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Kim S, Kim M, Kim H, Baek SS, Kim W, Kim SD, Cho KH. Chemical accidents in freshwater: Development of forecasting system for drinking water resources. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128714. [PMID: 35358764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemical accidents have threatened drinking water safety and aquatic systems when hazardous chemicals flow into inland waterbodies through pipelines in industrial complexes. In this study, a forecasting system was developed for the prevention of drinking water resource pollution by considering chemical transport/fate through both pipelines and river channels. To this end, we coupled a pipe network model (Storm Water Management Model) with a calibrated hydrodynamic model (Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code). In addition, we investigated whether chemical transport through pipelines would make a difference in chemical concentration predictions. For both pipelines and river channels, the results showed lower peak concentrations than those without pipelines, whereas the time of peak concentration did not change significantly. When chemicals were transported with both pipelines and river channels, the peak concentrations were 25.81% and 41.91% lower than those of chemicals carried directly into the Han and Geum Rivers without the pipeline transport. Further, our system is automated from scenario generation to analysis and usage is straightforward, with a simple input of accident information. The results of this study can be utilized to establish a safe water supply system and preliminary countermeasures against accidental water pollution in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soobin Kim
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Disposal Safety Evaluation Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), 111, Daedeok-daero 989 beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34057, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyein Kim
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Baek
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan-Si, Gyeongbuk 38541, South Korea
| | - Woojung Kim
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Don Kim
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hwa Cho
- School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
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Alexander WA. Methyl-Cyclohexane Methanol (MCHM) Isomer-Dependent Binding on Amorphous Carbon Surfaces. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113411. [PMID: 34200015 PMCID: PMC8200209 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In January 2014, over 10,000 gallons of methyl-cyclohexane methanol (MCHM) leaked into the Elk River in West Virginia, in a chemical spill incident that contaminated a large portion of the state’s water supply and left over 300,000 residents without clean water for many days and weeks. Initial efforts to remove MCHM at the treatment plant centered on the use of granulated activated carbon (GAC), which removed some of the chemical from the water, but MCHM levels were not lowered to a “non-detect” status until well after the chemical plume had moved downstream of the intake. Months later, MCHM was again detected at the outflow (but not the inflow) at the water treatment facility, necessitating the full and costly replacement of all GAC in the facility. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hypothesis that preferential absorbance of one of the two MCHM isomers, coupled with seasonal variations in water temperature, explain this contrary observation. Calculated intermolecular potentials between ovalene (a large planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and the MCHM isomers were compared to physisorption potentials of MCHM onto an amorphous carbon model. While a molecular mechanics (MM) force field predicts no difference in the average interaction potentials between the cis- and trans-MCHM with the planar ovalene structure, MM predicts that the trans isomer binds stronger than the cis isomer to the amorphous carbon surface. Semi-empirical and density functional theory also predict stronger binding of trans-MCHM on both the planar and amorphous surfaces. The differences in the isomer binding strengths on amorphous carbon imply preferential absorbance of the trans isomer onto activated charcoal filter media. Considering seasonal water temperatures, simple Arrhenius kinetics arguments based on these predicted binding energies help explain the environmental observations of MCHM leeching from the GAC filters months after the spill. Overall, this work shows the important implications that can arise from detailed interfacial chemistry investigations.
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Perfetto M, Kirkham SG, Ayers MC, Wei S, Gallagher JEG. 4-Methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) affects viability, development, and movement of Xenopus embryos. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:38-43. [PMID: 33391995 PMCID: PMC7772722 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.12.009] [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: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Following chemical spill disasters, it is important to estimate the effects of spilled chemicals on humans and the environment. Here we analyzed the toxicological effects of the coal cleaning chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), which was spilled into the Elk River water supply in 2014. The viability of HEK293 T human cell line cultures and Xenopus tropicalis embryos was negatively affected, and the addition of the antioxidants alleviated toxicity with MCHM exposure. Additionally, X. tropicalis embryos suffered developmental defects as well as reversible non-responsiveness and melanization defects. The impact MCHM has on HEK293 T cells and X. tropicalis points to the importance of continued follow-up studies of this chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Perfetto
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Scotia G Kirkham
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Michael C Ayers
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Shuo Wei
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Jennifer E G Gallagher
- Department of Biology, 53 Campus Drive, University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
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Ayers MC, Sherman ZN, Gallagher JEG. Oxidative Stress Responses and Nutrient Starvation in MCHM Treated Saccharomyces cerevisiae. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2020; 10:4665-4678. [PMID: 33109726 PMCID: PMC7718757 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In 2014, the coal cleaning chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) spilled into the water supply for 300,000 West Virginians. Initial toxicology tests showed relatively mild results, but the underlying effects on cellular biology were underexplored. Treated wildtype yeast cells grew poorly, but there was only a small decrease in cell viability. Cell cycle analysis revealed an absence of cells in S phase within thirty minutes of treatment. Cells accumulated in G1 over a six-hour time course, indicating arrest instead of death. A genetic screen of the haploid knockout collection revealed 329 high confidence genes required for optimal growth in MCHM. These genes encode three major cell processes: mitochondrial gene expression/translation, the vacuolar ATPase, and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. The transcriptome showed an upregulation of pleiotropic drug response genes and amino acid biosynthetic genes and downregulation in ribosome biosynthesis. Analysis of these datasets pointed to environmental stress response activation upon treatment. Overlap in datasets included the aromatic amino acid genes ARO1, ARO3, and four of the five TRP genes. This implicated nutrient deprivation as the signal for stress response. Excess supplementation of nutrients and amino acids did not improve growth on MCHM, so the source of nutrient deprivation signal is still unclear. Reactive oxygen species and DNA damage were directly detected with MCHM treatment, but timepoints showed these accumulated slower than cells arrested. We propose that wildtype cells arrest from nutrient deprivation and survive, accumulating oxidative damage through the implementation of robust environmental stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Ayers
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - Zachary N Sherman
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
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Pupo A, Ayers MC, Sherman ZN, Vance RJ, Cumming JR, Gallagher JEG. MCHM Acts as a Hydrotrope, Altering the Balance of Metals in Yeast. Biol Trace Elem Res 2020; 195:260-271. [PMID: 31392542 PMCID: PMC7150659 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-019-01850-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
While drugs and other industrial chemicals are routinely studied to assess risks, many widely used chemicals have not been thoroughly evaluated. One such chemical, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), is an industrial coal-cleaning chemical that contaminated the drinking water supply in Charleston, WV, USA in 2014. While a wide range of ailments was reported following the spill, little is known about the molecular effects of MCHM exposure. We used the yeast model to explore the impacts of MCHM on cellular function. Exposure to MCHM dramatically altered the yeast transcriptome and the balance of metals in yeast. Underlying genetic variation in the response to MCHM, transcriptomics and, mutant analysis uncovered the role of the metal transporters, Arn2 and Yke4, to MCHM response. Expression of Arn2, which is involved in iron uptake, was lower in MCHM-tolerant yeast and loss of Arn2 further increased MCHM tolerance. Genetic variation within Yke4, an ER zinc transporter, also mediated response to MCHM, and loss of Yke4 decreased MCHM tolerance. The addition of zinc to MCHM-sensitive yeast rescued growth inhibition. In vitro assays demonstrated that MCHM acted as a hydrotrope and prevented protein interactions, while zinc induced the aggregation of proteins. We hypothesized that MCHM altered the structures of extracellular domains of proteins, and the addition of zinc stabilized the structure to maintain metal homeostasis in yeast exposed to MCHM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Pupo
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Michael C Ayers
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Zachary N Sherman
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Rachel J Vance
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Jonathan R Cumming
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Jennifer E G Gallagher
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Life Sciences Building Rm 5105, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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Abstract
On January 2014 approximately 10,000 gallons of crude 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) and propylene glycol phenol ether (PPH) were accidentally released into the Elk River, West Virginia, contaminating the tap water of around 300,000 residents. Crude MCHM is an industrial chemical used as flotation reagent to clean coal. At the time of the spill, MCHM's toxicological data were limited, an issue that has been addressed by different studies focused on understanding the immediate and long-term effects of MCHM on human health and the environment. Using S. cerevisiae as a model organism we study the effect of acute exposure to crude MCHM on metabolism. Yeasts were treated with MCHM 550 ppm in YPD for 30 minutes. Polar and lipid metabolites were extracted from cells by a chloroform-methanol-water mixture. The extracts were then analyzed by direct injection ESI-MS and by GC-MS. The metabolomics analysis was complemented with flux balance analysis simulations done with genome-scale metabolic network models (GSMNM) of MCHM treated vs non-treated control. We integrated the effect of MCHM on yeast gene expression from RNA-Seq data within these GSMNM. A total of 215 and 73 metabolites were identified by the ESI-MS and GC-MS procedures, respectively. From these 26 and 23 relevant metabolites were selected from ESI-MS and GC-MS respectively, for 49 unique compounds. MCHM induced amino acid accumulation, via its effects on amino acid metabolism, as well as a potential impairment of ribosome biogenesis. MCHM affects phospholipid biosynthesis, with a potential impact on the biophysical properties of yeast cellular membranes. The FBA simulations were able to reproduce the deleterious effect of MCHM on cellular growth and suggest that the effect of MCHM on ubiquinol:ferricytochrome c reductase reaction, caused by the under-expression of CYT1 gene, could be the driven force behind the observed effect on yeast metabolism and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Pupo
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kang Mo Ku
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer E. G. Gallagher
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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HAN DH, PARK MS. Survey of awareness about hazardous chemicals of residents living near chemical plants in South Korea. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2018; 56:285-291. [PMID: 29434083 PMCID: PMC6066439 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2017-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With economic growth, the use of chemicals has continually increased, resulting in an increase of chemical accidents. Chemical accidents pose a life threat and can lead to many health problems among the residents living in close proximity to chemical plants. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of the residents living near chemical plants about hazardous chemicals, as well as to survey the awareness of workers who do not directly handle chemicals at chemical plants (WNHCs). To this end, a questionnaire survey was conducted among a total of 600 residents and 160 WNHCs. The questionnaire was composed of three items: awareness of chemical risk, awareness of countermeasures in chemical accidents, and imperious necessity of PPE (personal protective equipment). Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0. The results show that the government needs to complement the notification system of chemical risk for residents who live close to chemical plants. The highest priority of PPE which residents want to prepare for chemical accidents was respiratory protective equipment (RPE). They responded that, if necessary to purchase PPE, they could bear a portion of the expenses (up to US $30). This study provides basic data for the development of programs and policies on chemical safety relevant for the residents living in close proximity to chemical plants in South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don-Hee HAN
- Department of Occupational Health & Safety Engineering,
Inje University, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Soo PARK
- Department of Occupational Health & Safety Engineering,
Inje University, Republic of Korea
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Ra K, Teimouri Sendesi SM, Howarter JA, Jafvert CT, Donaldson BM, Whelton AJ. Critical Review: Surface Water and Stormwater Quality Impacts of Cured-In-Place Pipe Repairs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/awwa.1042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyungyeon Ra
- Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
| | | | - John A. Howarter
- School of Materials Engineering and Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
| | - Chad T. Jafvert
- Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
| | | | - Andrew J. Whelton
- Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering; Purdue University; West Lafayette Ind
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Huang X, Andry S, Yaputri J, Kelly D, Ladner DA, Whelton AJ. Crude oil contamination of plastic and copper drinking water pipes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2017; 339:385-394. [PMID: 28668756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of plastic (i.e., PEX, HDPE and CPVC) and copper pipes to short-term contamination by crude oil. Pipes were exposed to highly and slightly contaminated drinking water for the typical duration of Do Not Use drinking water orders. PEX pipes sorbed and desorbed the greatest amount of monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), whereas copper pipes were less susceptible to contamination. For benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) quantified in water, only benzene exceeded its health based maximum contaminant level (MCL). The MCL was exceeded for copper pipe on day 3, for CPVC pipe through day 9, and PEX and HDPE pipes through day 15. The BTEX compound concentration in water after the pipes were returned to service depended on the initial crude oil concentration, material type, and exposure duration. Total organic carbon (TOC) measurement was not helpful in detecting oil contaminated water. Except BTEX, trimethylbenzene isomers and a couple of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with and without MCLs were also detected desorbing from PEX-A pipe. Oil contaminated water must be thoroughly characterized and pipe type will influence the ability of drinking water levels to return to safe limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangning Huang
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Stephane Andry
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jessica Yaputri
- Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Devin Kelly
- Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - David A Ladner
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC, 29625, USA
| | - Andrew J Whelton
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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