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Elwadood SA, Farinha ASF, Al Wahedi Y, Al Alili A, Witkamp GJ, Dumée LF, Karanikolos GN. A Semi-Interpenetrating Network Sorbent of Superior Efficiency for Atmospheric Water Harvesting and Solar-Regenerated Release. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:26142-26152. [PMID: 38718256 PMCID: PMC11129109 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Water is readily available nearly anywhere as vapor. Thus, atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technologies are seen as a promising solution to support sustainable water production. This work reports a novel semi-interpenetrating network, which integrates poly(pyrrole) doped with a hygroscopic salt and 2D graphene-based nanosheets optimally assembled within an alginate matrix, capable of harvesting water from the atmosphere with a record intake of up to 7.15 gw/gs. Owing to the incorporated graphene nanosheets, natural sunlight was solely used to enable desorption, achieving an increase of the temperature of the developed network of up to 71 °C within 20 min, resulting in a water yield of 3.36 L/kgS in each cycle with quality well within the World Health Organization standard ranges. Notably, after 30 cycles of sorption and desorption, the composite hydrogel displayed unchanged water uptake and stability. This study demonstrates that atmospheric water vapor as a complementary source of water can be harvested sustainably and effectively at a minimal cost and without external energy input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar
N. Abd Elwadood
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE
- Center
for Catalysis and Separations (CeCaS), Khalifa
University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE
| | - Andreia S. F. Farinha
- King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination
and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological
and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasser Al Wahedi
- Abu
Dhabi Maritime Academy, Abu Dhabi Ports, Abu Dhabi 54477, UAE
| | - Ali Al Alili
- DEWA
R&D Center, Dubai Electricity and Water
Authority (DEWA), Dubai 564, UAE
| | - Geert-Jan Witkamp
- King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination
and Reuse Center (WDRC), Division of Biological
and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ludovic F. Dumée
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE
- Center for
Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE
- Research
and Innovation Center on 2D Nanomaterials, Khalifa University, Arzanah Precinct, Sas Al Nakhl, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE
| | - Georgios N. Karanikolos
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Patras 26504, Greece
- Institute
of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation
for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras 26504, Greece
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Cassivi A, Covey A, Rodriguez MJ, Guilherme S. Domestic water security in the Arctic: A scoping review. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 247:114060. [PMID: 36413873 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION More than 50 million people living in the Arctic nations remain without access to safely managed drinking water services. Remote northern communities, where large numbers of Indigenous peoples live, are disproportionally affected. Recent research has documented water and health-related problems among Indigenous communities, including poor water quality and insufficient quantities of water. OBJECTIVE The objective of this scoping review is to examine the extent of available water security evidence as well as identify research gaps and intervention priorities to improve access to domestic water in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of the eight Arctic nations (Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the United States (Alaska)). METHODS An extensive literature review was conducted to retrieve relevant documentation. Arctic & Antarctic Regions, Compendex, Geobase, Georef, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched to identify records for inclusion. The initial searches yielded a total of 1356 records. Two independent reviewers systematically screened identified records using selection criteria. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize evidence of included studies. RESULTS A total of 55 studies, mostly conducted in Canada and the United States, were included and classified by four predetermined major dimensions: 1) Water accessibility and availability; 2) Water quality assessment; 3) Water supply and health; 4) Preferences and risk perceptions. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review used a global approach to provide researchers and stakeholders with a summary of the evidence available regarding water security and domestic access in the Arctic. Culturally appropriate health-based interventions are necessary to ensure inclusive water services and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets for universal access to water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Cassivi
- Chaire de recherche en eau potable, École supérieure d'aménagement du territoire et de développement régional, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Universitè Laval, Quèbec (QC), Canada.
| | - Anna Covey
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Colonel By Hall, 161 Louis Pasteur, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (ON), Canada
| | - Manuel J Rodriguez
- Chaire de recherche en eau potable, École supérieure d'aménagement du territoire et de développement régional, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Universitè Laval, Quèbec (QC), Canada
| | - Stéphanie Guilherme
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Colonel By Hall, 161 Louis Pasteur, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (ON), Canada
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Depta J, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. The Phenomenon of Antibiotic Resistance in the Polar Regions: An Overview of the Global Problem. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:1979-1995. [PMID: 37034396 PMCID: PMC10081531 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s369023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a global problem in human and animal health. This leads to a reduction in the therapeutic effectiveness of the measures used so far and to the limitation of treatment options, which may pose a threat to human health and life. The problem of phenomenon of antibiotic resistance affects more and more the polar regions. This is due to the increase in tourist traffic and the number of people staying at research stations, unmodernised sewage systems in inhabited areas, as well as the migration of animals or the movement of microplastics, which may contain resistant bacteria. Research shows that the presence of antibiotic resistance genes is more dominant in zones of human and wildlife influence than in remote areas. In a polluted environment, there is evidence of a direct correlation between human activity and the spread and survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Attention should be paid to the presence of resistance to synthetic and semi-synthetic antibiotics in the polar regions, which is likely to be correlated with human presence and activity, and possible steps to be taken. We need to understand many more aspects of this, such as bacterial epigenetics and environmental stress, in order to develop effective strategies for minimizing the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Studying the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in regions with less anthropogenic activity could provide insight into the diversity of primary genes and explain the historical evolution of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Depta
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland
| | - Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland
- Correspondence: Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, 71-412, Poland, Tel +48 91 444 15 15, Email
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Maréchal JYA, Hendriksen K, Hansen LT, Gundelund C, Jensen PE. Domestic water supply in rural Greenland – sufficiency, affordability and accessibility. Int J Circumpolar Health 2022; 81:2138095. [DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2022.2138095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Y. A. Maréchal
- Arctic DTU Sisimiut Ilinniarfeqarfik Sisimiut, DTU Sustain, Technical University of Denmark, Greenland, Sisimiut
| | - Kåre Hendriksen
- Department of Planning, Aalborg University Copenhagen, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Casper Gundelund
- Section of Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Aqua, Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Pernille Erland Jensen
- Arctic DTU Sisimiut Ilinniarfeqarfik Sisimiut, DTU Sustain, Technical University of Denmark, Greenland, Sisimiut
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Nath BD, Schuster-Wallace CJ, Dickson-Anderson SE. Headwater-to-consumer Drinking Water Security Assessment Framework and Associated Indicators for Small Communities in High-income Countries. WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2022; 36:805-834. [PMCID: PMC8818502 DOI: 10.1007/s11269-021-02985-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water insecurity in small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities in Canada is pervasive and complex with multiple dimensions and impacts. These communities face challenges such as variable source water quality, lack of resources, inappropriate treatment technologies, lack of access to training, difficulties retaining qualified personnel, and ineffective governance structures. Currently, there is a gap in the academic literature with respect to drinking water security assessment frameworks or tools for small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities, particularly in high income countries. Thus, the objective of this study is to introduce a framework for assessing drinking water security, from headwater to consumer, in the context of small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities. An indicator-based framework has been developed to evaluate drinking water security, prioritize actions and investments, and support decision-making. The framework builds on expert knowledge and a critical review of security, sustainability, and performance indices of water supply and treatment processes obtained from the literature. The framework is organised into four dimensions of drinking water security from headwaters to consumer: upstream watershed security; source water security; community needs and engagement; and treatment and distribution infrastructure. A list of relevant indicators for each dimension has been compiled to support framework application in a format that is accessible to decision-makers in small and rural, remote, or otherwise marginalized communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Deb Nath
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Canada
| | - C. J. Schuster-Wallace
- Department of Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
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Ratelle M, Spring A, Douglas Laird B, Andrew L, Simmons D, Scully A, Skinner K. Drinking water perception and consumption in Canadian subarctic Indigenous communities and the importance for public health. Facets (Ott) 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2021-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Resource development and climate change are increasing concerns regarding safe water for Indigenous people in Canada. A research study was completed to characterize the consumption of water and beverages prepared with water and identify the perception of water consumption in Indigenous communities from the Northwest Territories and Yukon, Canada. As part of a larger research program, data for this study were available from a 24-hour recall dietary survey ( n = 162), a health messages survey ( n = 150), and an exposure factor survey ( n = 63). A focus group was conducted with Elders in an on-the-land camp setting. The consumption of water-based beverages in winter was 0.9 L/day on average, mainly consisting of tea and coffee. Of the 81% of respondents who reported consuming water-based beverages in the previous 24 hours of the survey, 33% drank more bottled water than tap water. About 2% of respondents consumed water from the land (during the winter season). Chlorine smell was the main limiting factor reported to the consumption of tap water. Results from the focus group indicated that Indigenous knowledge might impact both the perception and consumption of water. These findings aim to support public health efforts to enable people to make water their drink of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mylène Ratelle
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Andrew Spring
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
| | - Brian Douglas Laird
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Leon Andrew
- Sahtú Renewable Resources Board, Tulita, NT X0E 0K0, Canada
| | | | - Alexa Scully
- Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON L3V 0B9, Canada
| | - Kelly Skinner
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Amarawansha GEA, Zvomuya F, Farenhorst A. Water delivery system effects on coliform bacteria in tap water in First Nations reserves in Manitoba, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:339. [PMID: 33988761 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09114-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
About one-half of the homes on First Nations (FN) reserves in Manitoba, Canada, receive piped water from a water treatment plant (WTP). Many other homes (31%) are equipped with cisterns that are filled by a water truck, and our objective was to determine how the use of cisterns affects drinking water safety relative to drinking water piped directly to homes from the WTP. The study included belowground concrete cisterns, belowground fiberglass cisterns, and aboveground polyethylene cisterns stored in insulated shelters, and all the data collection methods showed that the tap water in homes with cisterns were relatively more contaminated with coliform bacteria than the tap water in piped homes. The frequency and severity of Escherichia coli and total coliform contamination were numerically greater in drinking water samples from belowground concrete and fiberglass cisterns than in piped water samples in each community, and the contamination of belowground cisterns by coliform bacteria was greatest in late spring. As well, data obtained under the Access to Information Act showed no statistical differences in the percent of satisfactory samples (no detects) between 2014 and 2018, suggesting no clear indication of improved water quality in any of the Tribal Councils in which these three and other communities are a member off. Our results point to the need for additional treatment of drinking water in homes supplied by belowground concrete or fiberglass cisterns and replacement of belowground cisterns with aboveground cisterns or piped water to reduce the risk of water-borne illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francis Zvomuya
- Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba 13 Freedman Crescent, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Annemieke Farenhorst
- Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba 13 Freedman Crescent, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Banwell C, Housen T, Smurthwaite K, Trevenar S, Walker L, Todd K, Rosas M, Kirk M. Health and social concerns about living in three communities affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A qualitative study in Australia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245141. [PMID: 33444329 PMCID: PMC7808650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a public health issue globally. In Australia high concentrations of PFAS have been found in environments close to sites where Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) were historically used for firefighting activities. This has resulted in significant community concern about the potential long-term health effects of these chemicals. OBJECTIVE We describe residents' perceptions and experiences of PFAS in three regional Australian towns where exposure has occurred. METHODS We conducted focus groups to generate free-flowing open discussion on PFAS in three affected communities, including some with significant numbers of First Nations Peoples. We recruited participants using a range of media outlets and postal services. Focus group transcripts were analysed thematically to identify major shared concerns using Atlas Ti. RESULTS One hundred and eighty residents attended fifteen focus groups that were conducted in the three communities. They included 69 First Nations People living in three communities near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Study participants were concerned about potential physical health effects of exposure to PFAS, such as cancer clusters, unexplained deaths, potential exacerbation of existing health conditions, and the future health of their children. They expressed feelings of stress and anxiety about living with uncertainty related to the possible health and the socio-economic impacts of PFAS contamination in their communities. CONCLUSION While research has concentrated on the physical health effects of PFAS, more attention needs to be given to the immediate psychosocial impacts of living in an affected community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Banwell
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Tambri Housen
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kayla Smurthwaite
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Susan Trevenar
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Liz Walker
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Katherine Todd
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - May Rosas
- Ngaigu-Mulu Aboriginal Corporation, Katherine, NT, Australia
| | - Martyn Kirk
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Libby JA, Wells EC, Mihelcic JR. Moving up the Sanitation Ladder while Considering Function: An Assessment of Indigenous Communities, Pit Latrine Users, and Their Perceptions of Resource Recovery Sanitation Technology in Panama. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15405-15413. [PMID: 33185434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As households move up the sanitation ladder, health risks presumably decline but the corresponding technologies may require increasing operation and maintenance costs. One critique of the ladder is that it prioritizes technology and could be improved if it included a functional approach to monitoring, such as including aspects of environmental sustainability that consider resource recovery. Using analyses of data obtained from semi-structured interviews, surveys, and field observations, this study examines the functional transition toward improved sanitation technology as a household moves up the sanitation ladder with the added function of resource recovery (from pit latrines to composting latrines). The study took place in six indigenous Ngäbe communities in Panama. The results reveal that of 103 pit latrines studied, 88% were completed and in use, but only 35% were operated appropriately. Approximately 60% of pit latrine owners reported that they would use composting latrines, with compost as the primary perceived benefit. Barriers to adoption include lack of prior experience, user disgust of working with excrement, and the perceived amount of work required for operation. Overall, these findings indicate the importance of establishing demonstration projects and culturally aligned training for more complex sanitation technologies that enable resource recovery. The results have broad implications for understanding sanitation technology transitions in rural and indigenous settlements in other world regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Libby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - E Christian Wells
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - James R Mihelcic
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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Fernández‐Llamazares Á, Garteizgogeascoa M, Basu N, Brondizio ES, Cabeza M, Martínez‐Alier J, McElwee P, Reyes‐García V. A State-of-the-Art Review of Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Pollution. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2020; 16:324-341. [PMID: 31863549 PMCID: PMC7187223 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Indigenous peoples (IPs) worldwide are confronted by the increasing threat of pollution. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature (n = 686 studies), we present the current state of knowledge on: 1) the exposure and vulnerability of IPs to pollution; 2) the environmental, health, and cultural impacts of pollution upon IPs; and 3) IPs' contributions to prevent, control, limit, and abate pollution from local to global scales. Indigenous peoples experience large burdens of environmental pollution linked to the expansion of commodity frontiers and industrial development, including agricultural, mining, and extractive industries, as well as urban growth, waste dumping, and infrastructure and energy development. Nevertheless, IPs are contributing to limit pollution in different ways, including through environmental monitoring and global policy advocacy, as well as through local resistance toward polluting activities. This work adds to growing evidence of the breadth and depth of environmental injustices faced by IPs worldwide, and we conclude by highlighting the need to increase IPs' engagement in environmental decision-making regarding pollution control. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:324-341. © 2019 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Fernández‐Llamazares
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Global Change and Conservation, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - María Garteizgogeascoa
- Global Change and Conservation, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Artec Forschungszentrum NachhaltigkeitUniversity of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesMcGill UniversityMontreal, QuebecCanada
| | | | - Mar Cabeza
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Global Change and Conservation, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Joan Martínez‐Alier
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia AmbientalsUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellatera, BarcelonaSpain
| | - Pamela McElwee
- Department of Human Ecology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Victoria Reyes‐García
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia AmbientalsUniversitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellatera, BarcelonaSpain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, BarcelonaSpain
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Gora SL, Trueman BF, Anaviapik-Soucie T, Gavin MK, Ontiveros CC, Campbell J, L'Hérault V, Stoddart AK, Gagnon GA. Source Water Characteristics and Building-specific Factors Influence Corrosion and Point of Use Water Quality in a Decentralized Arctic Drinking Water System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:2192-2201. [PMID: 31961665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Access to clean and safe drinking water is a perpetual concern in Arctic communities because of challenging climatic conditions, limited options for the transportation of equipment and process chemicals, and the ongoing effects of colonialism. Water samples were gathered from multiple locations in a decentralized trucked drinking water system in Nunavut, Canada, over the course of one year. The results indicate that point of use drinking water quality was impacted by conditions in the source water and in individual buildings and strongly suggest that lead and copper measured at the tap were related to corrosion of onsite premise plumbing components. Humic-like substances were the dominant organic fraction in all samples, as determined by regional integration of fluorescence data. Iron and manganese levels in the source water and throughout the water system were higher in the winter and lower in the summer months. Elevated concentrations of copper (>2000 μg L-1) and lead (>5 μg L-1) were detected in tap water from some buildings. Field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry was used to demonstrate the link between source water characteristics (high organics, iron and manganese) and lead and copper in point of use drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Gora
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
| | - Benjamin F Trueman
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
| | | | - Megan K Gavin
- Nunavut Arctic College , Iqaluit , Nunavut X0A 0H0 , Canada
| | - C Carolina Ontiveros
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
| | - Jessica Campbell
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
- Halifax Water , 450 Cowie Hill Rd. , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3P 2V3 , Canada
| | | | - Amina K Stoddart
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
| | - Graham A Gagnon
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering , Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 , Canada
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Bowan PA, Kayaga S, Cotton A, Fisher J. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Operational Performance in Wa Municipality, Ghana. J Health Pollut 2019; 9:190903. [PMID: 31497366 PMCID: PMC6711334 DOI: 10.5696/2156-9614-9.23.190903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The generation and management of solid waste pose potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment. OBJECTIVE The present study examines the operational performance of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in the Wa Municipality, Ghana. METHODS The study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods and modelled the Wa Municipality's MSW disposal system using the municipal solid waste decision support tool (MSW DST). Acid gases (sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides) and total particulate matter that have a direct impact on human health were set as the objective functions for modelling five MSW disposal scenarios. The modelled scenarios were: 1) landfill disposal only; 2) composting and landfill disposal; 3) composting, incineration, refuse derived fuels (RDF) and landfill disposal; 4) separation, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disposal; and 5) separation, transfer, material recovery, composting, incineration, RDF and landfill disposal. The pollutants chosen as indicators for substance flow analysis included lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, copper, chromium, and zinc. RESULTS Scenarios 4 and 5 produced the least engineering cost of 1 150 000 US $/year for the entire MSW disposal system, whereas scenario 2 produced the highest cost of 1 340 000 US $/year. Scenario 5 produced the least average health impacts of -5.812E-04 lbs/year, while scenario 2 generated the highest engineering cost and produced the highest average health impact of 9.358E-05 lbs/year. Scenarios 5 and 4, which included waste-to-energy conversion in the systems, produced the lowest average health impacts (-5.812E-04 lbs/year and -5.611E-04 lbs/year, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The adoption of an integrated solid waste management concept, including waste-to-energy technologies, will not only help to lessen MSW disposal hazards, but also to produce alternative sources of energy for Ghana and other developing countries. COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Aaniamenga Bowan
- Water Engineering Development Centre, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Sam Kayaga
- Water Engineering Development Centre, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Andrew Cotton
- Water Engineering Development Centre, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Julie Fisher
- Water Engineering Development Centre, School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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14
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Devlin TR, Kowalski MS, Pagaduan E, Zhang X, Wei V, Oleszkiewicz JA. Electrocoagulation of wastewater using aluminum, iron, and magnesium electrodes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2019; 368:862-868. [PMID: 30336967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary influent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant was electrochemically treated with sacrificial aluminum, iron, and magnesium electrodes. The influence of sacrificial anodes on the removal of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and orthophosphate during sedimentation was investigated. Nitrification kinetics were assessed on treated supernatant and biogas production was monitored on settled solids. Changes in alkalinity, conductivity, and pH were also recorded. Aluminum and iron electrodes provided high rates of orthophosphate removal (i.e., 6.8 mg-P/mmol-e). Aluminum and iron electrodes also provided similar treatment to equivalent doses of alum and ferric salts (i.e., 38-68% chemical oxygen demand, 10-13% total nitrogen, and 67-93% total phosphorus). The estimated stochiometric ratio of aluminum and iron dosed to orthophosphate removed was approximately 1.3:1 and 4.1:1, respectively. Magnesium electrodes, on the other hand, removed orthophosphate at rates 8-9 times slower than aluminum and iron (i.e., 0.9 mg-P/mmol-e). Magnesium had to be dosed at a ratio of 13.5:1 orthophosphate for phosphorus removal. Orthophosphate removal by magnesium electrodes was most likely limited by electrolysis reactions responsible for increases in pH (i.e., 0.52 pH units/mmol-e). Magnesium electrodes removed 49% chemical oxygen demand and 21% total nitrogen at the high molar ratios required for orthophosphate removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Ryan Devlin
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada.
| | - Maciej S Kowalski
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada
| | - Efren Pagaduan
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada
| | - Xugang Zhang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada
| | - Victor Wei
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada
| | - Jan A Oleszkiewicz
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 5V6, Canada
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15
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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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16
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Masina S, Shirley J, Allen J, Sargeant JM, Guy RA, Wallis PM, Scott Weese J, Cunsolo A, Bunce A, Harper SL. Weather, environmental conditions, and waterborne Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Iqaluit, Nunavut. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2019; 17:84-97. [PMID: 30758306 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2018.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indigenous communities in the Arctic often face unique drinking water quality challenges related to inadequate infrastructure and environmental contamination; however, limited research exists on waterborne parasites in these communities. This study examined Giardia and Cryptosporidium in untreated surface water used for drinking in Iqaluit, Canada. Water samples (n = 55) were collected weekly from June to September 2016 and tested for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Exact logistic regressions were used to examine associations between parasite presence and environmental exposure variables. Using microscopy, 20.0% of samples tested positive for Giardia (n = 11) and 1.8% of samples tested positive for Cryptosporidium (n = 1). Low water temperatures (1.1 to 6.7 °C) and low air temperatures (-0.1 to 4.5 °C) were significantly associated with an increased odds of parasite presence (p = 0.047, p = 0.041, respectively). These results suggest that surface water contamination with Giardia and Cryptosporidium may be lower in Iqaluit than in other Canadian regions; however, further research should examine the molecular characterization of waterborne parasites to evaluate the potential human health implications in Northern Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Masina
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail:
| | - Jamal Shirley
- Nunavut Research Institute, P.O. Box 1720, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0
| | - Jean Allen
- Nunavut Research Institute, P.O. Box 1720, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, P.O. Box 2200, Iqaluit, Nunavut, CanadaX0A 0H0
| | - Jan M Sargeant
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail: ; Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
| | - Rebecca A Guy
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 110 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 3W4
| | - Peter M Wallis
- Hyperion Research Ltd, 1008 Allowance Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, CanadaT1A 3G8
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- Labrador Institute, Memorial University, 219 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, CanadaA0P 1E0
| | - Anna Bunce
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail:
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1 E-mail: ; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT6G 1C9
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17
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Latchmore T, Schuster-Wallace CJ, Longboat DR, Dickson-Anderson SE, Majury A. Critical elements for local Indigenous water security in Canada: a narrative review. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2018; 16:893-903. [PMID: 30540263 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2018.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indigenous communities in Canada are over-represented with respect to poor water quality and water advisories. To date, approaches to solve this water crisis have been founded in the Western Science (WS) context with little to no consultation or dialogue with those communities most impacted, and without regard for culture. A literature review was undertaken to: (i) document Indigenous Knowledge (IK), and perspectives regarding water and (ii) to identify current local water security tools utilized by Indigenous communities. The aim is to provide sound evidence regarding the value of ownership and leadership by Indigenous communities in the context of current and appropriate resources available to (re)claim these roles. Solutions must remain consistent with, and founded upon, traditional Indigenous worldviews and cultural values to ensure sustainable water security. Literature reviewed from the past ten years revealed one overarching creation theme with three water-specific themes in Indigenous communities; namely, water from natural sources, water as a life-giving entity, and water and gender. Ultimately, there needs to be a new framing of local water security with the development of tools which engage IK and WS in order to assess local water security and appropriately inform interventions, policies, regulations and legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Latchmore
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada E-mail:
| | - C J Schuster-Wallace
- Department of Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | | | - Anna Majury
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada E-mail: ; Public Health Ontario, Kingston, Canada
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18
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Hayward JL, Jackson AJ, Yost CK, Truelstrup Hansen L, Jamieson RC. Fate of antibiotic resistance genes in two Arctic tundra wetlands impacted by municipal wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 642:1415-1428. [PMID: 30045522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In the Canadian Arctic, it is common practice to discharge municipal wastewater into tundra wetlands. Antibiotic resistant bacteria and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) they contain can be present in municipal wastewater and there is a scarcity of knowledge on ARGs in wastewater in Arctic environments. This study was initiated on the fate of ARGs in tundra wetland ecosystems impacted by anthropogenic wastewater sources in Arctic communities. In the summer season of 2016, two wetlands were studied in the Inuit communities of Sanikiluaq and Naujaat in Nunavut, Canada. Genomic DNA was extracted from both soil and water during the spring freshet and late summer in the wetlands, and a suite of nine clinically relevant ARGs (sul1, sul2, mecA, vanA, qnrS, ermB, tetO, blaTEM, blaCTX-M), and an integron gene (int1) were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Hydrological and water quality measurements were conducted in conjunction with the microbiological sampling. Gene targets were consistently present in the wastewater, and throughout both wetlands, except for vanA and mecA. Concentrations of ARGs were greater during the spring freshet, due to short hydraulic retention times (<2 days), which coincided with decreased treatment performance. The environmental resistome in un-impacted wetlands had above detection limit concentrations of int1, sul1, sul2, blaCTX-M in water in Naujaat, and sul1, qnrS and tetO in soil in Sanikiluaq. First-order rate constants were widely variable and specific to the gene target. ARGs were present in concentrations elevated above baseline reference sites in tundra wetlands influenced by municipal wastewater, and hydrological conditions had a large impact on their spatial distribution and levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Hayward
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Amy J Jackson
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Christopher K Yost
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada.
| | | | - Rob C Jamieson
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Department of Civil & Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
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19
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Daley K, Jamieson R, Rainham D, Truelstrup Hansen L. Wastewater treatment and public health in Nunavut: a microbial risk assessment framework for the Canadian Arctic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:32860-32872. [PMID: 28224339 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater management in Canadian Arctic communities is influenced by several geographical factors including climate, remoteness, population size, and local food-harvesting practices. Most communities use trucked collection services and basic treatment systems, which are capable of only low-level pathogen removal. These systems are typically reliant solely on natural environmental processes for treatment and make use of existing lagoons, wetlands, and bays. They are operated in a manner such that partially treated wastewater still containing potentially hazardous microorganisms is released into the terrestrial and aquatic environment at random times. Northern communities rely heavily on their local surroundings as a source of food, drinking water, and recreation, thus creating the possibility of human exposure to wastewater effluent. Human exposure to microbial hazards present in municipal wastewater can lead to acute gastrointestinal illness or more severe disease. Although estimating the actual disease burdens associated with wastewater exposures in Arctic communities is challenging, waterborne- and sanitation-related illness is believed to be comparatively higher than in other parts of Canada. This review offers a conceptual framework and evaluation of current knowledge to enable the first microbial risk assessment of exposure scenarios associated with food-harvesting and recreational activities in Arctic communities, where simplified wastewater systems are being operated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiley Daley
- Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Rob Jamieson
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Daniel Rainham
- Environmental Science Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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20
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Shoults DC, Ashbolt NJ. Total staphylococci as performance surrogate for greywater treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:32894-32900. [PMID: 28462431 PMCID: PMC6245020 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are commonly used as water quality indicators; implying faecal contamination and therefore the potential presence of pathogenic enteric bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Hence in wastewater treatment, the most commonly used treatment process measures (surrogates) are total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and enterococci. However, greywater potentially contains skin pathogens unrelated to faecal load, and E. coli and other FIB may grow within greywater unrelated to pathogens. Overall, FIB occurs at fluctuating and relatively low concentrations compared to other endogenous greywater bacteria affecting their ability as surrogates for pathogen reduction. Therefore, unlike municipal sewage, FIB provides a very limited and unreliable log-reduction surrogate measure for on-site greywater treatment systems. Based on our recent metagenomic study of laundry greywater, skin-associated bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Propionibacterium spp. dominate and may result in more consistent treatment surrogates than traditional FIB. Here, we investigated various Staphylococcus spp. as potential surrogates to reliably assay over 4-log10 reduction by the final-stage UV disinfection step commonly used for on-site greywater reuse, and compare them to various FIB/phage surrogates. A collimated UV beam was used to determine the efficacy of UV inactivation (255, 265 and 285 nm) against E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis. Staphylococcus spp. was estimated by combining the bi-linear dose-response curves for S. aureus and S. epidermidis and was shown to be less resistant to UV irradiation than the other surrogates examined. Hence, a relative inactivation credit is suggested; whereas, the doses required to achieve a 4 and 5-log10 reduction of Staphylococcus spp. (13.0 and 20.9 mJ cm-2, respectively) were used to determine the relative inactivation of the other microorganisms investigated. The doses required to achieve a 4 and 5-log10 reduction of Staphylococcus spp. resulted in a log10 reduction of 1.4 and 4.1 for E. coli, 0.8 and 2.8 for E. faecalis, 0.8 and 3.6 for E. casseliflavus and 0.8 and 1.2 for MS2 coliphage, respectively. Given the concentration difference of Staphylococcus spp. and FIB (3 to 5-log10 higher), we propose the use of Staphylococcus spp. as a novel endogenous performance surrogate to demonstrate greywater treatment performance given its relatively high and consistent concentration and therefore ability to demonstrate over 5-log10 reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Shoults
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Room 3-57, South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB, T6E 2G7, Canada.
| | - Nicholas J Ashbolt
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Room 3-57, South Academic Building, Edmonton, AB, T6E 2G7, Canada
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21
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Wright CJ, Sargeant JM, Edge VL, Ford JD, Farahbakhsh K, Shiwak I, Flowers C, Harper SL. Water quality and health in northern Canada: stored drinking water and acute gastrointestinal illness in Labrador Inuit. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:32975-32987. [PMID: 28702908 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9695-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the highest self-reported incidence rates of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) in the global peer-reviewed literature occurs in Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic. This high incidence of illness could be due, in part, to the consumption of contaminated water, as many northern communities face challenges related to the quality of municipal drinking water. Furthermore, many Inuit store drinking water in containers in the home, which could increase the risk of contamination between source and point-of-use (i.e., water recontamination during storage). To examine this risk, this research characterized drinking water collection and storage practices, identified potential risk factors for water contamination between source and point-of-use, and examined possible associations between drinking water contamination and self-reported AGI in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Canada. The study included a cross-sectional census survey that captured data on types of drinking water used, household practices related to drinking water (e.g., how it was collected and stored), physical characteristics of water storage containers, and self-reported AGI. Additionally, water samples were collected from all identified drinking water containers in homes and analyzed for presence of Escherichia coli and total coliforms. Despite municipally treated tap water being available in all homes, 77.6% of households had alternative sources of drinking water stored in containers, and of these containers, 25.2% tested positive for total coliforms. The use of transfer devices and water dippers (i.e., smaller bowls or measuring cups) for the collection and retrieval of water from containers were both significantly associated with increased odds of total coliform presence in stored water (ORtransfer device = 3.4, 95% CI 1.2-11.7; ORdipper = 13.4, 95% CI 3.8-47.1). Twenty-eight-day period prevalence of self-reported AGI during the month before the survey was 17.2% (95% CI 13.0-22.5), which yielded an annual incidence rate of 2.4 cases per person per year (95% CI 1.8-3.1); no water-related risk factors were significantly associated with AGI. Considering the high prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, indicator bacteria in drinking water stored in containers, potential exposure to waterborne pathogens may be minimized through interventions at the household level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlee J Wright
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jan M Sargeant
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Victoria L Edge
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 160 Research Lane, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5B2, Canada
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change, Montréal, Canada
| | - James D Ford
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change, Montréal, Canada
- Priestly International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Department of Geography, McGill University, 845 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Khosrow Farahbakhsh
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Inez Shiwak
- Rigolet Inuit Community Government, Rigolet, Labrador, A0P 1P0, Canada
| | - Charlie Flowers
- Rigolet Inuit Community Government, Rigolet, Labrador, A0P 1P0, Canada
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Indigenous Health Adaptation to Climate Change, Montréal, Canada.
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22
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Bradford LE, Vogel T, Lindenschmidt KE, McPhedran K, Strickert GE, Fonstad TA, Bharadwaj LA. Co-design of water services and infrastructure for Indigenous Canada: A scoping review. Facets (Ott) 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2017-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is movement in engineering fields and in Indigenous communities for enhancement of local participation in the design of community infrastructure. Inclusion of community priorities and unique cultural, spiritual, and traditional values harmonize the appearance, location, and functionality of developments with the social and cultural context in which they are built and contribute to holistic wellness. However, co-design processes that align community values and the technical needs of water facilities are difficult to find. A scoping review was conducted to explore the state of knowledge on co-design of water infrastructure in Indigenous Canada to build a knowledge base from which practices and processes could emerge. The scoping results revealed that articles and reports emerged only in recent years, contained case studies and meta-reviews with primary (qualitative) data, and involved community members in various capacities. Overall, 13 articles were reviewed that contributed to understanding co-design for water infrastructure in Indigenous Canada. Barriers to co-design included funding models for Indigenous community infrastructure, difficulties in engineers and designers understanding Indigenous worldviews and paradigms, and a lack of cooperation among stakeholders that contribute to ongoing design failures. A working definition of co-design for Indigenous water infrastructure is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori E.A. Bradford
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4 Canada
- School of Environment and Society, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Canada
| | - Tim Vogel
- Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9 Canada
| | - Karl-Erich Lindenschmidt
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, National Hydrology Research Center, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5 Canada
- School of Environment and Society, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Canada
| | - Kerry McPhedran
- Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9 Canada
| | - Graham E.H. Strickert
- School of Environment and Society, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Canada
| | - Terrence A. Fonstad
- Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9 Canada
| | - Lalita A. Bharadwaj
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4 Canada
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23
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Wright CJ, Sargeant JM, Edge VL, Ford JD, Farahbakhsh K, Shiwak I, Flowers C, Gordon AC, Harper SL. How are perceptions associated with water consumption in Canadian Inuit? A cross-sectional survey in Rigolet, Labrador. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:369-378. [PMID: 29132004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Concerns regarding the safety and aesthetic qualities of one's municipal drinking water supply are important factors influencing drinking water perceptions and consumption patterns (i.e. sources used and daily volume of consumption). In northern Canada, Inuit communities face challenges with drinking water quality, and many Inuit have reported concerns regarding the safety of their drinking water. The objectives of this research were to describe perceptions of municipal tap water, examine use of water sources and changes following the installation of a potable water dispensing unit (PWDU) in 2014, and identify factors associated with water consumption in the Inuit community of Rigolet. This study used data from three cross-sectional census surveys conducted between 2012 and 2014. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to aggregate data from multiple variables related to perceptions of water, and logistic regressions were used to identify variables associated with water consumption patterns. Three quarters of residents reported using the PWDU after its installation, with concomitant declines reported in consumption of bottled, tap, and brook water. Negative perceptions of tap water were associated with lower odds of consuming tap water (ORPCAcomponent1=0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.94; ORPCAcomponent2=0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.93); women had higher odds of drinking purchased water compared to men (OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.11-3.26). The median amount of water consumed per day was 1L. Using brook water (OR=2.60, 95% CI 1.22-5.56) and living in a household where no one had full-time employment (OR=2.94, 95% CI 1.35-6.39) were associated with consuming >2L of water per day. Results of this study may inform drinking water interventions, risk assessments, and public health messaging in Rigolet and other Indigenous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlee J Wright
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jan M Sargeant
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Victoria L Edge
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 160 Research Lane, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2, Canada
| | - James D Ford
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Khosrow Farahbakhsh
- Formerly with the School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Inez Shiwak
- Rigolet Inuit Community Government, Rigolet, Labrador A0P 1P0, Canada
| | - Charlie Flowers
- Rigolet Inuit Community Government, Rigolet, Labrador A0P 1P0, Canada
| | - Allan C Gordon
- Formerly with the School of Engineering, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sherilee L Harper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Neudorf KD, Huang YN, Ragush CM, Yost CK, Jamieson RC, Truelstrup Hansen L. Antibiotic resistance genes in municipal wastewater treatment systems and receiving waters in Arctic Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 598:1085-1094. [PMID: 28482456 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wastewater discharges may adversely impact arctic ecosystems and local indigenous people, who rely on being able to hunt and harvest food from their local environment. Therefore, there is a need to develop efficient wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which can be operated in remote communities under extreme climatic conditions. WWTPs have been identified as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The objective of this work was to quantify the presence of nine different ARG markers (int1, sul1, sul2, tet(O), erm(B), mecA, blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and qnr(S)) in two passive systems (waste stabilization ponds [WSPs]) and one mechanical filtration plant operating in two smaller and one large community, respectively, in Nunavut, Canada. Measurement of water quality parameters (carbonaceous oxygen demand, ammonia, total suspended solids, Escherichia coli and total coliforms) showed that the WWTPs provided only primary treatment. Low levels of the ARGs (2logcopies/mL) were observed in the effluent, demonstrating that bacteria residing in three northern WWTPs harbour ARGs conferring resistance to multiple clinically-relevant classes of antibiotics. Our results indicate that long-term storage in WSPs benefitted removal of organic material and some ARGs. However, one WSP system showed evidence of the enrichment of sul1, sul2, mecA, tet(O) and qnr(S). Further research is needed to fully understand if these ARG releases pose a risk to human health, especially in the context of traditional hunting and fishing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara D Neudorf
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Yan Nan Huang
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Colin M Ragush
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Christopher K Yost
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Rob C Jamieson
- Department of Civil and Resources Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington Street, Halifax B3H 4R2, Canada.
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25
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Waldner CL, Alimezelli HT, McLeod L, Zagozewski R, Bradford LEA, Bharadwaj LA. Self-reported Effects of Water on Health in First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan, Canada: Results From Community-Based Participatory Research. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2017; 11:1178630217690193. [PMID: 28469443 PMCID: PMC5392108 DOI: 10.1177/1178630217690193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Water-related health challenges on First Nations reserves in Canada have been previously documented. Our objective was to describe factors associated with self-reported health effects from tap water in 8 First Nations reserve communities in Saskatchewan, Canada. Community-based participatory approaches were used in designing and implementing cross-sectional household surveys. Individual, household, community, and contextual effects were considered in multilevel analysis. Negative health effects from tap water were reported by 28% of households (n = 579). Concerns about environmental factors affecting water quality (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-6.7), rarely or never drinking tap water (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.3-6.6), insufficient tap water (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.3), paying for bottled water (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.2-8.7), and dissatisfaction with tap water were associated with self-reported health effects (n = 393); however, the effect of dissatisfaction was modified by respondent age (P = .03). Quality and availability were associated with perceptions of health effects from drinking water, providing additional information on how ongoing concerns about drinking water influence self-reported health in some First Nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl L Waldner
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Hubert Tote Alimezelli
- Integrated Training Program in Infectious Diseases, Food Safety and Public Policy (ITraP/CREATE), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lianne McLeod
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Rebecca Zagozewski
- Safe Water for Health Research Team, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lori EA Bradford
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lalita A Bharadwaj
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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26
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Bradford LEA, Ovsenek N, Bharadwaj LA. Indigenizing Water Governance in Canada. GLOBAL ISSUES IN WATER POLICY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42806-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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