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Rampley CPN, Whitehead PG, Softley L, Hossain MA, Jin L, David J, Shawal S, Das P, Thompson IP, Huang WE, Peters R, Holdship P, Hope R, Alabaster G. River toxicity assessment using molecular biosensors: Heavy metal contamination in the Turag-Balu-Buriganga river systems, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Sci Total Environ 2020; 703:134760. [PMID: 31744697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pollution in rapidly urbanising cities and in delta systems is a serious problem that blights the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, damaging and restricting potable water supply and supplies to industry (Whitehead et al, 2015, 2018). Employing new technology based on luminescent molecular biosensors, the toxicity in the rivers around Dhaka in Bangladesh, namely the Turag, Tongi, Balu and Buriganga, has been assessed. Samples taken at 36 sites during medium and low flow conditions and during the Bishwa Ijtema Festival revealed high levels of cell toxicity, as well as high concentrations of metals, particularly aluminium, cadmium, chromium, iron, zinc, lithium, selenium and nickel. Chemical analysis also revealed low dissolved oxygen levels and anoxic conditions in the rivers at certain sites. The bacterial molecular biosensors were demonstrated to be fast, with results in 30 min, robust and a highly sensitive method for the assessment of water toxicity in the field. Furthermore, the biosensor toxicity analysis correlated with the metals data, and a multivariate regression relationship was developed relating toxicity to key metals, such a selenium, zinc and chromium. The resulting model has been validated against split samples and the Bishwa Ijtema Festival data. The combination of modelling and the molecular biosensor technology provides a new approach to detecting and managing pollution in urban river systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P N Rampley
- Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK
| | - P G Whitehead
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK; Oxford Molecular Biosensors, Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK.
| | - L Softley
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - M A Hossain
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - L Jin
- Geology Department, State University of New York College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA
| | - J David
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - S Shawal
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - P Das
- Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - I P Thompson
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PF, UK
| | - W E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PF, UK
| | - R Peters
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - P Holdship
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - R Hope
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - G Alabaster
- United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Waste Management and Sanitation Division, Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix, 8-14, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
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Ferguson AS, Huang WE, Lawson KA, Doherty R, Gibert O, Dickson KW, Whiteley AS, Kulakov LA, Thompson IP, Kalin RM, Larkin MJ. Microbial analysis of soil and groundwater from a gasworks site and comparison with a sequenced biological reactive barrier remediation process. J Appl Microbiol 2007; 102:1227-38. [PMID: 17448158 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03398.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the distribution of a polymicrobial community of biodegradative bacteria in (i) soil and groundwater at a former manufactured gas plant (FMGP) site and (ii) in a novel SEquential REactive BARrier (SEREBAR) bioremediation process designed to bioremediate the contaminated groundwater. METHODS AND RESULTS Culture-dependent and culture-independent analyses using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of 16S ribosomal RNA gene and naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) genes of free-living (planktonic groundwater) and attached (soil biofilm) samples from across the site and from the SEREBAR process was applied. Naphthalene arising from groundwater was effectively degraded early in the process and the microbiological analysis indicated a dominant role for Pseudomonas and Comamonas in its degradation. The microbial communities appeared highly complex and diverse across both the sites and in the SEREBAR process. An increased population of naphthalene degraders was associated with naphthalene removal. CONCLUSION The distribution of micro-organisms in general and naphthalene degraders across the site was highly heterogeneous. Comparisons made between areas contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and those not contaminated, revealed differences in the microbial community profile. The likelihood of noncultured bacteria being dominant in mediating naphthalene removal was evident. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This work further emphasizes the importance of both traditional and molecular-based tools in determining the microbial ecology of contaminated sites and highlights the role of noncultured bacteria in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Ferguson
- QUESTOR Centre and EERC School of Planning Architechture and Civil Engineering, David Keir Building, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK
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