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Gao Z, Zhang Z, Li Q, Wu H, Wang M, Tian X, Wang A, Li J. Improving contaminant removal and inhibiting CH 4 and H 2S emissions from septic tanks: Nitrified human urine as a source of electron acceptor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175410. [PMID: 39127217 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Septic tanks are widely adopted in decentralized household wastewater treatment systems serving billions of people globally. Due to the lack of effective electron acceptors, insufficient nutrient removal and the emission of harmful gases, e. g. H2S, CH4, etc., are the common drawbacks. In the present work, we attempted to supplement nitrite into septic tanks as an electron acceptor, via nitrifying human urine source-separated from blackwater, to overcome these drawbacks. Partial or complete nitritation of source-separated urine was achieved in a sequencing batch reactor. The addition of nitrified urine into septic tanks improved organic and nitrogen removals in blackwater up to 90 % and 70 %, respectively. The emission of harmful gases from the septic tanks was stably diminished, with more than 75 % of CH4, CO2 and H2S reductions. Nitrite addition significantly reduced the abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens in septic tanks. Though the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria recovered after the initial inhibition upon nitrite addition, the bio-generated H2S was retained in water since the increased wastewater pH after nitrite addition promoted the disassociation of H2S in aqueous solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Gao
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Zhongguo Zhang
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China; Institute of Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100089, China.
| | - Qingyun Li
- China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haoyuan Wu
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Mengyu Wang
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiujun Tian
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Aimin Wang
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jiuyi Li
- School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
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2
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Chavez J, Crank K, Barber C, Gerrity D, Iverson T, Mongillo J, Weil A, Rider L, Lacross N, Oakeson K, Rossi A. Early Introductions of Candida auris Detected by Wastewater Surveillance, Utah, USA, 2022-2023. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:2107-2117. [PMID: 39320163 PMCID: PMC11431928 DOI: 10.3201/eid3010.240173] [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] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is considered a nosocomial pathogen of high concern and is currently spreading across the United States. Infection control measures for C. auris focus mainly on healthcare facilities, yet transmission levels may already be significant in the community before outbreaks are detected in healthcare settings. Wastewater-based epidemiology (culture, quantitative PCR, and whole-genome sequencing) can potentially gauge pathogen transmission in the general population and lead to early detection of C. auris before it is detected in clinical cases. To learn more about the sensitivity and limitations of wastewater-based surveillance, we used wastewater-based methods to detect C. auris in a southern Utah jurisdiction with no known clinical cases before and after the documented transfer of colonized patients from bordering Nevada. Our study illustrates the potential of wastewater-based surveillance for being sufficiently sensitive to detect C. auris transmission during the early stages of introduction into a community.
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Dai H, Hariwitonang J, Fujiyama N, Moriguchi C, Hirano Y, Ebara F, Inaba S, Kondo F, Kitagaki H. A Decrease in the Hardness of Feces with Added Glucosylceramide Extracted from Koji In Vitro-A Working Hypothesis of Health Benefits of Dietary Glucosylceramide. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:739. [PMID: 38929722 PMCID: PMC11204706 DOI: 10.3390/life14060739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Skin barrier function, prevent colon cancer, head and neck cancer, and decrease liver cholesterol. However, the mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we propose a new working hypothesis regarding the health benefits and functions of glucosylceramide: decreased fecal hardness. This hypothesis was verified using an in vitro hardness test. The hardness of feces supplemented with glucosylceramide was significantly lower than that of the control. Based on these results, a new working hypothesis of dietary glucosylceramide was conceived: glucosylceramide passes through the small intestine, interacts with intestinal bacteria, increases the tolerance of these bacteria toward secondary bile acids, and decreases the hardness of feces, and these factors synergistically result in in vivo effects. This hypothesis forms the basis for further studies on the health benefits and functions of dietary glucosylceramides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanghuang Dai
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Kagoshima, Japan; (H.D.); (F.E.); (S.I.); (F.K.)
| | - Johan Hariwitonang
- Graduate School of Advanced Health Sciences, Saga University, 1, Honjo-cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan; (J.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Nao Fujiyama
- Graduate School of Advanced Health Sciences, Saga University, 1, Honjo-cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan; (J.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Chihiro Moriguchi
- Graduate School of Advanced Health Sciences, Saga University, 1, Honjo-cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan; (J.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Yuto Hirano
- Graduate School of Advanced Health Sciences, Saga University, 1, Honjo-cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan; (J.H.); (C.M.)
| | - Fumio Ebara
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Kagoshima, Japan; (H.D.); (F.E.); (S.I.); (F.K.)
- Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1, Honjo-Cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan
| | - Shigeki Inaba
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Kagoshima, Japan; (H.D.); (F.E.); (S.I.); (F.K.)
- Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1, Honjo-Cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan
| | - Fumiyoshi Kondo
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Kagoshima, Japan; (H.D.); (F.E.); (S.I.); (F.K.)
- Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1, Honjo-Cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kitagaki
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Kagoshima, Japan; (H.D.); (F.E.); (S.I.); (F.K.)
- Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1, Honjo-Cho, Saga City 840-8502, Saga, Japan
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Jean-Baptiste D, Monette F. Comparative life cycle assessment of excreta management systems through composting and biomethanization: Case of a low-income tropical country. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2024; 89:3237-3251. [PMID: 39150423 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2024.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Low-income tropical regions, such as Haiti, grapple with environmental issues stemming from inadequate sanitation infrastructure for fecal sludge management. This study scrutinizes on-site sanitation systems in these regions, evaluating their environmental impacts and pinpointing improvement opportunities. The focus is specifically on systems integrating excreta valorization through composting and/or anaerobic digestion. Each system encompasses toilet access, evacuation, and sludge treatment. A comparative life cycle assessment was undertaken, with the functional unit managing one ton of excreta in Haiti over a year. Six scenarios representing autonomous sanitation systems were devised by combining three toilet types (container-based toilets (CBTs), ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines, and flush toilets (WC)) with two sludge treatment processes (composting and biomethanization). Biodigester-based systems exhibited 1.05 times higher sanitary impacts and 1.03 times higher ecosystem impacts than those with composters. Among toilet types, CBTs had the lowest impacts, followed by VIP latrines, with WCs having the highest impacts. On average, WC scenarios were 3.85 times more impactful than VIP latrines and 4.04 times more impactful than those with CBTs regarding human health impact. Critical variables identified include the use of toilet paper, wood shavings, greenhouse gas emissions, and construction materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davidson Jean-Baptiste
- École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, QC, Canada; Faculty of Science, Université d'État d'Haïti, Port-au-Prince, Haïti E-mail:
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Dong P, Li J, Woldeyohans AM, Parmentier D, Van Hulle SWH. Coagulation in combination with anaerobic digestion for enhancement of resource recovery from faecal sludge. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120902. [PMID: 38657411 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Poorly managed faecal sludge (FS) poses significant challenges to public health and the environment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of FS provides an effective method for energy recovery while reducing FS associated threats. Recognizing the critical role of the dewatering process before AD, this study investigates the synergistic application of chemical coagulation and mesophilic AD for synthetic FS treatment. FeCl3, AlCl3, Fe2(SO4)3, poly ferric sulfate (PFS) and poly aluminium ferric chloride (PAFC) were utilized at varying dosages to examine their impact on FS properties and subsequent biogas production from the dewatered FS. It was found that coagulation enhances sedimentation efficiencies and dewaterability through mechanisms such as charge neutralization, charge patching and bridging, thereby improving the FS feasibility for AD. Notably, polymer coagulant PFS showed good performance in balancing pollutant removal and methane recovery, contributing to facilitating the hydrolysis and acidogenesis microorganisms involved in the AD process. Optimal dosage was identified at 150 mg/g TS (1.7 g/L FS), achieving prominent removal efficiencies for total COD (67%), turbidity (85%), and total phosphorus (60%), while simultaneously enhancing AD performance with specific CH4 production reaching 517 ml CH₄/g VS or 24.8 ml CH₄/g AD wet feedstock compared to 309 ml CH₄/g VS or 2.7 ml CH₄/g AD wet feedstock in untreated FS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Dong
- Laboratory for Industrial Water and Ecotechnology (LIWET), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Sint Martens-Latemlaan 2B, Kortrijk, B-8500, Belgium; Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Belgium.
| | - Jin Li
- Laboratory for Industrial Water and Ecotechnology (LIWET), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Sint Martens-Latemlaan 2B, Kortrijk, B-8500, Belgium; School of Human Settlement and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi Province, 710049, PR China
| | - Akalu M Woldeyohans
- Laboratory for Industrial Water and Ecotechnology (LIWET), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Sint Martens-Latemlaan 2B, Kortrijk, B-8500, Belgium
| | - Dries Parmentier
- Laboratory for Industrial Water and Ecotechnology (LIWET), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Sint Martens-Latemlaan 2B, Kortrijk, B-8500, Belgium; Noah Water Solutions Bvba, Burchtweg 7, B-9890, Gavere, Belgium
| | - Stijn W H Van Hulle
- Laboratory for Industrial Water and Ecotechnology (LIWET), Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Sint Martens-Latemlaan 2B, Kortrijk, B-8500, Belgium; Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Belgium
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Xu P, Wang K, Fu X, Liu Z, Song Y. Influence and mechanism of solids on the air pressure fluctuations on the building drainage system. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2024; 89:1787-1806. [PMID: 38619903 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2024.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The conventional building drainage system was constructed based on the theory of two-phase flow involving water and air. However, the drainage system contained a more intricate three-phase flow, encompassing water, air, and solids, which was relatively overlooked in research. This study addressed the impact of solids on pressure fluctuations, air flow rates, and hydraulic jump fullness within the drainage system, considering three factors: the mass factor, cross-section factor, and viscosity. The investigation was conducted within a single-stack system using both experimental methods and CFD simulations. The findings revealed a positive correlation between both positive and negative pressures and above three factors. The mass factor and the cross-section factor had a more significant impact on the negative pressure of the system. The maximum growth rates of negative pressure extremes under different mass and cross-section factors reached 7.72 and 16.52%, respectively. In contrast, the viscosity of fecal sludge had a slightly higher effect on the positive pressure fluctuation of the drainage system, with the maximum growth rate of positive pressure extremes at 3.41%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China E-mail:
| | - Ke Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xue Fu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yilin Song
- Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
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7
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Frossard E, Crain G, Giménez de Azcárate Bordóns I, Hirschvogel C, Oberson A, Paille C, Pellegri G, Udert KM. Recycling nutrients from organic waste for growing higher plants in the Micro Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) loop during long-term space missions. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2024; 40:176-185. [PMID: 38245343 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Space agencies are developing Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) in view of upcoming long-term crewed space missions. Most of these BLSS plan to include various crops to produce different types of foods, clean water, and O2 while capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. However, growing these plants will require the appropriate addition of nutrients in forms that are available. As shipping fertilizers from Earth would be too costly, it will be necessary to use waste-derived nutrients. Using the example of the MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) loop of the European Space Agency, this paper reviews what should be considered so that nutrients recycled from waste streams could be used by plants grown in a hydroponic system. Whereas substantial research has been conducted on nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from human urine, much work remains to be done on recovering nutrients from other liquid and solid organic waste. It is essential to continue to study ways to efficiently remove sodium and chloride from urine and other organic waste to prevent the spread of these elements to the rest of the MELiSSA loop. A full nitrogen balance at habitat level will have to be achieved; on one hand, sufficient N2 will be needed to maintain atmospheric pressure at a proper level and on the other, enough mineral nitrogen will have to be provided to the plants to ensure biomass production. From a plant nutrition point of view, we will need to evaluate whether the flux of nutrients reaching the hydroponic system will enable the production of nutrient solutions able to sustain a wide variety of crops. We will also have to assess the nutrient use efficiency of these crops and how that efficiency might be increased. Techniques and sensors will have to be developed to grow the plants, considering low levels or the total absence of gravity, the limited volume available to plant growth systems, variations in plant needs, the recycling of nutrient solutions, and eventually the ultimate disposal of waste that can no longer be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Frossard
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland.
| | - Grace Crain
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Astrid Oberson
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland
| | | | - Geremia Pellegri
- ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8315, Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Kai M Udert
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dubendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, Institute of Environmental Engineering, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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Brambilla L, Frangione V, Meloni M. Non Clinical Model to Assess the Mechanism of Action of a Combined Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin Sulfate and Calcium Chloride: HA+CS+CaCl 2 Solution on a 3D Human Reconstructed Bladder Epithelium. MEDICAL DEVICES-EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH 2024; 17:47-58. [PMID: 38312113 PMCID: PMC10838052 DOI: 10.2147/mder.s433261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745 requires the principal mode of action (MoA) to be demonstrated by experimental data. The MoA of Ialuril® Prefill (combined as HA+CS+CaCl2: sodium hyaluronate 1.6%, sodium chondroitin sulphate 2% w/v and calcium chloride 0.87%) Class III medical device, indicated for intravesical instillation to reduce urinary tract infections, has been evaluated on a 3D reconstructed human bladder epithelium (HBE). Methods Three experimental designs; i) E. coli strain selection (DSM 103538, DSM 1103) to investigate the HA+CS+CaCl2 properties in modifying bacterial growth in liquid broth (CFU 4h and 24h) at 80%, 50% and 25% concentrations; ii) evaluation of film forming properties on HBE after 15 min exposure by quantifying caffeine permeation across the epithelium; iii) capacity to counteract E. coli adhesion and biofilm formation on colonized HBE by viable counts and ultrastructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using ciprofloxacin as the reference antimicrobial molecule. Results No significant differences were observed in bacterial viability for both the E. coli strains. HA+CS+CaCl2 reduced caffeine permeation of 51.7% and 38.1% at 1h and 2h, respectively and determined a significant decrease in caffeine permeation rate at both timepoints supporting HA+CS+CaCl2 capacity to firmly adhere to the bladder epithelium creating a physical barrier on the surface. The viable counts in HBE treated tissues then infected with E. coli resulted not different from the negative control suggesting that the device did not inhibit E. coli growth. SEM images showed homogenous product distribution over the HBE surface and confirmed the capacity of HA+CS+CaCl2 to adhere to the bladder epithelium, counteracting biofilm formation. Conclusion The results support the capacity of HA+CS+CaCl2 to counteract bacterial invasion by using a physico-mechanical mode of action: this medical device represents a valid alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of recurrent UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marisa Meloni
- VitroScreen, in vitro Research Laboratory, Milan, Italy
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Yan C, Hu YN, Gui ZC, Lai TN, Ali W, Wan NH, He SS, Liu S, Li X, Jin TX, Nasir ZA, Alcega SG, Coulon F. Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 exposure assessment for workers in wastewater treatment plants using Monte-Carlo simulation. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 248:120845. [PMID: 37976948 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Several studies on COVID-19 pandemic have shown that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originating from human stool are detected in raw sewage for several days, leading to potential health risks for workers due to the production of bioaerosols and droplets during wastewater treatment process. In this study, data of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater were gathered from literatures, and a quantitative microbial risk assessment with Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the daily probability of infection risk through exposure to viable infectious viral airborne particles of the workers during four seasons and under six environmental conditions. Inhalation of bioaerosols and direct ingestion of wastewater droplets were selected as exposure pathways. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used for sensitivity analysis to identify the variables with the greatest influence on the infection risk probability. It was found that the daily probability of infection risk decreased with temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) increase. The probability of direct droplet ingestion exposure pathway was higher than that of the bioaerosol inhalation pathway. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the most sensitive variable for both exposure pathways was the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in stool. So, appropriate aeration systems, covering facilities, and effective ventilation are suggested to implement in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to reduce emission concentration. Further to this, the exposure time (t) had a larger variance contribution than T and RH for the bioaerosol inhalation pathway. Implementing measures such as adding more work shifts, mandating personal protective equipment for all workers, and implementing coverage for treatment processes can significantly reduce the risk of infection among workers at WWTPs. These measures are particularly effective during environmental conditions with low temperatures and humidity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental Water Science in the Yangtze River Basin, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
| | - Yi-Ning Hu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Zi-Cheng Gui
- CCDI (Suzhou) exploration and design consultant Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Tian-Nuo Lai
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Wajid Ali
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, PR China
| | - Nian-Hong Wan
- Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co, Ltd., Wuhan 430010, PR China
| | - Shan-Shan He
- Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co, Ltd., Wuhan 430010, PR China
| | - Sai Liu
- CITIC Treated Water into River Engineering Investment Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430200, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- Three Gorges Base Development Co., Ltd., Yichang 443002, PR China
| | - Ting-Xu Jin
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China; School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Zaheer Ahmad Nasir
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Sonia Garcia Alcega
- School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 7AA, UK
| | - Frederic Coulon
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
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Makran M, Garcia-Llatas G, Alegría A, Cilla A. Ethylcoprostanol modulates colorectal cancer cell proliferation and mitigates cytotoxicity of cholesterol metabolites in non-tumor colon cells. Food Funct 2023; 14:10829-10840. [PMID: 37982821 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo01868g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Sterols can be metabolized by gut microbiota. The cholesterol metabolites have been proposed as promoters of colorectal cancer (CRC), while the effect of plant sterol metabolites is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of metabolites from cholesterol (coprostanol, cholestanol, coprostanone and cholestenone) and β-sitosterol (ethylcoprostanol) on human colon tumor (Caco-2) and non-tumor (CCD-18Co) cells at physiological concentrations (9-300 μM) and exposure time (24 h). Ethylcoprostanol reduced the tumor cell proliferation (MTT), showing in flow cytometry assays induction of apoptosis via production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ceramide. Transcriptomic analysis (qPCR) showed activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway (BAX/BCL2 ratio and CASP9 increased), accompanied by downregulation of the p21 gene. Cholesterol metabolites, mainly the most hydrophobic, induced apoptosis and G0/G1 phase arrest in non-tumor cells through overproduction of ROS. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic (CASP8 increased) apoptosis pathways occurred. In turn, a reduction in the expression of the cyclin E1 gene confirmed the cell cycle arrest. In addition, ethylcoprostanol protected non-tumor cells from the most cytotoxic cholesterol metabolite (cholestenone). In conclusion, ethylcoprostanol is a promising candidate as a therapeutic adjuvant in CRC, while cholesterol metabolites could act as CRC promoters through their cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mussa Makran
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Guadalupe Garcia-Llatas
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Amparo Alegría
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Antonio Cilla
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
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Devianto LA, Sano D. Systematic review and meta-analysis of human health-related protein markers for realizing real-time wastewater-based epidemiology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165304. [PMID: 37419365 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
For effective implementation of the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach, real-time quantification of markers in wastewater is critical for data acquisition before data interpretation, dissemination, and decision-making. This can be achieved by using biosensor technology, but whether the quantification/detection limits of different types of biosensors comply with the concentration of WBE markers in wastewater is unclear. In the present study, we identified promising protein markers with relatively high concentrations in wastewater samples and analyzed biosensor technologies that are potentially available for real-time WBE. The concentrations of potential protein markers in stool and urine samples were obtained through systematic review and meta-analysis. We examined 231 peer-review papers to collect information regarding potential protein markers that can enable us to achieve real-time monitoring using biosensor technology. Fourteen markers in stool samples were identified at the ng/g level, presumably equivalent to ng/L of wastewater after dilution. Moreover, relatively high average concentrations of fecal inflammatory proteins were observed, e.g., fecal calprotectin, clusterin, and lactoferrin. Fecal calprotectin exhibited the highest average log concentration among the markers identified in stool samples with its mean value being 5.24 [95 % CI: 5.05, 5.42] ng/g. We identified 50 protein markers in urine samples at the ng/mL level. Uromodulin (4.48 [95 % CI: 4.20, 4.76] ng/mL) and plasmin (4.18 [95 % CI: 3.15, 5.21] ng/mL) had the top two highest log concentrations in urine samples. Furthermore, the quantification limit of some electrochemical- and optical-based biosensors was found to be around the femtogram/mL level, which is sufficiently low to detect protein markers in wastewater even after dilution in sewer pipes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luhur Akbar Devianto
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan; Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture Technology, Brawijaya University, Malang 65145, Indonesia.
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan; Wastewater Information Research Center, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan.
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12
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Wu H, Wang G, Li L, Gao Z, Wang M, Wang J, Zhang Z, Wang A, Tian X, Li J. Partial nitritation and nitrogen removal of vacuum toilet wastewater from high-speed trains in a sequential batch reactor. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 329:138657. [PMID: 37040837 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the high contents of organics and nitrogen in vacuum toilet wastewater (VTW) generated from high-speed trains, onsite pretreatment is usually required before VTW can be discharged into municipal sewers. In this study, a partial nitritation process was stably established in a sequential batch reactor to efficiently utilize the organics in synthetic and real VTWs for nitrogen removal and to produce an effluent suitable for anaerobic ammonia oxidation. In spite of the high fluctuations of COD and nitrogen in VTW, the organics used for nitrogen removal stabilized at 1.97 ± 0.18 mg COD mg N-1 removed, and the effluent NO2--N/NH4+-N ratios were maintained at 1.26 ± 0.13. The removal efficiencies of nitrogen and COD were 31.8 ± 3.5% and 65.2 ± 5.3% under the volumetric loading rates of 1.14 ± 0.15 kg N m-3 d-1 and 1.03 ± 0.26 kg COD m-3 d-1 for real VTW, respectively. Microbial community analysis revealed that Nitrosomonas (0.95%-1.71%) was the dominant autotrophic ammonium-oxidizing bacterial genus, but nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, Nitrolancea, was severely inhibited, with a relative abundance less than 0.05%. The relative abundance of denitrifying bacteria increased by 7.34% when the influent was switched to real VTW. Functional profile predictions of the biomass showed that the decrease in the COD/N ratio and the switch of reactor influent from synthetic to real VTW increased the relative abundance of enzymes and modules involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Guotian Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Lei Li
- Institute of Watershed and Ecology, Beijing Water Science and Technology Institute, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Zhenchao Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Mengyu Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Zhongguo Zhang
- Institute of Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Aimin Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xiujun Tian
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Jiuyi Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Aqueous Typical Pollutants Control and Water Quality Safeguard, School of Environment, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China.
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13
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Astete Vasquez L, Mladenov N. Effect of modified waste introduction methods over short-term and long-term use of onsite sanitation systems. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8506. [PMID: 37231001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35110-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Insufficiently treated wastes contained within onsite sanitation systems (OSS) commonly used by disadvantaged and developing communities contribute to public and environmental health concerns, calling for practical alternative solutions. At the basic level, an improved understanding of the evolution of chemical and physical constituents under different waste introduction methods and for short-term and long-term operation is needed. While receiving non-dilute waste under mixed, unmixed, toilet paper exclusion, and urine diversion (UD) regimes, self-flushing OSS simulated using anaerobic digesters (ADs) were compared during three operational stages: (1) 0-1 month service for unsheltered encampments; (2) 1-3 month disaster relief scenario; and (3) ≥ 3 months representing refugee camps and long-term household use. Although stratification was found to promote suitable conditions for short-term use of self-flushing toilets, mixing increased beneficial biodegradation of organic constituents. Urine-containing ADs demonstrated a shift from sulfide to ammonia odor accompanied by high pH (> 8) after ~ 240 d. E. coli reduction following elevated nitrogen and dissolved solids levels pointed to decreased pathogen survival in ADs with urine. The benefits of bacterial disinfection, reduction of sulfurous odors, and heightened organics degradation in mixed, urine-containing ADs suggest this format as more desirable for prolonged use of self-flushing OSS over unmixed or urine-diverting formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Astete Vasquez
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA.
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA.
| | - N Mladenov
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
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14
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Chen X, Hu C, Yan C, Tao E, Zhu Z, Shu X, Guo R, Jiang M. Maternal separation leads to dynamic changes of visceral hypersensitivity and fecal metabolomics from childhood to adulthood. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7670. [PMID: 37169847 PMCID: PMC10175246 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34792-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We assessed dynamic changes in visceral hypersensitivity and fecal metabolomics through a mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from childhood to adulthood. A mouse model of IBS was constructed with maternal separation (MS) in early life. Male mice aged 25, 40, and 70 days were used. Visceral sensitivity was assessed by recording the reaction between the abdominal withdrawal reflex and colorectal distension. Metabolomics was identified and quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The visceral sensitivity of the MS group was significantly higher than that of the non-separation (NS) group in the three age groups. The top four fecal differential metabolites in the different age groups were lipids, lipid molecules, organic heterocyclic compounds, organic acids and derivatives, and benzenoids. Five identical differential metabolites were detected in the feces and ileal contents of the MS and NS groups at different ages, namely, benzamide, taurine, acetyl-L-carnitine, indole, and ethylbenzene. Taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were the most relevant pathways at P25, whereas histidine metabolism was the most relevant pathway at P40 and P70. Visceral hypersensitivity in the MS group lasted from childhood to adulthood. The different metabolites and metabolic pathways detected in MS groups of different ages provide a theoretical basis for IBS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Chen
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The First People's Hospital of Jiashan, Jiashan, 314100, China
| | - Chenmin Hu
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Chenxi Yan
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Enfu Tao
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Zhenya Zhu
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Xiaoli Shu
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China
| | - Mizu Jiang
- Pediatric Endoscopy Center and Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, 310052, China.
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15
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Zhang X, Feng Q, Li X, Guo L, Ma D, Cheng X, Qi Y. Microplastics in household fecal sewage treatment facilities of rural China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130925. [PMID: 36753913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fecal sewage (FS), composed of human feces and wastewater, potentially contains microplastics (MPs) that are prone to environmental pollution. In this study, 65 FS samples, as collected from 65 villages in 27 Chinese provinces, have been employed to investigate the characteristics of MPs in three kinds of household FS treatment facilities of rural regions, and the possibility of FS irrigation as the source of MPs in farmlands. As a result, seven physicochemical properties and microbial community of FS were detected, and pertinent social statistical data were collected to determine influencing factors of MPs. The abundance of FS-based MPs ranged from 47.16 to 143.05 particles L-1, with an average 90.38 ± 20.63 particles L-1. The FS from northern China had higher MPs abundance than that from southern and northwestern China. Average MPs abundance was cesspit (101.33) > septic tank (86.54) > biogas digester (84.11). The estimated mass of FS-based MPs entering farmlands in China was 7.8 × 103-5.6 × 104 tons a year. Chemical oxygen demand and genus Phascolarctobacterium might mainly affected MPs abundance in FS, while some other factors such as suspended substance, ambient temperature, and medical care spending were also significantly correlated with FS-based MPs abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Qingge Feng
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Xiaowei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Li Guo
- College of Design Art, Liuzhou Institute of Technology, Liuzhou 545616, China
| | - Dachao Ma
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiaodie Cheng
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yuan Qi
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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16
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Apsey H, Hill D, Barron AR, Alexander S. Slippery Alkoxysilane Coatings for Antifouling Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:17353-17363. [PMID: 36951685 PMCID: PMC10080537 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report the wettability and antifouling behavior of a range of different siloxane coatings on plastic and glass substrates. The films investigated are prepared using trimethoxysilane precursors with different alkyl chain lengths (1-18 C atoms) in order to study how the nature of the hydrophobic group affects the different parameters used to characterize wettability (contact angles, sliding angles, and contact angle hysteresis). Atomic force microscopy analysis shows that the coatings possess low surface topography [root mean squared roughness (rms) < 50 nm] and are highly transparent as studied using UV-vis spectroscopy. The sliding properties of H2O, CH2I2, methanol, and ethylene glycol were observed to be strongly influenced by the chain length of the alkoxysilane precursor used. The coatings formed from the longer chain analogues show comparable water sliding angles to superhydrophobic surfaces. These coatings show similar performance to analogous alkoxysilane coating-bearing fluorinated groups, indicating that they could act as viable environmentally friendly alternatives to some of the fluorinated films that have been widely adopted. Furthermore, these surfaces are highly durable toward common forms of abrasion and are observed to show low adhesion toward synthetic feces, indicating that their utility extends further than repelling liquids alone. Consequently, these coatings could show promise for potential use in applications in the medical sector where fouling by biological mixtures leads to an unsustainable use of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Apsey
- Energy
Safety Research Institute (ESRI), School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Swansea University Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, U.K.
| | - Donald Hill
- Energy
Safety Research Institute (ESRI), School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Swansea University Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, U.K.
| | - Andrew R. Barron
- Energy
Safety Research Institute (ESRI), School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Swansea University Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, U.K.
- Arizona
Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies (AIRES), University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Faculty
of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Darussalam BE1410, Brunei
| | - Shirin Alexander
- Energy
Safety Research Institute (ESRI), School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Swansea University Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, U.K.
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17
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Formulation of a Simulated Wastewater Influent Composition for Use in the Research of Technologies for Managing Wastewaters Generated during Manned Long-Term Space Exploration and Other Similar Situations-Literature-Based Composition Development. BIOTECH (BASEL (SWITZERLAND)) 2023; 12:biotech12010008. [PMID: 36648834 PMCID: PMC9844444 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The prospect of humans inhabiting planetary bodies is gaining interest among research and development communities, with the moon being considered as a transitory base camp and Mars the next planet humans will inhabit. NASA's Mission to Mars program is set to have humans inhabiting Mars within on-planet space camps by the Year 2030, which has tremendously increased research and development for space exploration-including research oriented toward human life support in long-term planetary lodging camps. The sustenance of human life on Mars will not be trivial due to the unavailability of an appropriate atmosphere and usable water. This situation requires a self-sustaining human life support system that can provide the basic needs such are breathable air, potable water, food, and energy. The feasibility of sending a payload with resources adequate to support long-term human inhabitation is not reasonable, which means every resource within a Mars space camp is valuable, including human-produced wastes. A biorefinery system that treats wastewater and can also produce valuable products such as oxygen, food, and energy offers a form of circular utilization of valuable resources. To conduct research for such systems requires a wastewater influent that is representative of the wastewater to be generated by the space crew within this isolated, confined environment, which is different from what is generated on Earth due to limited variability in diet, human activity, and lifestyle in this confined area. Collection of actual wastewater influent from an isolated environment supporting humans is challenging. Additionally, to ensure a safe working environment in the laboratory and avoid the imposed threat of handling actual human feces, the proposed synthetic, non-human feces containing wastewater influent formulation offers an easy-to-produce and safer-to-handle option. This paper reviews several synthetic wastewater compositions that have been formulated for space exploration purposes. None of the formulations were found to be realistic nor adequate for a space-camp-type scenario. Thus, the formulation of a synthetic wastewater for simulating a wastewater influent from a human space-based camp is proposed in this paper. In addition, the physical, chemical, and biodegradation characteristics of the final formulation designed are presented to illustrate the value of the proposed influent formulation.
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18
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Computational Simulation of Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Particle Mobility in a 3D Model. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28020589. [PMID: 36677649 PMCID: PMC9865637 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020589] [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: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though some methods for the detection of colorectal cancer have been used clinically, most of the techniques used do not consider the in situ detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) biomarkers, which would favor in vivo real-time monitoring of the carcinogenesis process and consequent studies of the disease. In order to give a scientific and computational framework ideal for the evaluation of diagnosis techniques based on the early detection of biomarker molecules modeled as spherical particles from the computational point of view, a computational representation of the rectum, stool and biomarker particles was developed. As consequence of the transport of stool, there was a displacement of CRC biomarker particles that entered the system as a result of the cellular apoptosis processes in polyps with a length lower than 1 cm, reaching a maximum velocity of 3.47×10-3 m/s. The biomarkers studied showed trajectories distant to regions of the polyp of origin in 1 min of simulation. The research results show that the biomarker particles for CRC respond to the variations in the movements of the stool with trajectories and speeds that depend on the location of the injury, which will allow locating the regions with the highest possibilities of catching particles through in situ measurement instruments in the future.
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19
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Hu C, Wang W, Garey KW. Heterogeneity and lyophilization comparison of stool processing for gastrointestinal bile acid measurement by LC-MS/MS. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2023; 1214:123569. [PMID: 36527807 PMCID: PMC9839599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fecal bile acid (BA) analysis is an emerging area of gut microbiome research. However, sample preparation procedures for fecal BA analysis are not standardized. Current fecal BA analysis often utilizes either original or lyophilized aliquot, and fecal BA result difference between these two processing steps remains not systematically investigated. Moreover, the distribution pattern of fecal BA in the collected stool sample also remains unclear but affects interpretation of fecal BA for downstream experiments. To address these two questions regarding effect of lyophilization on fecal BA and fecal heterogeneity, fourteen separate BAs were quantified from 60 aliquots obtained from 10 clinical fecal samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). BA concentrations in the lyophilized sample were typically 2-4 folds higher than those in the original sample, but were almost identical using a water-adjusted lyophilized BA concentration. The fecal BA compositional profile and four BA ratios were similar utilizing either the original or lyophilized samples. BA concentrations were similar among different aliquots of differing starting mass except for the relatively trace-level BA. Therefore, it is suggested that fecal BA concentrations should be presented as the original sample concentration or water-adjusted lyophilization concentration to allow comparisons between studies. A single aliquot (20-100 mg) of stool can be used to reflect the concentrations in the entire sample. These results help to standardize analyses in this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlin Hu
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Weiqun Wang
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kevin W Garey
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
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20
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Zgarbová E, Vrzal R. Skatole: A thin red line between its benefits and toxicity. Biochimie 2022; 208:1-12. [PMID: 36586563 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Skatole (3-methylindole) is a heterocyclic compound naturally found in the feces of vertebrates and is produced by certain flowers. Skatole has been used in specific products of the perfume industry or as a flavor additive in ice cream. Additionally, skatole is formed by tryptophan pyrolysis of tobacco and has been demonstrated to be a mutagen. Skatole-induced pulmonotoxicity was reliably described in ruminants and rodents, but no studies have been conducted in humans. Initially, we provide basic knowledge and a historical overview of skatole. Then, skatole bacterial formation in the intestine is described, and the importance of the microbiome during this process is evaluated. Increased skatole concentrations could serve as a marker for intestinal disease development. Therefore, the human molecular targets of skatole that may have significant effects on various processes in the human body are described. Ultimately, we suggest a link between skatole intestinal formation in humans and skatole-induced pulmonotoxicity, which should be explored further in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliška Zgarbová
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Vrzal
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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21
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Biocides with Controlled Degradation for Environmentally Friendly and Cost-Effective Fecal Sludge Management. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:biology12010045. [PMID: 36671737 PMCID: PMC9855048 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) exhibit high antimicrobial activity and are widely used as biocidal agents in chemical toilet additives for the management of fecal sludge (FS). Disposal of such biocide-treated FS to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a major environmental problem. It is possible to reduce environmental damage through the use of biocidal agents, which easily decompose after performing their main biocidal functions. In this work, it is proposed to use the fact of a gradual increase in pH of FS from the initial 7.5 to 9.0-10.0 due to the decomposition of urea. Six biocidal compounds were selected that are capable of rapidly degrading in an alkaline environment and one that naturally degrades upon prolonged incubation. Four of them: bronopol (30 mg/L), DBNPA (500 mg/L), Sharomix (500 mg/L), and sodium percarbonate (6000 mg/L) have shown promise for environmentally friendly management of FS. In selected dosage, they successfully reduced microbial activity under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and are cost-effective. After 10 days of incubation, degradation of the biocide occurred as measured by biological oxygen demand (BOD5) in biocide-treated FS. Such FS can be discharged to WWTP without severe damage to the activated sludge process, the need for dilution and additional procedures to neutralize toxicity.
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22
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Ahmad F, Tanguy S, Dubreuil A, Magnin A, Faucheron JL, de Loubens C. Flow simulations of rectal evacuation: towards a quantitative evaluation from video defaecography. Interface Focus 2022; 12:20220033. [PMID: 36330321 PMCID: PMC9560784 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2022.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanistic understanding of anorectal (patho)physiology is missing to improve the medical care of patients suffering from defaecation disorders. Our objective is to show that complex fluid dynamics modelling of video defaecography may open new perspectives in the diagnosis of defaecation disorders. Based on standard X-ray video defaecographies, we developed a bi-dimensional patient-specific simulation of the expulsion of soft materials, the faeces, by the rectum. The model quantified velocity, pressure and stress fields during the defaecation of a neostool with soft stool-like rheology for patients showing normal and pathological defaecatory function. In normal defaecation, the proximal-distal pressure gradient resulted from both the anorectal junction which formed a converging channel and the anal canal. The flow of the neostool through these anatomical parts was dominated by its shear-thinning viscous properties, rather than its yield stress. Consequently, the evacuation flow rate was significantly affected by variations in pressure applied by the rectum, and much less by the geometry of the anorectal junction. Lastly, we simulated impaired defaecations in the absence of obvious obstructive phenomena. Comparison with normal defaecation allowed us to discuss critical elements which should lead to effective medical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Ahmad
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Stéphane Tanguy
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP, TIMC, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Albert Magnin
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Luc Faucheron
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble INP, TIMC, Grenoble, France
- Department of Surgery, Colorectal Unit, CHU Grenoble Alpes, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Clément de Loubens
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, 38000 Grenoble, France
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23
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Affolter J, Brunner T, Hagger N, Vogel F. A prototype system for the hydrothermal oxidation of feces. WATER RESEARCH X 2022; 17:100160. [PMID: 36439704 PMCID: PMC9682356 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2022.100160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To ensure access to safe sanitation facilities in rural communities, cheap off-grid technologies need to be developed to substitute pit latrines and open defecation. In this study, we present a prototype system based on hydrothermal oxidation, which, under optimal conditions, converts a fecal sludge simulant almost completely to CO 2 and water, leaving behind only a carbon-poor aqueous phase with the minerals. The prototype has been designed to process the feces from two households. This technology does not only enable a fast and complete conversion, but is potentially also very energy efficient, as the feed does not require any pre-treatment or drying. The system was found to effectively remove 97-99% of the total organic carbon within a reaction time of 600 s under an external energy demand of roughly 4 kWh per kilogram of wet feces by using the oxygen in air as an oxidant. A total of ten experiments with varying injection pressure, total solids content of the feed, and residence time in the reactor were performed to find experimental settings with high conversion. Only when the residence time was decreased from 600 to 300 s did the conversion fall significantly below 97%. To reach a target value of 99.9% TOC conversion, the reactor temperature and/or the residence time must be increased further. To achieve a system applicable in regions with no connection to the energy grid, the thermal loss of the reactor insulation needs to be lowered further to achieve an overall thermally self-sustaining operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joël Affolter
- Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Technik, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Brunner
- Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Technik, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Hagger
- Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Technik, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Vogel
- Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Hochschule für Technik, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Laboratory for Bioenergy and Catalysis, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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24
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Liu Y, Yuan G, Xie F, An Y, Sun J, Zhao N, Deng Y, Li L, Singh SC, Ngo CV, Li W, Guo C. Fecalphobic oil-coated femtosecond-laser-processed PTFE surface. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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25
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Pájaro M, Fajar NM, Alonso AA, Otero-Muras I. Stochastic SIR model predicts the evolution of COVID-19 epidemics from public health and wastewater data in small and medium-sized municipalities: A one year study. CHAOS, SOLITONS, AND FRACTALS 2022; 164:112671. [PMID: 36091637 PMCID: PMC9448700 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2022.112671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The level of unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemics poses a challenge to effectively model its dynamic evolution. In this study we incorporate the inherent stochasticity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread by reinterpreting the classical compartmental models of infectious diseases (SIR type) as chemical reaction systems modeled via the Chemical Master Equation and solved by Monte Carlo Methods. Our model predicts the evolution of the pandemics at the level of municipalities, incorporating for the first time (i) a variable infection rate to capture the effect of mitigation policies on the dynamic evolution of the pandemics (ii) SIR-with-jumps taking into account the possibility of multiple infections from a single infected person and (iii) data of viral load quantified by RT-qPCR from samples taken from Wastewater Treatment Plants. The model has been successfully employed for the prediction of the COVID-19 pandemics evolution in small and medium size municipalities of Galicia (Northwest of Spain).
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Pájaro
- BioProcess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC. Spanish National Research Council, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain
- Universidade da Coruña, CITIC research center, Department of Mathematics, Campus Elviña s/n, A Coruña, 15071, Spain
| | - Noelia M Fajar
- BioProcess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC. Spanish National Research Council, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio A Alonso
- BioProcess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC. Spanish National Research Council, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain
| | - Irene Otero-Muras
- BioProcess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC. Spanish National Research Council, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology ISysBio (UV, CSIC) Spanish National Research Council, 46980, València, Spain
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26
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Zheng X, Li S, Deng Y, Xu X, Ding J, Lau FTK, In Yau C, Poon LLM, Tun HM, Zhang T. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater treatment plants mirrors the pandemic trend in Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157121. [PMID: 35787900 PMCID: PMC9249664 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has emerged as a cost-effective and unbiased tool for population-level testing in the community. In the present study, we conducted a 6-month wastewater monitoring campaign from three WWTPs of different flow rates and catchment area characteristics, which serve 28 % (2.1 million people) of Hong Kong residents in total. Wastewater samples collected daily or every other day were concentrated using ultracentrifugation and the SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA in the supernatant was detected using the N1 and E primer sets. The results showed significant correlations between the virus concentration and the number of daily new cases in corresponding catchment areas of the three WWTPs when using 7-day moving average values (Kendall's tau-b value: 0.227-0.608, p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 virus concentration was normalized to a fecal indicator using PMMoV concentration and daily flow rates, but the normalization did not enhance the correlation. The key factors contributing to the correlation were also evaluated, including the sampling frequency, testing methods, and smoothing days. This study demonstrates the applicability of wastewater surveillance to monitor overall SARS-CoV-2 pandemic dynamics in a densely populated city like Hong Kong, and provides a large-scale longitudinal reference for the establishment of the long-term sentinel surveillance in WWTPs for WBE of pathogens which could be combined into a city-wide public health observatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiawan Zheng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuxian Li
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Deng
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiahui Ding
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Frankie T K Lau
- Drainage Services Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Wanchai, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung In Yau
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leo L M Poon
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hein M Tun
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Center for Environmental Engineering Research, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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27
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Zurier HS, Goddard JM. Directed Immobilization of PETase on Mesoporous Silica Enables Sustained Depolymerase Activity in Synthetic Wastewater Conditions. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:4981-4992. [PMID: 36194455 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microplastic accumulation in terrestrial and aquatic environments is a growing environmental challenge. Biodegradation has shown promise as an intervention strategy for reducing the spread of microplastics. The wastewater treatment system is a key intervention point in microplastic biodegradation due to its pivotal role in the water cycle at the interface between human activity and the environmental. However, the best characterized microplastic degradation enzyme, PETase, lacks the stability to perform at scale in wastewater treatment. In this work, we show that genetic fusion of PETase to a silica binding peptide enables directed immobilization of the enzyme onto silica nanoparticles. PETase activity in simulated wastewater conditions is quantified by linear regression from time zero to the time of maximum fluorescence of a fluorescent oxidized product of PETase degradation of PET microfibers. Mesoporous silica is shown to be a superior support material to nonporous silica. The resulting biocatalytic nanomaterial has up to 2.5-fold enhanced stability and 6.2-fold increased activity compared to free enzyme in unbuffered, 40 °C simulated influent (ionic strength ∼15 mM). In unbuffered, 40 °C simulated effluent (ionic strength ∼700 μM), reaction velocity and overall catalytic activity were increased by the biocatalytic material 2.1-fold relative to free PETase. All reactions were performed in 0.2 mL volumes, and enzyme concentrations were normalized across both free and immobilized samples to 9 μg/mL. Site-directed mutagenesis is shown to be a complementary technique to directed immobilization, which may aid in optimization of the biomaterial for wastewater applications. PETase stabilization in application-relevant environments as shown here enables progress toward application of PETase for microplastic biodegradation in wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Zurier
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York14853, United States
| | - Julie M Goddard
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York14853, United States
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28
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Krause MJ, Detwiler N, Schwarber A, McCauley M. An evaluation of solar thermal heating to support a freeze-thaw anaerobic digestion system for human waste treatment in subarctic environments. RENEWABLE ENERGY 2022; 198:618-625. [PMID: 36760369 PMCID: PMC9907457 DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Remote locations, small communities, and weather prohibit the operation of piped sanitary sewers in many Alaska Native Villages (ANVs). Research was conducted to understand the technical feasibility of installing anaerobic digesters (ADs) in remote ANVs which would be heated by solar thermal collectors. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays were conducted to understand the effect of freezing and thawing on methanogenic activity of synthetic human feces. BMPs were frozen at -20 or -80 °C for 7 days and then incubated at psychrophilic (20 °C) or mesophilic (37 °C) conditions. Psychrophilic BMPs frozen at -20 or -80 °C yielded 453 ± 119 and 662 ± 77 mL CH4/g VS, respectively. Mesophilic BMPs frozen at -20 or -80 °C yielded 337 ± 59 and 495 ± 63 mL CH4/g VS, respectively. Freezing caused a lag period, but ultimately many of the assays reached yields similar to or even greater than the baseline, unfrozen assays. Monthly solar radiation and air temperature data were used to identify the number of solar thermal collectors that would be required to supplement heat energy to operate the ADs in several locations. Alaskan subarctic locations receive enough solar thermal energy in summer months to support seasonally operated, psychrophilic ADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J. Krause
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, 26 Martin Luther King Dr W, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Natalie Detwiler
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 26 Martin Luther King Dr W, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Amy Schwarber
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, 26 Martin Luther King Dr W, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Margaret McCauley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
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29
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Soller J, Jennings W, Schoen M, Boehm A, Wigginton K, Gonzalez R, Graham KE, McBride G, Kirby A, Mattioli M. Modeling infection from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations: promise, limitations, and future directions. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:1197-1211. [PMID: 36044189 PMCID: PMC10911093 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Estimating total infection levels, including unreported and asymptomatic infections, is important for understanding community disease transmission. Wastewater can provide a pooled community sample to estimate total infections that is independent of case reporting biases toward individuals with moderate to severe symptoms and by test-seeking behavior and access. We derive three mechanistic models for estimating community infection levels from wastewater measurements based on a description of the processes that generate SARS-CoV-2 RNA signals in wastewater and accounting for the fecal strength of wastewater through endogenous microbial markers, daily flow, and per-capita wastewater generation estimates. The models are illustrated through two case studies of wastewater data collected during 2020-2021 in Virginia Beach, VA, and Santa Clara County, CA. Median simulated infection levels generally were higher than reported cases, but at times, were lower, suggesting a discrepancy between the reported cases and wastewater data, or inaccurate modeling results. Daily simulated infection estimates showed large ranges, in part due to dependence on highly variable clinical viral fecal shedding data. Overall, the wastewater-based mechanistic models are useful for normalization of wastewater measurements and for understanding wastewater-based surveillance data for public health decision-making but are currently limited by lack of robust SARS-CoV-2 fecal shedding data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Soller
- Soller Environmental, LLC, 3022 King St, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA
| | - Wiley Jennings
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA E-mail:
| | - Mary Schoen
- Soller Environmental, LLC, 3022 King St, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA
| | - Alexandria Boehm
- Stanford University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Krista Wigginton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, Michigan, USA
| | - Raul Gonzalez
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District, 1434 Air Rail Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, USA
| | - Katherine E Graham
- Stanford University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Graham McBride
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA), Hillcrest, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Amy Kirby
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA E-mail:
| | - Mia Mattioli
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA E-mail:
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30
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Morvan M, Jacomo AL, Souque C, Wade MJ, Hoffmann T, Pouwels K, Lilley C, Singer AC, Porter J, Evens NP, Walker DI, Bunce JT, Engeli A, Grimsley J, O'Reilly KM, Danon L. An analysis of 45 large-scale wastewater sites in England to estimate SARS-CoV-2 community prevalence. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4313. [PMID: 35879277 PMCID: PMC9312315 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31753-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic can be weakened by under-reporting of cases, particularly due to asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infections, resulting in bias. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater can be used to infer infection prevalence, but uncertainty in sensitivity and considerable variability has meant that accurate measurement remains elusive. Here, we use data from 45 sewage sites in England, covering 31% of the population, and estimate SARS-CoV-2 prevalence to within 1.1% of estimates from representative prevalence surveys (with 95% confidence). Using machine learning and phenomenological models, we show that differences between sampled sites, particularly the wastewater flow rate, influence prevalence estimation and require careful interpretation. We find that SARS-CoV-2 signals in wastewater appear 4-5 days earlier in comparison to clinical testing data but are coincident with prevalence surveys suggesting that wastewater surveillance can be a leading indicator for symptomatic viral infections. Surveillance for viruses in wastewater complements and strengthens clinical surveillance, with significant implications for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Morvan
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Anna Lo Jacomo
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Celia Souque
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Matthew J Wade
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Till Hoffmann
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Koen Pouwels
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at University of Oxford in partnership with Public Health England, Oxford, UK
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chris Lilley
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
| | - Andrew C Singer
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Jonathan Porter
- Environment Agency, National Monitoring, Starcross, Exeter, EX6 8FD, UK
| | - Nicholas P Evens
- Environment Agency, National Monitoring, Starcross, Exeter, EX6 8FD, UK
| | - David I Walker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, DT4 8UB, UK
| | - Joshua T Bunce
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, SW1P 4DF, UK
| | - Andrew Engeli
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
| | - Jasmine Grimsley
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
| | - Kathleen M O'Reilly
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK.
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases & Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Leon Danon
- Data, Analytics, and Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency (Formerly part of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Department of Health and Social Care), London, SW1P 3JR, UK
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
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31
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Grego S, Welling CM, Miller GH, Coggan PF, Sellgren KL, Hawkins BT, Ginsburg GS, Ruiz JR, Fisher DA, Stoner BR. A hands-free stool sampling system for monitoring intestinal health and disease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10859. [PMID: 35760855 PMCID: PMC9237014 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14803-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of stool offers simple, non-invasive monitoring for many gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and access to the gut microbiome, however adherence to stool sampling protocols remains a major challenge because of the prevalent dislike of handling one's feces. We present a technology that enables individual stool specimen collection from toilet wastewater for fecal protein and molecular assay. Human stool specimens and a benchtop test platform integrated with a commercial toilet were used to demonstrate reliable specimen collection over a wide range of stool consistencies by solid/liquid separation followed by spray-erosion. The obtained fecal suspensions were used to perform occult blood tests for GI cancer screening and for microbiome 16S rRNA analysis. Using occult blood home test kits, we found overall 90% agreement with standard sampling, 96% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Microbiome analysis revealed no significant difference in within-sample species diversity compared to standard sampling and specimen cross-contamination was below the detection limit of the assay. Furthermore, we report on the use of an analogue turbidity sensor to assess in real time loose stools for tracking of diarrhea. Implementation of this technology in residential settings will improve the quality of GI healthcare by facilitating increased adherence to routine stool monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Grego
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Claire M Welling
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Graham H Miller
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter F Coggan
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Katelyn L Sellgren
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian T Hawkins
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Geoffrey S Ginsburg
- Duke Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jose R Ruiz
- Division of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Deborah A Fisher
- Division of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian R Stoner
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WaSH-AID), Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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32
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Disaster Risk Management, Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines, and Sanitation Challenges in South Africa. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14116934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
The current paper provides a review and meta-analysis of the practical implications of disaster risk management related to the ventilated improved latrines in South Africa. This technology is evaluated through its legacy and novel challenges of disaster risk reduction. In the current article, the methodology adopted was a literature review and meta-analyses. The results indicate that the in-situ treatment and breakdown of faecal sludge in the ventilated improved pit latrines is not always taking place and that anaerobic digestion might not always be feasible. New strategies are proposed to manage the sanitation-related risks in South Africa by specifying more exact dimensions for the newly built ventilated improved pit latrines by suggesting the use of novel sanitation additives such as fly ash to enhance on-site and in situ treatment, as well as ex situ treatment of the pit latrine faecal sludge. Regular maintenance can lead to prevention of the dysfunctional character of the ventilated improved pit latrines as a functional sanitation technology and a user-friendly hygiene barrier to the spread of sanitation/WASH-related epidemics or infectious diseases. The implementation of the novel strategies should be enhanced by the application of the (Environmental) Technology Assessment in sanitation service delivery in South Africa.
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33
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Soft elastic tubular reactor: An unconventional bioreactor for high-solids operations. Biochem Eng J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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34
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Zhu P, Pan X, Shen Y, Huang X, Yu F, Wu D, Feng Q, Zhou J, Li X. Biodegradation and potential effect of ranitidine during aerobic composting of human feces. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 296:134062. [PMID: 35202670 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ranitidine is widely concerned due to it is mainly related to the transformation into highly toxic carcinogenic products and non-readily biodegradable characteristics in aquatic environment. In this study, biodegradation of ranitidine during rural human feces (HF) aerobic composting was investigated. Results show that both levels of ranitidine are quickly removed in the first-3-day composting. The microorganisms play a vital role in the ranitidine degradation, especially for Firmicutes at the thermophilic period. The effect of ranitidine on the aerobic composting was further analyzed under the normal content (10 mg/kg) and high content (100 mg/kg). The 10 mg/kg ranitidine quickens temperature rise and organic matter degradation of the composting, while the 100 mg/kg ranitidine produces inhibiting effects. However, the effects only occur in the early stage of composting, and then tend to disappear with the removal of ranitidine. Fluorescence spectra confirm that humification and aromatization of dissolved organic matters (DOMs) in the substrates are fastened in 10 mg/kg group, while delayed in 100 mg/kg group. Metagenomic analysis reveals that relative abundances of Firmicutes and sequences related to carbohydrates metabolism increase in the groups mixed with the ranitidine at the early period. The findings provide the first new and systematical insights into degradation characteristics and potential effect of ranitidine during the rural HF composting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Xusheng Pan
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Yilin Shen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Xiang Huang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Fang Yu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Deli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, National Engineering Research Center for Urban Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Qingge Feng
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, 100 Daxue East Road, Nanning, 530004, PR China
| | - John Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Xiaowei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China.
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Manga M, Kolsky P, Rosenboom JW, Ramalingam S, Sriramajayam L, Bartram J, Stewart J. Public health performance of sanitation technologies in Tamil Nadu, India: Initial perspectives based on E. coli release. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 243:113987. [PMID: 35623255 PMCID: PMC9227721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Sanitation is intended to reduce the spread and burden of diseases transmitted from excreta. Pathogen reduction from excreta before sludge or effluent discharge to the environment would seem a logical and useful performance indicator for sanitation systems. However, the relative magnitudes of pathogen release from common sanitation technologies are not well understood. We, therefore, investigated the feasibility of performance measurement of different sanitation technologies in Tamil Nadu, India in reducing the release of the pathogen indicator Escherichia coli (E. coli). After conducting users’ surveys and technical assessments of the locally prevalent sanitation systems, we classified them into 7 distinct categories (based on both observed physical characteristic and usage) within a widely-accepted physical typology. Faecal sludge and wastewater samples were collected and analysed for E. coli and total solids from 136 household systems, 24 community systems, and 23 sanitary sewer oveflows. We estimated the average volumetric release rates of wastewater and faecal sludge from the different sanitation technologies. Average daily per capita E. coli release was computed, and used as one indicator of the public health performance of technologies. We found that on-site installations described by owners as “septic systems” included diverse forms of tanks and pits of uncertain performance. We observed a statistically significant difference in the average daily per capita E. coli release from different sanitation technologies (p = 0.00001). Pathogen release from the studied on-site sanitation technologies varied by as much as 5 orders of magnitude from “lined pits” (5.4 Log10 E. coli per person per day) to “overflowing sanitary sewers” and “direct discharge pipes” (10.3–10.5 Log10 E. coli per person per day). Other technologies lay between these extremes, and their performances in E. coli removal also varied significantly, in both statistical and practical terms. Our results suggest that although faecal sludge management along the sanitation service chain is important, sanitation planners of the observed systems (and probably elsewhere) should direct higher priority to proper management of the liquid effluents from these systems to minimize public health hazards. We conclude that (i) the work demonstrates a new and promising approach for estimating the public health performance of differing sanitation technologies, (ii) if E.coli is accepted as an indicator of the public health hazard of releases from sanitation systems, our results strongly suggest that safe containment of excreta for an extended period substantially reduces pathogen numbers and the risk of pathogen release into the environment; and (iii) there are some simple but little-used technical improvements to design and construction of on-site sanitation systems which could significantly reduce the release of pathogens to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musa Manga
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Construction Economics and Management, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Pete Kolsky
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Sudha Ramalingam
- PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Off, Avinashi Rd, Masakalipalayam, Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641004, India
| | - Lavanya Sriramajayam
- PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Off, Avinashi Rd, Masakalipalayam, Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641004, India
| | - Jamie Bartram
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jill Stewart
- The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC, 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Shahid MA, Maqbool N, Khan SJ. An integrated investigation on anaerobic membrane-based thickening of fecal sludge and the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in solid-liquid separation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 305:114350. [PMID: 34974220 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pre-thickening or primary treatment of fecal sludge (FS) is a major bottleneck in designing fecal sludge treatment plants. This research demonstrates a practical analysis to improve the thickening efficiency of FS using woven fiber microfiltration membrane. A laboratory-scale anaerobic membrane-based thickening tank (MBTT) was investigated. Firstly, the system was operated with unconditioned FS at a flux range of 1-3 L/m2h. Secondly, the system was operated at an optimized flux of 2 L/m2h with conditioners, chitosan, and charcoal dust, at their optimized dosages reported in previous studies. It was observed that the solids accumulation in MBTT was linear and was specific to net solids accumulation. Feed FS was thickened to around 15% of total solids (TS) in 9-14 days. The overall solids accumulation rate was higher with conditioned FS. The less EPS accumulation and higher dewaterability in conditioned FS reduced the brushing frequency of the membrane and consequently, the average filtration duration per cycle was increased. Strong correlations of dewatering time with floc size, EPS, and electrical conductivity, indicated that higher EPS in FS tends to form flocs which can increase the dewatering rate in unstabilized FS. In permeate, the average TS and CODt removal observed were 72-78% and 87-91%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arslan Shahid
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Nida Maqbool
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sher Jamal Khan
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Ganesa Pillai M, Goyal S, Zawar A, Kumar MSA, Bakshi HS, C V, Nakamura K. An experimental study probing moisture kinetics and indices of microwave dried fecal sludge with an insight on real world applications. SEP SCI TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2022.2041034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Ganesa Pillai
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore INDIA
| | - Sparsh Goyal
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore INDIA
| | - Aditya Zawar
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore INDIA
| | - M S Arun Kumar
- Mass Transfer Group, School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore INDIA
| | - Harshdeep Singh Bakshi
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington, UK
| | - Vijayalakshmi C
- Department of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Central University of Tamil Nadu,Thiruvarur India
| | - Kazuho Nakamura
- Division of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Yokohama National University, Kanagawa JAPAN
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Wang Z, Yang W, Hua P, Zhang J, Krebs P. Transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in the watershed triggered by domestic wastewater discharge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150888. [PMID: 34634348 PMCID: PMC8501193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150888] [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: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has already become an unprecedented global pandemic. However, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially the protected SARS-CoV-2 RNA (pRNA) with infectious particles in waterways, is still largely unexplored. In this study, we developed a model to estimate SARS-CoV-2 transmission from the risk source in the excretion of patients to the final exposure in surface water. The model simulated the spatial and temporal distribution of the viral pRNA concentrations in the surface water of the Elbe watershed from March 2020 to January 2021. The results show that the WWTPs with the maximum capacity of >10,000 population equivalents were responsible for 95% of the viral load discharged into the surface water. We estimated the pRNA concentrations in surface water to be 1.33 × 10-2 copies·L-1 on average in the watershed based on the model simulation on viral transmission. It had considerable variations in spatial and temporal scales, which are dominantly controlled by epidemic situations and virus transport with decay in water, respectively. A quantitative microbial risk assessment was conducted to estimate the viral infection probability from surface water ingestion with consideration of the influence of toilet usage frequency and gender/age population groups. All the infection probabilities in the study period were lower than the reference risk levels of 10-4 and 10-5. The individuals aged 15-34 years had the highest infection probability of 4.86 × 10-9 on average from surface water ingestion during swimming activities. The data provided herein suggest that the low pRNA concentrations and infection probability reflected that the waterways were unlikely to be a significant transmission route for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wenyu Yang
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Pei Hua
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, 510632 Guangzhou, China
| | - Peter Krebs
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
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Yan Z, Liu Y, Zhang T, Zhang F, Ren H, Zhang Y. Analysis of Microplastics in Human Feces Reveals a Correlation between Fecal Microplastics and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Status. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:414-421. [PMID: 34935363 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 100.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Human ingestion of microplastics (MPs) is inevitable due to the ubiquity of MPs in various foods and drinking water. Whether the ingestion of MPs poses a substantial risk to human health is far from understood. Here, by analyzing the characteristics of MPs in the feces of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and healthy people, for the first time, we found that the fecal MP concentration in IBD patients (41.8 items/g dm) was significantly higher than that in healthy people (28.0 items/g dm). In total, 15 types of MPs were detected in feces, with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (22.3-34.0%) and polyamide (8.9-12.4%) being dominant, and their primary shapes were sheets and fibers, respectively. We present evidence indicating that a positive correlation exists between the concentration of fecal MPs and the severity of IBD. Combining a questionnaire survey and the characteristics of fecal MPs, we conclude that the plastic packaging of drinking water and food and dust exposure are important sources of human exposure to MPs. Furthermore, the positive correlation between fecal MPs and IBD status suggests that MP exposure may be related to the disease process or that IBD exacerbates the retention of MPs. The relative mechanisms deserve further studies. Our results also highlight that fecal MPs are useful for assessing human MP exposure and potential health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yafei Liu
- Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Faming Zhang
- Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
- Key Lab of Holistic Integrative Enterology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Hongqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Kinyua M, Stuart K. Comparison of Metabolic Kinetics during High and Low Solids Anaerobic Digestion of Fecal Sludge. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 119:1164-1170. [PMID: 34935126 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
High solids anaerobic digestion (HS-AD) is an attractive energy producing technology; however, high total solids (TS) content may inhibit methanogens due to high volatile fatty acid (VFA) and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations. The objective of this paper is to quantify rate limiting metabolic kinetic parameters to determine the influence of TS content during anaerobic digestion of fecal sludge. Two TS content; 11 and 17% microcosms were analyzed. Good performance was observed in both systems, with VS removals greater than 50%, CH4 yield between 0.44-0.56 m3 CH4 /g VS added and cumulative CH4 production between 1.78-2.03 m3 CH4 / m3 digester-day. At 11% TS VFA consumption and VS removal had a positive correlation to CH4 production while the 17% TS microcosm had a negative correlation with both. This is the first study to determine the kinetic parameters for hydrolysis, VFA consumption and methanogenesis during digestion of fecal sludge. These kinetic parameters are necessary in the design and operation of anaerobic digestion systems treating fecal sludge. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Kinyua
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Ghausi 2001, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Kara Stuart
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Ghausi 2001, Davis, CA, 95616
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41
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Mercer E, Usher SP, McAdam EJ, Stoner B, Bajón-Fernández Y. Rheological characterisation of synthetic and fresh faeces to inform on solids management strategies for non-sewered sanitation systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113730. [PMID: 34537558 PMCID: PMC8542804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In order to obviate the economic issues associated with pit latrine emptying and transport such as high water additions and rheologically difficult sludge properties, the implications of prompt solid/liquid separation were investigated. This was achieved through rheological characterisation of fresh human faeces and synthetic faeces, and comparison with aged faecal sludges. Shear yield stress, thixotropy and post-shear structural recovery were characterised for a total solids (TS) concentration range of 5-35% total solids (TS) and stickiness yield stress was determined for concentrations up to 100% TS. Fresh faeces rheology proved to be favourable when compared to aged matrices, evidenced by a lower shear yield stress and higher gel point solids concentration, suggesting that aging could alter the physico-chemical properties of faecal sludge. Fresh and synthetic faeces exhibited similar shear thinning, thixotropic behaviour with the majority of structural breakdown occurring at a low shear rate of 10 s-1, and the extent increasing with higher solids concentrations. At 32% TS, fresh faeces shear yield stress was permanently reduced by 80%, suggesting that low shear pumping could reduce the energy demand required for faeces transport. The sticky phase, which represents the region to avoid faecal transport and mechanical drying processes, was identified to range from 30 to 50% TS, with 25% TS as ideal to commence dewatering processes. This also coincides with the average solids concentration of faeces, which is achievable by source separation. This study has identified that handling of fresh faeces as opposed to aged faecal sludges would result in economic and environmental benefits, with energy, water and labour savings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwina Mercer
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Shane P Usher
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Ewan J McAdam
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Brian Stoner
- Centre for WASH-AID, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, United States
| | - Yadira Bajón-Fernández
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
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Seleman A, Gabrielsson S, Kimwaga R. Faecal sludge containment characteristics and their implications on safe desludging in unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:112924. [PMID: 34147994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In unplanned urban settlements, where onsite sanitation systems are the norm, desludging of faecal sludge (FS) containments is a necessity because of the lack of land space to enable new construction. Poorly designed toilet facilities however may jeopardize the progress towards attainment of safely managed sanitation. This study examined FS characteristics and containment design and their effect on safe desludging with a case of two selected unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The analysis focused on design features for the strength of the containment, access to the containment, and desludging characteristics of the FS. The Desludgeability potential of FS was determined on basis of flow behaviour explained in terms of moisture content and volatile solids. Research results showed that partially lined pits, lack of containment access holes and solid wastes are design and usage features which negatively affect containment strength and potential for safe desludging. The analysis further found that, only 54.8% of containments studied have FS that can be desludged by either mechanized or hand pumps. Pour flush toilets and septic tanks indicated a slightly higher potential for safe desludging compared to traditional pit latrines, however, the difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.180). Thus, safe desludging is a problem across all types of containments. To enhance safe desludging in Dar es Salaam, three key design features and usage ought to be urgently addressed: first, a requirement to ensure that all pits are fully lined inside, second, the mandatory presence of an access hole for FS desludging and third, limitations on solid waste entering the pits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amour Seleman
- Department of Water Resources Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Sara Gabrielsson
- Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, Lund University, Box 170, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Richard Kimwaga
- Department of Water Resources Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Mercer E, Usher SP, McAdam EJ, Stoner B, Bajón-Fernández Y. On the compressional rheology of fresh faeces: Evidence for improving community scale sanitation through localised dewatering. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 204:117526. [PMID: 34461495 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Non-sewered sanitation is currently dependant upon pit latrine emptying, the safety of which is compromised by the high costs of faecal sludge transport to centralised treatment facilities. Transport in turn is hindered by the complex rheology of pit latrine sludge. This study therefore characterised the compressional rheology of fresh faeces and modelled the implications for passive (gravity) or mechanical (forced) solid/liquid separation. This informs on the viability of decentralising dewatering for more efficient volume reduction and improving the economics of transportation. The gel point (ϕg) is the solids concentration where the material has a networked structure and signifies the point when mechanical intervention is required for further solid-liquid separation. For fresh faeces, ϕg ranged between 6.3 and 15.6% total solids (TS) concentration. This is significantly higher than the ϕg observed for wastewater sludge at centralised facilities, and it implies that passive gravity driven processes can suffice to improve localised dewatering. The kinetics of passive sedimentation of faecal material were modelled and illustrate thickening from 3 to 10% TS concentration in <0.5 h. This highlights that early intervention to thicken faeces while fresh can improve solid/liquid separation efficiency. Filtration of fresh faeces was characterised by lengthy cake filtration times and comparably short compression times, more similar to mineral slurries than to wastewater sludge. Consequently, fresh faeces presented improved dewatering characteristics, supporting higher final cake solids concentrations and improved dewatering kinetics. By complementing thickening with 300 kPa filtration, a 1.4 cm thick 25% TS product could be achieved in <24 h. Investigation of matrix properties highlighted that increased conductivity (e.g. exposure to urine) negatively influenced dewaterability, an effect which could be mitigated by introducing solid-liquid separation earlier. The thermodynamically favourable compressional rheology of fresh faeces has identified that focussing on localised dewatering could radically improve the economics of faecal sludge management, primarily through reducing transport costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwina Mercer
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Shane P Usher
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Ewan J McAdam
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Stoner
- Centre for WASH-AID, Duke University, United States
| | - Yadira Bajón-Fernández
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
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Acquah MN, Essandoh HMK, Oduro-Kwarteng S, Appiah-Effah E, Owusu PA. Degradation and accumulation rates of fresh human excreta during vermicomposting by Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 293:112817. [PMID: 34091141 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study was carried out to assess the degradation and accumulation rates of fresh human excreta and how addition of anal cleansing materials affect performance during vermicomposting by Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae. Vermicomposting setups consisting of two transparent containers (length 0.27 m, breadth 0.17 m and depth 0.12 m) stacked on top of each other were installed and operated under laboratory conditions. Earthworms, Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae, were obtained from Green Cycle Technologies Limited in Accra, Ghana and the species verified and cultured before use. Fresh human excreta for feeding the experimental setups was collected from an Enviro-loo public toilet and 13 g applied to the setups daily. Similar setups were fed with 0.3 g of anal cleansing material in addition to the fresh excreta. A setup without any earthworms (NW) was set up as a control. Physicochemical characteristics of vermicompost accumulating in the setups were determined weekly for 28 days using standard laboratory procedures while the sludge accumulated in the various setups were weighed and recorded daily. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post-hoc LSD tests were conducted to determine whether the differences in results between the two earthworm species and among setups with and without anal cleansing materials were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). The study showed 12.3% and 26.2% reduction in volatile solids in EE (Eudrilus eugeniae and excreta only) and EF (Eisenia fetida and excreta only) while ash content increased indicating good degradation. The percentage mass reductions recorded at the end of the fourth week were 67.5%, 58.8% and 40.5% in systems EE, EF and NW respectively, while reductions of 73.7% and 68.5% were realized in EEA (Eudrilus eugeniae with excreta and toilet paper) and EFA (Eisenia fetida with excreta and toilet paper) respectively. There was greater amount of sludge accumulated in systems without earthworms, 0.00020 m3 (59.5%) in NW, than in systems with earthworms where 0.00011 m3 (32.5%) and 0.00014 m3 (41.2%) were recorded for EE and EF respectively. The rate of accumulation in vermibeds EE and EF was relatively higher than in vermibeds with excreta and toilet paper (EEA and EFA). EEA and EFA recorded accumulation rates of 0.00009 m3 (26.3%) and 0.00011 m3 (31.5%) respectively. Complete removal of helminth eggs was not achieved in any of the treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nyame Acquah
- Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Helen Michelle Korkor Essandoh
- Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng
- Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eugene Appiah-Effah
- Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Ryan L, Wong Y, Dwyer KM, Clarke D, Kyprian L, Craig JM. Coprocytobiology: A Technical Review of Cytological Colorectal Cancer Screening in Fecal Samples. SLAS Technol 2021; 26:591-604. [PMID: 34219541 DOI: 10.1177/24726303211024562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Ryan
- Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - YenTing Wong
- Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
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Kasai H, Kawai K. New Plausible Mechanism for Gastric and Colorectal Carcinogenesis: Free Radical-Mediated Acetaldehyde Generation in a Heme/Myoglobin-Linoleate-Ethanol Mixture. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:12014-12021. [PMID: 34056355 PMCID: PMC8153976 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have revealed that alcohol, red meat, and cooking oil (or linoleate) are risk factors for both gastric and colon cancers. A survey of the mutation spectra of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in these cancers suggested that the types of mutations and the hot spots are similar to those induced by acetaldehyde (AcAld) in an in vitro p53 mutation analysis system. Accordingly, various combinations of possible factors, components, or model compounds were reacted in an emulsion and tested for the generation of AcAld. Efficient AcAld formation was only observed with combinations of three factors, red meat homogenate (or heme/myoglobin), methyl linoleate, and ethanol, but not by any combination of the two. The generated AcAld levels (ca. 500 μM) far exceeded the minimum mutagenic concentration (40-100 μM) obtained using concentrations of meat homogenate (or heme/Mb), linoleate, and ethanol comparable to those in the stomach after an ordinary meal. A mutagenic level of AcAld (75 μM) was also generated with a physiological concentration of ethanol, heme, and linoleate in the colon. As a mechanism, linoleate hydroperoxide formation and its decomposition in the presence of myoglobin (or heme) to generate the OH radical seem to be involved in the ethanol-to-AcAld conversion.
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Oishi W, Kadoya SS, Nishimura O, B Rose J, Sano D. Hierarchical Bayesian modeling for predictive environmental microbiology toward a safe use of human excreta: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 284:112088. [PMID: 33582482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The pathogen concentration in human excreta needs to be managed appropriately, but a predictive approach has yet to be implemented due to a lack of kinetics models for pathogen inactivation that are available under varied environmental conditions. Our goals were to develop inactivation kinetics models of microorganisms applicable under varied environmental conditions of excreta matrices and to identify the appropriate indicators that can be monitored during disinfection processes. We conducted a systematic review targeting previous studies that presented time-course decay of a microorganism and environmental conditions of matrices. Defined as a function of measurable factors including treatment time, pH, temperature, ammonia concentration and moisture content, the kinetic model parameters were statistically estimated using hierarchical Bayesian modeling. The inactivation kinetics models were constructed for Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Enterococcus, Ascaris eggs, bacteriophage MS2, enterobacteria phage phiX174 and adenovirus. The inactivation rates of a microorganism were predicted using the established model. Ascaris eggs were identified as the most tolerant microorganisms, followed by bacteriophage MS2 and Enterococcus. Ammonia concentration, temperature and moisture content were the critical factors for the Ascaris inactivation. Our model predictions coincided with the current WHO guidelines. The developed inactivation kinetics models enable us to predict microbial concentration in excreta matrices under varied environmental conditions, which is essential for microbiological risk management in emerging resource recovery practices from human excreta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wakana Oishi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan
| | - Syun-Suke Kadoya
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan
| | - Osamu Nishimura
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan; Department of Frontier Sciences for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8597, Japan.
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Shutler JD, Zaraska K, Holding T, Machnik M, Uppuluri K, Ashton IGC, Migdał Ł, Dahiya RS. Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk for Fecally Contaminated River Water. ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:949-957. [PMID: 33880460 PMCID: PMC7931626 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.0c00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), airborne water droplets have been identified as the main transmission route. Identifying and breaking all viable transmission routes are critical to stop future outbreaks, and the potential of transmission by water has been highlighted. By modifying established approaches, we provide a method for the rapid assessment of the risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water and give example results for 39 countries. The country relative risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water is related to the environment and the populations' infection rate and water usage. On the basis of in vitro data and using temperature as the primary controller of survival, we then demonstrate how viral loads likely decrease after a spill. These methods using readily available data suggest that sewage spills into rivers within countries with high infection rates could provide infectious doses of >40 copies per 100 mL of water. The approach, implemented in the supplementary spreadsheet, can provide a fast estimate of the upper and lower viral load ranges following a riverine spill. The results enable evidence-based research recommendations for wastewater epidemiology and could be used to evaluate the significance of fecal-oral transmission within freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Holding
- University
of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K.
| | - Monika Machnik
- Łukasiewicz-Institute
of Electron Technology, 01-919 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Łukasz Migdał
- University
of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-239 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ravinder S. Dahiya
- Bendable
Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
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Shutler JD, Zaraska K, Holding T, Machnik M, Uppuluri K, Ashton IGC, Migdał Ł, Dahiya RS. Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk for Fecally Contaminated River Water. ACS ES&T WATER 2021; 1:949-957. [PMID: 33880460 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.17.20133504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), airborne water droplets have been identified as the main transmission route. Identifying and breaking all viable transmission routes are critical to stop future outbreaks, and the potential of transmission by water has been highlighted. By modifying established approaches, we provide a method for the rapid assessment of the risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water and give example results for 39 countries. The country relative risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water is related to the environment and the populations' infection rate and water usage. On the basis of in vitro data and using temperature as the primary controller of survival, we then demonstrate how viral loads likely decrease after a spill. These methods using readily available data suggest that sewage spills into rivers within countries with high infection rates could provide infectious doses of >40 copies per 100 mL of water. The approach, implemented in the supplementary spreadsheet, can provide a fast estimate of the upper and lower viral load ranges following a riverine spill. The results enable evidence-based research recommendations for wastewater epidemiology and could be used to evaluate the significance of fecal-oral transmission within freshwater systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Holding
- University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K
| | - Monika Machnik
- Łukasiewicz-Institute of Electron Technology, 01-919 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Ian G C Ashton
- University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, U.K
| | - Łukasz Migdał
- University of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-239 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ravinder S Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K
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Chavarria-Miró G, Anfruns-Estrada E, Martínez-Velázquez A, Vázquez-Portero M, Guix S, Paraira M, Galofré B, Sánchez G, Pintó RM, Bosch A. Time Evolution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wastewater during the First Pandemic Wave of COVID-19 in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, Spain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e02750-20. [PMID: 33483313 PMCID: PMC8091622 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02750-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Two large wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), covering around 2.7 million inhabitants, which represents around 85% of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, were sampled before, during, and after the implementation of a complete lockdown. Five one-step reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays, targeting the polymerase (IP2 and IP4), the envelope (E), and the nucleoprotein (N1 and N2) genome regions, were employed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA detection in 24-h composite wastewater samples concentrated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a sewage sample collected 41 days ahead of the declaration of the first COVID-19 case. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 genome copies in wastewater evidenced the validity of water-based epidemiology (WBE) to anticipate COVID-19 outbreaks, to evaluate the impact of control measures, and even to estimate the burden of shedders, including presymptomatic, asymptomatic, symptomatic, and undiagnosed cases. For the latter objective, a model was applied for the estimation of the total number of shedders, evidencing a high proportion of asymptomatic infected individuals. In this way, an infection prevalence of 2.0 to 6.5% was figured. On the other hand, proportions of around 0.12% and 0.09% of the total population were determined to be required for positive detection in the two WWTPs. At the end of the lockdown, SARS-CoV-2 RNA apparently disappeared in the WWTPs but could still be detected in grab samples from four urban sewers. Sewer monitoring allowed for location of specific hot spots of COVID-19, enabling the rapid adoption of appropriate mitigation measures.IMPORTANCE Water-based epidemiology (WBE) is a valuable early warning tool for tracking the circulation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among the population, including not only symptomatic patients but also asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and misdiagnosed carriers, which represent a high proportion of the infected population. In the specific case of Barcelona, wastewater surveillance anticipated by several weeks not only the original COVID-19 pandemic wave but also the onset of the second wave. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 occurrence in wastewater evidenced the efficacy of the adopted lockdown measures on the circulation of the virus. Health authorities profited from WBE to complement other inputs and adopt rapid and adequate measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. For example, sentinel surveillance of specific sewers helped to locate COVID-19 hot spots and to conduct massive numbers of RT-PCR tests among the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Chavarria-Miró
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Anfruns-Estrada
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adán Martínez-Velázquez
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Vázquez-Portero
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Guix
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Gloria Sánchez
- Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa M Pintó
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bosch
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Section of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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