1
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Silva M, Capps S, London JK. Community-Engaged Research and the Use of Open Access ToxVal/ToxRef In Vivo Databases and New Approach Methodologies (NAM) to Address Human Health Risks From Environmental Contaminants. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2395. [PMID: 39264239 PMCID: PMC11407745 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The paper analyzes opportunities for integrating Open access resources (Abstract Sifter, US EPA and NTP Toxicity Value and Toxicity Reference [ToxVal/ToxRefDB]) and New Approach Methodologies (NAM) integration into Community Engaged Research (CEnR). METHODS CompTox Chemicals Dashboard and Integrated Chemical Environment with in vivo ToxVal/ToxRef and NAMs (in vitro) databases are presented in three case studies to show how these resources could be used in Pilot Projects involving Community Engaged Research (CEnR) from the University of California, Davis, Environmental Health Sciences Center. RESULTS Case #1 developed a novel assay methodology for testing pesticide toxicity. Case #2 involved detection of water contaminants from wildfire ash and Case #3 involved contaminants on Tribal Lands. Abstract Sifter/ToxVal/ToxRefDB regulatory data and NAMs could be used to screen/prioritize risks from exposure to metals, PAHs and PFAS from wildfire ash leached into water and to investigate activities of environmental toxins (e.g., pesticides) on Tribal lands. Open access NAMs and computational tools can apply to detection of sensitive biological activities in potential or known adverse outcome pathways to predict points of departure (POD) for comparison with regulatory values for hazard identification. Open access Systematic Empirical Evaluation of Models or biomonitoring exposures are available for human subpopulations and can be used to determine bioactivity (POD) to exposure ratio to facilitate mitigation. CONCLUSIONS These resources help prioritize chemical toxicity and facilitate regulatory decisions and health protective policies that can aid stakeholders in deciding on needed research. Insights into exposure risks can aid environmental justice and health equity advocates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Silva
- Co-Chair Community Stakeholders' Advisory Committee, University of California (UC Davis), Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC), Davis, California, USA
| | - Shosha Capps
- Co-Director Community Engagement Core, UC Davis EHSC, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jonathan K London
- Department of Human Ecology and Faculty Director Community Engagement Core, UC Davis EHSC, Sacramento, California, USA
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2
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Holder AL, Sullivan AP. Emissions, Chemistry, and the Environmental Impacts of Wildland Fire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39133033 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
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3
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González DJ, Morello-Frosch R, Liu Z, Willis MD, Feng Y, McKenzie LM, Steiger BB, Wang J, Deziel NC, Casey JA. Wildfires increasingly threaten oil and gas wells in the western United States with disproportionate impacts on marginalized populations. ONE EARTH (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2024; 7:1044-1055. [PMID: 39036466 PMCID: PMC11259100 DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The western United States is home to most of the nation's oil and gas production and, increasingly, wildfires. We examined historical threats of wildfires for oil and gas wells, the extent to which wildfires are projected to threaten wells as climate change progresses, and exposure of human populations to these wells. From 1984-2019, we found that cumulatively 102,882 wells were located in wildfire burn areas, and 348,853 people were exposed (resided ≤ 1 km). During this period, we observed a five-fold increase in the number of wells in wildfire burn areas and a doubling of the population within 1 km of these wells. These trends are projected to increase by late century, likely threatening human health. Approximately 2.9 million people reside within 1 km of wells in areas with high wildfire risk, and Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American people have disproportionately high exposure to wildfire-threatened wells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J.X. González
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
- Lead contact
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Zehua Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mary D. Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Yan Feng
- Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, United States of America
| | - Lisa M. McKenzie
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Benjamin B. Steiger
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jiali Wang
- Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, United States of America
| | - Nicole C. Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Joan A. Casey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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4
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Barkoski J, Van Fleet E, Liu A, Ramsey S, Kwok RK, Miller AK. Data Linkages for Wildfire Exposures and Human Health Studies: A Scoping Review. GEOHEALTH 2024; 8:e2023GH000991. [PMID: 38487553 PMCID: PMC10937504 DOI: 10.1029/2023gh000991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, with significant consequences that impact human health. A scoping review was conducted to: (a) understand wildfire-related health effects, (b) identify and describe environmental exposure and health outcome data sources used to research the impacts of wildfire exposures on health, and (c) identify gaps and opportunities to leverage exposure and health data to advance research. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and a sample of 83 articles met inclusion criteria. A majority of studies focused on respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. Hospital administrative data was the most common health data source, followed by government data sources and health surveys. Wildfire smoke, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), was the most common exposure measure and was predominantly estimated from monitoring networks and satellite data. Health data were not available in real-time, and they lacked spatial and temporal coverage to study health outcomes with longer latency periods. Exposure data were often available in real-time and provided better temporal and spatial coverage but did not capture the complex mixture of hazardous wildfire smoke pollutants nor exposures associated with non-air pathways such as soil, household dust, food, and water. This scoping review of the specific health and exposure data sources used to underpin these studies provides a framework for the research community to understand: (a) the use and value of various environmental and health data sources, and (b) the opportunities for improving data collection, integration, and accessibility to help inform our understanding of wildfires and other environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Barkoski
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - E. Van Fleet
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - A. Liu
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
- Kelly Government SolutionsRockvilleMDUSA
| | - S. Ramsey
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.a DLH Holdings CompanyDurhamNCUSA
| | - R. K. Kwok
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute on AgingNational Institutes of HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - A. K. Miller
- Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthDurhamNCUSA
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5
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James BD, Reddy CM, Hahn ME, Nelson RK, de Vos A, Aluwihare LI, Wade TL, Knap AH, Bera G. Fire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V X-Press Pearl Disaster. ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU 2023; 3:319-335. [PMID: 37743953 PMCID: PMC10515710 DOI: 10.1021/acsenvironau.3c00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl container ship burned for 2 weeks, leading to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles). The disaster was exacerbated by the leakage of other cargo and the ship's underway fuel. This disaster affords the unique opportunity to study a time-stamped, geolocated release of plastic under real-world conditions. Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles exposed to heat and combustion, burnt plastic pieces (pyroplastic), and oil-plastic agglomerates (petroplastic). An unresolved question is whether the 1600+ tons of spilled and recovered plastic should be considered hazardous waste. Due to the known formation and toxicity of combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured 20 parent and 21 alkylated PAHs associated with several types of spilled plastic. The maximum PAH content of the sampled pyroplastic had the greatest amount of PAHs recorded for marine plastic debris (199,000 ng/g). In contrast, the sampled unburnt white nurdles had two orders of magnitude less PAH content. The PAH composition varied between the types of spilled plastic and presented features typical of and conflicting with petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Nevertheless, specific markers and compositional changes for burning plastics were identified, revealing that the fire was the main source of PAHs. Eight months after the spill, the PAH contents of sampled stray nurdles and pyroplastic were reduced by more than 50%. Due to their PAH content exceeding levels allowable for plastic consumer goods, classifying burnt plastic as hazardous waste may be warranted. Following a largely successful cleanup, we recommend that the Sri Lankans re-evaluate the identification, handling, and disposal of the plastic debris collected from beaches and the potential exposure of responders and the public to PAHs from handling it. The maritime disaster underscores pyroplastic as a type of plastic pollution that has yet to be fully explored, despite the pervasiveness of intentional and unintentional burning of plastic globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D. James
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
- Biology
Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology
Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Robert K. Nelson
- Department
of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, United States
| | - Asha de Vos
- Oceanswell, 9 Park Gardens, Colombo 00500, Sri Lanka
- The
Oceans Institute, University of Western
Australia, 35 Stirling
Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Lihini I. Aluwihare
- Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Terry L. Wade
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
- Department
of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Anthony H. Knap
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
- Department
of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Gopal Bera
- Geochemical
and Environmental Research Group, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, United States
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6
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Belongia MF, Hammond Wagner C, Seipp KQ, Ajami NK. Building water resilience in the face of cascading wildfire risks. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf9534. [PMID: 37713490 PMCID: PMC10881079 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf9534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Severe wildfire is altering the natural and the built environment and posing risks to environmental and societal health and well-being, including cascading impacts to water systems and built water infrastructure. Research on wildfire-resilient water systems is growing but not keeping pace with the scale and severity of wildfire impacts, despite their intensifying threat. In this study, we evaluate the state of knowledge regarding wildfire-related hazards to water systems. We propose a holistic framework to assess interactions and feedback loops between water quality, quantity, and infrastructure hazards as determinants of post-fire water availability and access. Efforts to address the evolving threat of wildfires to water systems will require more interdisciplinary research on the complex relationships shaping wildfire's threat to water availability and access. To support this, we need reliable long-term data availability, consistent metrics, greater research in shared contexts, more extensive research beyond the burn area, and multistakeholder collaboration on wildfire risks to water systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan F. Belongia
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Courtney Hammond Wagner
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Newsha K. Ajami
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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7
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Lyle ZJ, VanBriesen JM, Samaras C. Drinking Water Utility-Level Understanding of Climate Change Effects to System Reliability. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:2395-2406. [PMID: 37588803 PMCID: PMC10426323 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change hazards, including increased temperatures, drought, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, wildfires, and changes in freeze-thaw cycles, are expected to degrade drinking water utility system infrastructure and decrease the reliability of water provision. To assess how drinking water utility manager perceptions of these risks affect utility planning, 60 semistructured interviews were conducted with utilities of various sizes, source water supplies, and United States geographical regions. This study analyzes these interviews (1) to evaluate which climate hazards are of primary concern to drinking water managers, (2) to develop a mental model framework for assessing utility-level understanding of climate change risks to system reliability, and (3) to examine the status of current water utility adaptation planning. The results show that concern and awareness of climate hazard risks vary geographically and are grounded in historical exposure; some participants do not believe climate change will influence their system's overall reliability. When considering climate change risks, utility managers tend to focus on effects to water supply and infrastructure, as opposed to changes in operations and maintenance, water quality, or business functions. Most surveyed utilities do not have comprehensive climate adaptation plans despite federal and professional recommendations. The range of beliefs and actions concerning climate adaptation planning indicates that utilities need directed guidance, and policymakers should consider including climate hazards and projections as part of required utility risk and resilience assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia J. Lyle
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Jeanne M. VanBriesen
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Constantine Samaras
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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8
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Haupert LM, Garcia-Bakarich LM, Sojda N, Schupp DA, Magnuson ML. Benzene Diffusion and Partitioning in Contaminated Drinking Water Pipes under Stagnant Conditions. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:2247-2254. [PMID: 37841341 PMCID: PMC10569255 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Benzene contamination in drinking water systems affected by wildfires is a problem of emerging concern. Polyethylene pipes used in service lines and premise plumbing are vulnerable to permeation by benzene and can potentially cause challenges in sampling and remediation of contaminated systems. However, the kinetics and equilibria of the uptake of benzene by and release of benzene from pipes of differing polyethylene types and manufacturers are not well studied, leading to additional uncertainty when interpreting sampling data and selecting remediation options. This work addresses this data gap by providing diffusion and partitioning data for benzene and several varieties of polyethylene pipes, including field samples from water distribution systems. All polyethylene pipes that were studied exhibited similar partitioning behavior during benzene uptake and release, but some differences in kinetics were observed among pipes. However, these differences were of minor practical importance in the pipe contamination scenario examined in this work. The results of this study can be used in conjunction with diffusion modeling to inform remediation decisions for benzene-contaminated, polyethylene service lines, and premise plumbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi M Haupert
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, United States
| | | | - Nicole Sojda
- Aptim Federal Services, LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio 45204, United States
| | - Donald A Schupp
- Aptim Federal Services, LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio 45204, United States
| | - Matthew L Magnuson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, United States
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9
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Jung K, Khan A, Mocharnuk R, Olivo-Marston S, McDaniel JT. Clinical encounter with three cancer patients affected by groundwater contamination at Camp Lejeune: a case series and review of the literature. J Med Case Rep 2022; 16:272. [PMID: 35818079 PMCID: PMC9275133 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-022-03501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Advanced understanding of tumor biology has recently revealed the complexity of cancer genetics, intra/inter-tumor heterogeneity, and diverse mechanisms of resistance to cancer treatment. In turn, there has been a growing interest in cancer prevention and minimizing exposure to potential environmental carcinogens that surround us. In the 1980s, several chemical carcinogens, including perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and benzene, were detected in water systems supplying Camp Lejeune, a US Marine Corps Base Camp located in North Carolina. Case presentation This article presents three cases of cancer patients who have lived at Camp Lejeune, and, decades later, came to our clinic located 1000 miles from the original exposure site. The first patient is a young Caucasian man who was diagnosed with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 37, and the second patient is a Caucasian man who had multiple types of cancer in the prostate, lung, and colon as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia in his 60s and 70s. The third patient is another Caucasian man who had recurrent skin cancers of different histology, namely basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and melanoma, from his 50s to 70s. Conclusions The US Congress passed the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act in 2012, which covers appropriate medical care for the people affected by the contamination. We hope that this article raises awareness about the history of Camp Lejeune’s water contamination among cancer care providers, so the affected patients can receive appropriate medical coverage and cancer screening across the country. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13256-022-03501-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungsuk Jung
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, 315 W Carpenter St Clinic B, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA.
| | - Aziz Khan
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, 315 W Carpenter St Clinic B, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Robert Mocharnuk
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, 315 W Carpenter St Clinic B, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Susan Olivo-Marston
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Justin T McDaniel
- School of Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA
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10
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Delgado Vela J, McClary-Gutierrez JS, Al-Faliti M, Allan V, Arts P, Barbero R, Bell C, D’Souza N, Bakker K, Kaya D, Gonzalez R, Harrison K, Kannoly S, Keenum I, Li L, Pecson B, Philo SE, Schneider R, Schussman MK, Shrestha A, Stadler LB, Wigginton KR, Boehm A, Halden RU, Bibby K. Impact of Disaster Research on the Development of Early Career Researchers: Lessons Learned from the Wastewater Monitoring Pandemic Response Efforts. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4724-4727. [PMID: 35389620 PMCID: PMC9016772 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeseth Delgado Vela
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059 United States
| | - Jill S. McClary-Gutierrez
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 United States
| | - Mitham Al-Faliti
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Howard University, Washington, D.C. 20059 United States
| | - Vajra Allan
- PATH, Seattle, Washington 98121 United States
| | - Peter Arts
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 United States
| | | | - Cristalyne Bell
- Department
of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53715 United States
| | - Nishita D’Souza
- Department
of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State
University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 United States
| | - Kevin Bakker
- Department
of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 United States
| | - Devrim Kaya
- School
of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Raul Gonzalez
- Hampton
Roads Sanitation District, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455 United States
| | - Katherine Harrison
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 United States
| | - Sherin Kannoly
- Queens
College, City University of New York, New York, New York 11367 United States
| | - Ishi Keenum
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 United States
| | - Lin Li
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557 United States
| | - Brian Pecson
- Trussell
Technologies, Pasadena, California 94612 United States
| | - Sarah E. Philo
- Department
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 United States
| | | | - Melissa K. Schussman
- School
of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Wisconsin 53204 United States
| | - Abhilasha Shrestha
- Division
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public
Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612 United States
| | - Lauren B. Stadler
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005 United States
| | - Krista R. Wigginton
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 United States
| | - Alexandria Boehm
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 United States
| | - Rolf U. Halden
- Biodesign
Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 United States
- OneWaterOneHealth, Arizona State University
Foundation, Tempe, Arizona 85281 United
States
- AquaVitas, LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 United States
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 United States
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11
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Draper WM, Li N, Solomon GM, Heaney YC, Crenshaw RB, Hinrichs RL, Chandrasena REP. Organic Chemical Contaminants in Water System Infrastructure Following Wildfire. ACS ES&T WATER 2022; 2:357-366. [PMID: 35647583 PMCID: PMC9135032 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires have destroyed multiple residential communities in California in recent years. After fires in 2017 and 2018, high concentrations of benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in public drinking water systems in fire-affected areas. The sources of the contamination and appropriate remediation have been urgent matters for investigation. This study characterizes target and non-target VOCs and semi volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in water from a highly contaminated service line after the 2018 Camp Fire (Paradise, CA). Ninety-five organic compounds were identified or tentatively identified in the service line. Laboratory combustion experiments with drinking water pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and a review of the literature were used to evaluate potential sources of the detected chemicals. Among the service line contaminants were thirty-two compounds associated with PVC pyrolysis and twenty-eight organic compounds also associated with the pyrolysis of polyethylene. The service line sample also contained fifty-five compounds associated with uncontrolled burning of biomass and waste materials. The findings support hypotheses that wildfires can contaminate drinking water systems both by thermal damage to plastic pipes and intrusion of smoke. Residual chlorine disinfectant in the water system modifies the contaminant distribution observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Draper
- Drinking Water & Radiation Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, United States
| | - Na Li
- Drinking Water & Radiation Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, United States
| | - Gina M Solomon
- Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94804, United States
| | - Yvonne C Heaney
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
| | - Reese B Crenshaw
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
| | - Richard L Hinrichs
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA 95814, United States
| | - R Esala P Chandrasena
- Drinking Water & Radiation Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, United States
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12
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Returning Individual Tap Water Testing Results to Research Study Participants after a Wildfire Disaster. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19020907. [PMID: 35055730 PMCID: PMC8775780 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
After the devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise, California in 2018, volatile organic compounds were found in water distribution pipes. Approximately 11 months after the fire, we collected tap water samples from 136 homes that were still standing and tested for over 100 chemicals. Each participant received a customized report showing the laboratory findings from their sample. Our goal was to communicate individual water results and chemical information rapidly in a way that was understandable, scientifically accurate, and useful to participants. On the basis of this process, we developed a framework to illustrate considerations and priorities that draw from best practices of previous environmental results return research and crisis communication, while also addressing challenges specific to the disaster context. We also conducted a follow-up survey on participants’ perceptions of the results return process. In general, participants found the results return communications to be understandable, and they felt less worried about their drinking water quality after receiving the information. Over one-third of the participants reported taking some kind of action around their water usage habits after receiving their results. Communication with participants is a critical element of environmental disaster research, and it is important to have a strategy to communicate results that achieves the goals of timeliness, clarity, and scientific accuracy, ultimately empowering people toward actions that can reduce exposure.
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