples from 21 DWTPs all over Japan in non-epidemic and epidemic seasons of gastroenteritis. Norovirus GII was detected in 48% and 81% of samples with the concentrations of up to 4.1 and 5.3 log10 copies/L in dissolved form in non-epidemic and epidemic seasons, respectively, and GII.4 Sydney 2012 was predominant genotype followed by GII.2. Rotavirus A was detected in 95% and 86% of samples with the maximum concentrations of 5.5 and 6.3 log10 copies/L in dissolved form in respective seasons. Concentration of norovirus GII was similar in 0.45-10-μm suspended and dissolved forms, while there was a significant difference for rotavirus A (P < 0.01, pared t test), indicating that rotavirus A was less associated with suspended solids in the surface water samples compared to norovirus GII. Our observations provide important implications for understanding of viral behavior in environmental waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Miura
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan.
| | - Arisa Gima
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan
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Determination of Removal Efficiencies for Escherichia coli, Clostridial Spores, and F-Specific Coliphages in Unit Processes of Surface Waterworks for QMRA Applications. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10111525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The removal efficiencies of bacteria, bacterial spores, and viruses after a change in source water and water pH in coagulation were studied at pilot scale in coagulation with flotation, rapid sand filtration, and disinfection with UV and chlorine. The results were compared to the treatment efficiencies of full-scale waterworks and data from literature. A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)-method was applied to estimate the numbers of illness cases caused by Campylobacter and norovirus after simulation of six operational malfunction scenarios. Coagulation with flotation and disinfection were more efficient in removing Clostridium spp. spores and MS2 coliphages than sand filtration in the pilot scale experiments (p < 0.001–0.008). The removal of E. coli was more efficient in sand filtration and in disinfection compared to coagulation with flotation (p = 0.006 and 0.01). Source water or pH change in coagulation had not significant effects on the removal efficiency of microbes. In QMRA, when disinfection was not in use, an increase in the number of illness cases compared to the normal situation was noticed. The variability in the number of illness cases demonstrated the importance of site-specific data in QMRA. This study provides new information on applying QMRA in both pilot and full-scale waterworks.
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20
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Xiao S, Hu S, Zhang Y, Zhao X, Pan W. Influence of sewage treatment plant effluent discharge into multipurpose river on its water quality: A quantitative health risk assessment of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 233:797-805. [PMID: 29141237 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are one of the sources of pathogens discharged into surface water. An investigation was carried out over the duration of 12 months in Henan Province, China, to evaluate the health influence of municipal wastewater effluent discharge on water quality of the receiving water. A discharge-based quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was employed, taking into account the vegetables consumption habits of the Chinese, population subgroups with different immune statuses and ages, to evaluate the incremental disease burden from agricultural irrigation and swimming exposure scenarios associated with increased concentration of the protozoan Cryptosporidium and/or Giardia in the receiving river. The results shown that all the STP influent samples contained Cryptosporidium and Giardia with average density of 142.31 oocysts/L and 1187.06 cysts/L, respectively. The QMRA results demonstrated that the estimated additional health burdens due to discharged effluent for both parasites were slightly violated the threshold of 10-6 DALYs per person per year set by WHO. Mitigation measures should be planned and executed by season since more disease burdens were borne during hot season than other seasons. The sensitivity analysis highlighted the great importance of stability of STP treatment process. This study provides useful information to improve the safety of surface water and deduce the disease burden of the protozoa in Henan Province and other region inside and outside China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Xiao
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin 300384, PR China.
| | - Sike Hu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, PR China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhao
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, PR China
| | - Wenwei Pan
- College of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, PR China
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21
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Fang HM, Gin KYH, Viswanath B, Petre M, Ghandehari M. Sensing Water-Borne Pathogens by Intrinsic Fluorescence. OPTICAL PHENOMENOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-70715-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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22
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Owusu-Ansah EDGJ, Sampson A, Amponsah SK, Abaidoo RC, Dalsgaard A, Hald T. Probabilistic quantitative microbial risk assessment model of norovirus from wastewater irrigated vegetables in Ghana using genome copies and fecal indicator ratio conversion for estimating exposure dose. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 601-602:1712-1719. [PMID: 28618661 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The need to replace the commonly applied fecal indicator conversions ratio (an assumption of 1:10-5 virus to fecal indicator organism) in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) with models based on quantitative data on the virus of interest has gained prominence due to the different physical and environmental factors that might influence the reliability of using indicator organisms in microbial risk assessment. The challenges facing analytical studies on virus enumeration (genome copies or particles) have contributed to the already existing lack of data in QMRA modelling. This study attempts to fit a QMRA model to genome copies of norovirus data. The model estimates the risk of norovirus infection from the intake of vegetables irrigated with wastewater from different sources. The results were compared to the results of a corresponding model using the fecal indicator conversion ratio to estimate the norovirus count. In all scenarios of using different water sources, the application of the fecal indicator conversion ratio underestimated the norovirus disease burden, measured by the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), when compared to results using the genome copies norovirus data. In some cases the difference was >2 orders of magnitude. All scenarios using genome copies met the 10-4 DALY per person per year for consumption of vegetables irrigated with wastewater, although these results are considered to be highly conservative risk estimates. The fecal indicator conversion ratio model of stream-water and drain-water sources of wastewater achieved the 10-6 DALY per person per year threshold, which tends to indicate an underestimation of health risk when compared to using genome copies for estimating the dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel de-Graft Johnson Owusu-Ansah
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, SCB-SF 24/B6, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Angelina Sampson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, USA
| | - Samuel K Amponsah
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, SCB-SF 24/B6, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Robert C Abaidoo
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Bioscience, Biology Block, A 32, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Anders Dalsgaard
- Veterinary Diseases Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tine Hald
- Genomic Epidemiology and Global Decision Support Initiative, National Food Institute, Soltofts Plads, Building 221 Room 250, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
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23
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Van Abel N, Schoen ME, Kissel JC, Meschke JS. Comparison of Risk Predicted by Multiple Norovirus Dose-Response Models and Implications for Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2017; 37:245-264. [PMID: 27285380 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The application of quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRAs) to understand and mitigate risks associated with norovirus is increasingly common as there is a high frequency of outbreaks worldwide. A key component of QMRA is the dose-response analysis, which is the mathematical characterization of the association between dose and outcome. For Norovirus, multiple dose-response models are available that assume either a disaggregated or an aggregated intake dose. This work reviewed the dose-response models currently used in QMRA, and compared predicted risks from waterborne exposures (recreational and drinking) using all available dose-response models. The results found that the majority of published QMRAs of norovirus use the 1 F1 hypergeometric dose-response model with α = 0.04, β = 0.055. This dose-response model predicted relatively high risk estimates compared to other dose-response models for doses in the range of 1-1,000 genomic equivalent copies. The difference in predicted risk among dose-response models was largest for small doses, which has implications for drinking water QMRAs where the concentration of norovirus is low. Based on the review, a set of best practices was proposed to encourage the careful consideration and reporting of important assumptions in the selection and use of dose-response models in QMRA of norovirus. Finally, in the absence of one best norovirus dose-response model, multiple models should be used to provide a range of predicted outcomes for probability of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Van Abel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mary E Schoen
- Soller Environmental, Berkeley, Inc., Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - John C Kissel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Scott Meschke
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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24
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Dienus O, Sokolova E, Nyström F, Matussek A, Löfgren S, Blom L, Pettersson TJR, Lindgren PE. Norovirus Dynamics in Wastewater Discharges and in the Recipient Drinking Water Source: Long-Term Monitoring and Hydrodynamic Modeling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:10851-10858. [PMID: 27649279 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) that enters drinking water sources with wastewater discharges is a common cause of waterborne outbreaks. The impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on the river Göta älv (Sweden) was studied using monitoring and hydrodynamic modeling. The concentrations of NoV genogroups (GG) I and II in samples collected at WWTPs and drinking water intakes (source water) during one year were quantified using duplex real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The mean (standard deviation) NoV GGI and GGII genome concentrations were 6.2 (1.4) and 6.8 (1.8) in incoming wastewater and 5.3 (1.4) and 5.9 (1.4) log10 genome equivalents (g.e.) L-1 in treated wastewater, respectively. The reduction at the WWTPs varied between 0.4 and 1.1 log10 units. In source water, the concentration ranged from below the detection limit to 3.8 log10 g.e. L-1. NoV GGII was detected in both wastewater and source water more frequently during the cold than the warm period of the year. The spread of NoV in the river was simulated using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The modeling results indicated that the NoV GGI and GGII genome concentrations in source water may occasionally be up to 2.8 and 1.9 log10 units higher, respectively, than the concentrations measured during the monitoring project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Dienus
- Ryhov County Hospital , Medical Services, Clinical Microbiology, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
- Linköping University , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical Microbiology, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Sokolova
- Chalmers University of Technology , Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Nyström
- Ryhov County Hospital , Medical Services, Clinical Microbiology, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
- Linköping University , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical Microbiology, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Matussek
- Ryhov County Hospital , Medical Services, Clinical Microbiology, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Sture Löfgren
- Ryhov County Hospital , Medical Services, Clinical Microbiology, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Lena Blom
- Chalmers University of Technology , Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
- City of Gothenburg , Department of Sustainable Waste and Water, Box 123, SE-424 23 Angered, Sweden
| | - Thomas J R Pettersson
- Chalmers University of Technology , Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Water Environment Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Ryhov County Hospital , Medical Services, Clinical Microbiology, SE-551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
- Linköping University , Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical Microbiology, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
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25
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Petterson SR, Ashbolt NJ. QMRA and water safety management: review of application in drinking water systems. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2016; 14:571-589. [PMID: 27441853 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2016.262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), the assessment of microbial risks when model inputs and estimated health impacts are explicitly quantified, is a valuable tool to support water safety plans (WSP). In this paper, research studies undertaken on the application of QMRA in drinking water systems were reviewed, highlighting their relevance for WSP. The important elements for practical implementation include: the data requirements to achieve sufficient certainty to support decision-making; level of expertise necessary to undertake the required analysis; and the accessibility of tools to support wider implementation, hence these aspects were the focus of the review. Recommendations to support the continued and growing application of QMRA to support risk management in the water sector are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Petterson
- Water & Health Pty Ltd, PO Box 648, Salamander Bay 2317, Australia E-mail:
| | - N J Ashbolt
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G7
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26
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Derx J, Schijven J, Sommer R, Zoufal-Hruza CM, van Driezum IH, Reischer G, Ixenmaier S, Kirschner A, Frick C, de Roda Husman AM, Farnleitner AH, Blaschke AP. QMRAcatch: Human-Associated Fecal Pollution and Infection Risk Modeling for a River/Floodplain Environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2016; 45:1205-14. [PMID: 27380068 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2015.11.0560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Protection of drinking water resources requires addressing all relevant fecal pollution sources in the considered catchment. A freely available simulation tool, QMRAcatch, was recently developed to simulate concentrations of fecal indicators, a genetic microbial source tracking (MST) marker, and intestinal pathogens in water resources and to conduct a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). At the same time, QMRAcatch was successfully applied to a region of the Danube River in Austria, focusing on municipal wastewater emissions. Herein, we describe extension of its application to a Danube River floodplain, keeping the focus on fecal sources of human origin. QMRAcatch was calibrated to match measured human-associated MST marker concentrations for a dry year and a wet year. Appropriate performance characteristics of the human-associated MST assay were proven by simulating correct and false-positive marker concentrations, as determined in human and animal feces. With the calibrated tool, simulated and measured enterovirus concentrations in the rivers were compared. Finally, the calibrated tool allowed demonstrating that 4.5 log enterovirus and 6.6 log norovirus reductions must be achieved to convert current surface water to safe drinking water that complies with a health-based target of 10 infections person yr. Simulations of the low- and high-pollution scenarios showed that the required viral reductions ranged from 0 to 8 log. This study has implications for water managers with interests in assessing robust catchment protection measures and water treatment criteria by considering the fate of fecal pollution from its sources to the point of abstraction.
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27
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Eregno FE, Tryland I, Tjomsland T, Myrmel M, Robertson L, Heistad A. Quantitative microbial risk assessment combined with hydrodynamic modelling to estimate the public health risk associated with bathing after rainfall events. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 548-549:270-279. [PMID: 26802355 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the public health risk from exposure to infectious microorganisms at Sandvika recreational beaches, Norway and dose-response relationships by combining hydrodynamic modelling with Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). Meteorological and hydrological data were collected to produce a calibrated hydrodynamic model using Escherichia coli as an indicator of faecal contamination. Based on average concentrations of reference pathogens (norovirus, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium) relative to E. coli in Norwegian sewage from previous studies, the hydrodynamic model was used for simulating the concentrations of pathogens at the local beaches during and after a heavy rainfall event, using three different decay rates. The simulated concentrations were used as input for QMRA and the public health risk was estimated as probability of infection from a single exposure of bathers during the three consecutive days after the rainfall event. The level of risk on the first day after the rainfall event was acceptable for the bacterial and parasitic reference pathogens, but high for the viral reference pathogen at all beaches, and severe at Kalvøya-small and Kalvøya-big beaches, supporting the advice of avoiding swimming in the day(s) after heavy rainfall. The study demonstrates the potential of combining discharge-based hydrodynamic modelling with QMRA in the context of bathing water as a tool to evaluate public health risk and support beach management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fasil Ejigu Eregno
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Ingun Tryland
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Torulv Tjomsland
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mette Myrmel
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Lucy Robertson
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Arve Heistad
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway
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