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Racine J, Nerney A, Kilgore S, Darner J, Spets M, Critzer F, Harris LJ, Reitz S, Waters T, Waite-Cusic J. Irrigation Method Matters: Contamination and Die-off Rates of Escherichia coli on Dry Bulb Onions After Overhead and Drip Irrigation in Washington State (2022-2023). J Food Prot 2024; 87:100326. [PMID: 38977079 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100326] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Two U.S. outbreaks of salmonellosis in 2020 and 2021 were epidemiologically linked to red onions. The 2020 outbreak investigation implicated the production of agricultural water as a likely contamination source. Field trials were designed to investigate the prevalence and survival of Escherichia coli (surrogate for Salmonella) on dry bulb onions after the application of contaminated irrigation water at the end of the growing period. Irrigation water was inoculated at 3 log most probable number (MPN)/100 mL (2022 and 2023) or 5 log MPN/100 mL (2023, drip only) with a cocktail of rifampin-resistant E. coli and applied with the final irrigation (0.4 acre-inch/0.4 ha-cm) to onions. Onion bulbs (40 or 80) were sampled immediately after irrigation and throughout field curing (4 weeks) and E. coli was enumerated using an MPN method. For drip irrigation, at 3 log MPN/100 mL E. coli was detected on 13% of onions at 24 h but not detected at 0 h; at 5 log MPN/100 mL for drip irrigation applied to saturated soil, E. coli was detected in 63% of onions at 0 h. Prevalence significantly (P < 0.05), decreased after 7 d of curing with cell densities of 1-1,400 MPN/onion. At the end of field curing in 2023, 1/80 of onions had detectable E. coli (2.04 MPN/onion). E. coli was detected in a significantly smaller percentage of onions (2022: 13%; 2023: 68%) after a contaminated drip irrigation event compared to overhead irrigation (98-100%; P < 0.05). After overhead irrigation, E. coli was detected in onions (1-1,000 MPN/onion) on day 0. Prevalence decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after 7 d of field curing in both years (2022: 15%; 2023: 7%). E. coli was not detected on Calibra onions (80/year) at the end of field curing in either year but was detected at <12 MPN/onion in 2.5-3.75% of onions (n = 80) for other cultivars. These data confirm limited contamination risk associated with drip irrigation water quality and begin to quantify contamination risks associated with overhead irrigation of dry bulb onions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Racine
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Alexandra Nerney
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Samantha Kilgore
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Jennifer Darner
- Franklin County Extension, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Pasco, WA 99301, USA
| | - Madeline Spets
- Franklin County Extension, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Pasco, WA 99301, USA
| | - Faith Critzer
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30609, USA
| | - Linda J Harris
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Stuart Reitz
- Malheur County Experiment Station, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Ontario, OR 97914, USA
| | - Tim Waters
- Franklin County Extension, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Pasco, WA 99301, USA
| | - Joy Waite-Cusic
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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Zheng L, Deng Y. Advancing rainwater treatment technologies for irrigation of urban agriculture: A pathway toward innovation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170087. [PMID: 38232849 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Urban agriculture (UA) has emerged for local food security since the 1960s. However, the access to sufficient and safe irrigation water remains a significant constraint. Municipal water supply, though commonly used in UA practices, proves unsustainable due to high costs, intensive energy consumption, and limited availability in many vacant urban spaces. In contrast, rainwater harvesting (RWH) exhibits a potential as a non-traditional water supply for urban farming. This article aims to provide insights into the advantages and challenges associated with RWH for UA irrigation, analyze existing low-cost RWH treatment technologies, and identify a visionary way toward innovative, new-generation RWH treatment processes in UA practices. Despite a promising water source, harvested rainwater is challenged for crop irrigation owing to the presence of various contaminants (e.g., waterborne pathogens, potentially toxic metals and metalloids, and synthetic organic chemicals). While established RWH treatment processes (e.g., first flush diversion, sedimentation, solar disinfection, chlorination, UV irradiation, granular filtration, and bio-sand filtration) can remove certain pollutants, they cannot offer viable treatment solutions for UA irrigation due to different technical, economic, and social restrictions. Particularly, their capacity to reliably remove contaminants of emerging concern in runoff remains limited or uncertain. Consequently, it is essential to develop next-generation RWH treatment technologies tailored specifically for UA irrigation. To this end, three fundamental principles are recommended. First, the focus should be on technically viable, low-cost, simple-operation, and easy-maintenance treatment technologies capable of simultaneously addressing traditional and emerging runoff contaminants, while minimizing the production of undesirable treatment byproducts. Second, advancing the understanding of the water, soil, and crop interactions enables the development of "right" RWH treatment processes for irrigation of "right" crops at a "right" place. Last, crop nutrients, if possible, are retained in rainwater to reduce the nutrient demand for crop production. The insights and perspectives have far-reaching implications for water conservation, stormwater management, and the integration of water, food, and energy systems within the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zheng
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310023, China
| | - Yang Deng
- Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, United States.
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Murphy CM, Hamilton AM, Waterman K, Rock C, Schaffner DW, Strawn LK. Efficacy of Peracetic Acid and Chlorine on the Reduction of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli and a Nonpathogenic E. coli Strain in Preharvest Agricultural Water. J Food Prot 2023; 86:100172. [PMID: 37783289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Produce-borne outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) linked to preharvest water emphasize the need for efficacious water treatment options. This study quantified reductions of STEC and generic E. coli in preharvest agricultural water using commercially available sanitizers. Water was collected from two sources in Virginia (pond, river) and inoculated with either a seven-strain STEC panel or environmental generic E. coli strain TVS 353 (∼9 log10 CFU/100 mL). Triplicate inoculated water samples were equilibrated to 12 or 32°C and treated with peracetic acid (PAA) or chlorine (Cl) [low (PAA:6ppm, Cl:2-4 ppm) or high (PAA:10 ppm, Cl:10-12 ppm) residual concentrations] for an allotted contact time (1, 5, or 10 min). Strains were enumerated, and a log-linear model was used to characterize how treatment combinations influenced reductions. All Cl treatment combinations achieved a ≥3 log10 CFU/100 mL reduction, regardless of strain (3.43 ± 0.25 to 7.05 ± 0.00 log10 CFU/100 mL). Approximately 80% (19/24) and 67% (16/24) of PAA treatment combinations achieved a ≥3 log10 CFU/100 mL for STEC and E. coli TVS 353, respectively. The log-linear model showed contact time (10 > 5 > 1 min) and sanitizer type (Cl > PAA) had the greatest impact on STEC and E. coli TVS 353 reductions (p < 0.001). E. coli TVS 353 in water samples was more resistant to sanitizer treatment (p < 0.001) indicating applicability as a good surrogate. Results demonstrated Cl and PAA can be effective agricultural water treatment strategies when sanitizer chemistry is managed. These data will assist with the development of in-field validation studies and may identify suitable candidates for the registration of antimicrobial pesticide products for use against foodborne pathogens in preharvest agricultural water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Murphy
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA; School of Food Science, Washington State University - Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, WA, USA
| | - Alexis M Hamilton
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Kim Waterman
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Channah Rock
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona - Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Donald W Schaffner
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Laura K Strawn
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Morgado ME, Hudson CL, Chattopadhyay S, Ta K, East C, Purser N, Allard S, Ferrier MD, Sapkota AR, Sharma M, Goldstein RR. The effect of a first flush rainwater harvesting and subsurface irrigation system on E. coli and pathogen concentrations in irrigation water, soil, and produce. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:156976. [PMID: 35768032 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156976] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is stressing irrigation water sources, necessitating the evaluation of alternative waters such as harvested rainwater to determine if they meet water quality and food safety standards. We collected water, soil, and produce samples between June and August 2019 from two vegetable rain garden (VRG) sites in Frederick, Maryland that harvest rainwater using a first flush system, and deliver this water to produce through subsurface irrigation. The raised VRG beds include layers of gravel, sand, and soil that act as filters. We recorded the average surface soil moisture in each bed as well as antecedent precipitation. All water (n = 29), soil (n = 55), and produce (n = 57) samples were tested for generic E. coli using standard membrane filtration, and water samples were also tested for Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes by selective enrichment. No Salmonella spp. or L. monocytogenes isolates were detected in any water samples throughout the study period. Average E. coli levels from all harvested rainwater samples at both sites (1.2 and 24.4 CFU/100 mL) were well below the Good Agricultural Practices food safety guidelines. Only 7 % (3/44) of produce samples from beds irrigated with harvested rainwater were positive for E. coli. E. coli levels in soil samples were positively associated with average surface soil moisture (r2 = 0.13, p = 0.007). Additionally, E. coli presence in water samples was marginally associated with a shorter length of antecedent dry period (fewer days since preceding rainfall) (p = 0.058). Our results suggest that harvested rainwater collected through a first flush system and applied to produce through subsurface irrigation meets current food safety standards. Soil moisture monitoring could further reduce E. coli contamination risks from harvested rainwater-irrigated produce. First flush and subsurface irrigation systems could help mitigate climate change-related water challenges while protecting food safety and security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele E Morgado
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Claire L Hudson
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Department of Biology, Hood College, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Suhana Chattopadhyay
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Kaitlin Ta
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Cheryl East
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northeast Area, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA.
| | - Nathan Purser
- Department of Biology, Hood College, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Sarah Allard
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - M Drew Ferrier
- Department of Biology, Hood College, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Amy R Sapkota
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Manan Sharma
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northeast Area, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA.
| | - Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
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Rao AP, Patel J, Pradhan AK. Application of alternative sources of water in agricultural food production — current trends and future prospects. Curr Opin Food Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2022.100877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Konadu-Amoah B, Hu R, Ndé-Tchoupé AI, Gwenzi W, Noubactep C. Metallic iron (Fe 0)-based materials for aqueous phosphate removal: A critical review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 315:115157. [PMID: 35526394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The discharge of excessive phosphate from wastewater sources into the aquatic environment has been identified as a major environmental threat responsible for eutrophication. It has become essential to develop efficient but affordable techniques to remove excess phosphate from wastewater before discharging into freshwater bodies. The use of metallic iron (Fe0) as a reactive agent for aqueous phosphate removal has received a wide attention. Fe0 in-situ generates positively charged iron corrosion products (FeCPs) at pH > 4.5, with high binding affinity for anionic phosphate. This study critically reviews the literature that focuses on the utilization of Fe0-based materials for aqueous phosphate removal. The fundamental science of aqueous iron corrosion and historical background of the application of Fe0 for phosphate removal are elucidated. The main mechanisms for phosphate removal are identified and extensively discussed based on the chemistry of the Fe0/H2O system. This critical evaluation confirms that the removal process is highly influenced by several operational factors including contact time, Fe0 type, influent geochemistry, initial phosphate concentration, mixing conditions, and pH value. The difficulty in comparing independent results owing to diverse experimental conditions is highlighted. Moreover, contemporary research in progress including Fe0/oxidant systems, nano-Fe0 application, Fe0 material selection, desorption studies, and proper design of Fe0-based systems for improved phosphate removal have been discussed. Finally, potential strategies to close the loop in Fe0-based phosphate remediation systems are discussed. This review presents a science-based guide to optimize the efficient design of Fe0-based systems for phosphate removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Konadu-Amoah
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing, 211100, China.
| | - Rui Hu
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing, 211100, China.
| | - Arnaud Igor Ndé-Tchoupé
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing, 211100, China.
| | - Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Chicgoua Noubactep
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing, 211100, China; Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), University of Göttingen, Waldweg 26, 37073, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania; Faculty of Science and Technology, Campus of Banekane, Université des Montagnes, P.O. Box 208, Bangangté, Cameroon.
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7
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Konadu-Amoah B, Ndé-Tchoupé AI, Hu R, Gwenzi W, Noubactep C. Investigating the Fe 0/H 2O systems using the methylene blue method: Validity, applications, and future directions. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132913. [PMID: 34788675 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132913] [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: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An innovative approach to characterize the reactivity of metallic iron (Fe0) for aqueous contaminant removal has been in use for a decade: The methylene blue method (MB method). The approach considers the differential adsorptive affinity of methylene blue (MB) for sand and iron oxides. The MB method characterizes MB discoloration by sand as it is progressively coated by in-situ generated iron corrosion products (FeCPs) to deduce the extent of iron corrosion. The MB method is a semi-quantitative tool that has successfully clarified some contradicting reports on the Fe0/H2O system. Moreover, it has the potential to serve as a powerful tool for routine tests in the Fe0 remediation industry, including quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). However, MB is widely used as a 'molecular probe' to characterize the Fe0/H2O system, for instance for wastewater treatment. Thus, there is scope to avoid confusion created by the multiple uses of MB in Fe0/H2O systems. The present communication aims at filling this gap by presenting the science of the MB method, and its application and limitations. It is concluded that the MB method is very suitable for Fe0 material screening and optimization of operational designs. However, the MB method only provides semi-quantitative information, but gives no data on the solid-phase characterization of solid Fe0 and its reaction products. In other words, further comprehensive investigations with microscopic and spectroscopic surface and solid-state analyses are needed to complement results from the MB method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Konadu-Amoah
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Arnaud Igor Ndé-Tchoupé
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Rui Hu
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Chicgoua Noubactep
- Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), Universität Göttingen, Waldweg 26, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Applied Geology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Water and Environmental Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Faculty of Science and Technology, Campus of Banekane, Université des Montagnes, P.O. Box 208, Bangangté, Cameroon.
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8
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Escherichia coli Reduction in Water by Zero-Valent Iron–Sand Filtration Is Based on Water Quality Parameters. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13192702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Improving the microbial quality of agricultural water through filtration can benefit small farms globally. The incorporation of zero-valent iron (ZVI) into sand filters (ZVI–sand) has been effective in reducing E. coli, Listeria spp., and viruses from agricultural water. This study evaluated ZVI–sand filtration in reducing E. coli levels based on influent water type and the percentage of ZVI in sand filters. A ZVI–sand filter (50% ZVI/50% sand) significantly (p < 0.001) reduced E. coli levels in deionized water by more than 1.5 log CFU/mL compared to pond water over six separate trials, indicating that water type impacts E. coli removal. Overall reductions in E. coli in deionized water and pond water were 98.8 ± 1.7% and 63 ± 24.0% (mean ± standard deviation), respectively. Filters constructed from 50% ZVI/50% sand showed slightly more reduction in E. coli in pond water than filters made from a composition of 35% ZVI/65% sand; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.48). Principal component analysis identified that the turbidity and conductivity of influent water affected E. coli reductions in filtered water in this study. ZVI–sand filtration reduces Escherichia coli levels more effectively in waters that contain low turbidity values.
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Zero-Valent Iron Filtration Reduces Microbial Contaminants in Irrigation Water and Transfer to Raw Agricultural Commodities. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102009. [PMID: 34683330 PMCID: PMC8541138 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Groundwater depletion is a critical agricultural irrigation issue, which can be mitigated by supplementation with water of higher microbiological risk, including surface and reclaimed waters, to support irrigation needs in the United States. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) filtration may be an affordable and effective treatment for reducing pathogen contamination during crop irrigation. This study was performed to determine the effects of ZVI filtration on the removal and persistence of Escherichia coli, and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in irrigation water. Water was inoculated with E. coli TVS 353, filtered through a ZVI filtration unit, and used to irrigate cucurbit and cruciferous crops. Water (n = 168), leaf (n = 40), and soil (n = 24) samples were collected, the E. coli were enumerated, and die-off intervals were calculated for bacteria in irrigation water. Variable reduction of PMMoV was observed, however E. coli levels were consistently and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the filtered (9.59 lnMPN/mL), compared to unfiltered (13.13 lnMPN/mL) water. The die-off intervals of the remaining bacteria were significantly shorter in the filtered (−1.50 lnMPN/day), as compared to the unfiltered (−0.48 lnMPN/day) water. E. coli transfer to crop leaves and soils was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), as expected. The reduction of E. coli in irrigation water and its transfer to crops, by ZVI filtration is indicative of its potential to reduce pathogens in produce pre-harvest environments.
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Malayil L, Negahban-Azar M, Goldstein RR, Sharma M, Gleason J, Muise A, Murray R, Sapkota AR. "Zooming" Our Way through Virtual Undergraduate Research Training: A Successful Redesign of the CONSERVE Summer Internship Program. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2021; 22:jmbe-22-90. [PMID: 33953822 PMCID: PMC8060145 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on education globally, forcing the teaching community to think outside the box and create innovative educational plans to benefit students at home. Here, we narrate how the undergraduate, laboratory-based Summer Internship Program of our CONSERVE Center of Excellence, which focuses heavily on engaging women and underrepresented minorities in STEM programming, took a turn from an in-person research experience to a fully virtual one. We share our challenges and how we overcame them. Additionally, we provide a description of our virtual internship professional development curriculum, as well as the creative research projects that our seven interns were able to achieve in an 8-week virtual internship, including projects focused on the microbiological water quality of recycled irrigation water; social media promotion, enhancement and marketing of online educational resources focused on water, microbial contamination, and food crop irrigation; decision support systems for using recycled water in agricultural settings; and the effectiveness of zero-valent iron sand filtration in improving agricultural water quality, to name a few. Upon evaluating our internship program, we observed that more than 80% of our interns were either very satisfied or satisfied with the overall virtual internship experience. Through this experience, both the educators and the interns learned that although a virtual laboratory internship cannot completely replace in-person learning, it can still result in a very meaningful educational experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Malayil
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Masoud Negahban-Azar
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740
| | - Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Manan Sharma
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Jeanne Gleason
- New Mexico State University, Department of Innovative Media Research and Extension, Las Cruces, NM 88003
| | - Amy Muise
- New Mexico State University, Department of Innovative Media Research and Extension, Las Cruces, NM 88003
| | - Rianna Murray
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Amy R. Sapkota
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742
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