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The fate of stormwater-associated bacteria in constructed wetland and water pollution control pond systems.

The performances of a constructed wetland and a water pollution control pond were compared in terms of their abilities to reduce stormwater bacterial loads to recreational waters. Concentrations of thermotolerant coliforms, enterococci and heterotrophic bacteria were determined in inflow and outflow samples collected from each system over a 6-month period. Bacterial removal was significantly less effective in the water pollution control pond than in the constructed wetland. This was attributed to the inability of the pond system to retain the fine clay particles (< 2 microm) to which the bacteria were predominantly adsorbed. Sediment microcosm survival studies showed that the persistence of thermotolerant coliforms was greater in the pond sediments than in the wetland sediments, and that predation was a major factor influencing bacterial survival. The key to greater bacterial longevity in the pond sediments appeared to be the adsorption of bacteria to fine particles, which protected them from predators. These observations may significantly affect the choice of treatment system for effective stormwater management.

Bacteria↗

[Clonal analysis of some multiple antibiotic resistant E. coli strains isolated from river and polluted waters].

Several multiple antibiotic resistant E. coli strains isolated from river and polluted waters were compared for their genetic relatedness. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for gentamycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ceftazidime and cefotaxime, as described by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method following NCCLS recommendations. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were performed using dilution method in Mueller-Hinton broth with a 0.06-64 micrograms/ml concentration range for all antimicrobials and bacterial inoculum of about 1-2 x 10(8) CFU/ml. For the data analysis NCCLS breakpoints for resistance and sensitivity were used. Genomic DNA was isolated from E. coli strains by CTAB method and digested to completion with HindIII enzyme. Genetic characterization was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometric analysis. Genetic similarity and clustering were calculated using NISIS program. All E. coli strains isolated from river and polluted waters show a high incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance phenotype, 16% of them being resistant to 7, 6 and 4 antibiotics, 40% to 5 and 8% to 2 antibiotics, respectively. A moderate resistance was observed to kanamycin (higher than 30%) and cefotaxime (68%). The percentage of resistant E. coli strains ranged from 76% (to ampicillin, gentamicin and chloramphenicol) to 85% (to ceftazidime). The best results (resistance about 99%) were obtained with tetracycline. Screening for plasmids relieved the presence into 4 E. coli strains of several plasmids ranging from 3.8 kpb to more than 50 kpb. The number of fragments produced by HindIII digestion of genomic DNA ranged from 11 to 25, with sizes of approximately 22 to more than 750 kb. The phenotypic data shows the dynamic flow of multiple antibioresistant E. coli strains in aquatic media (river and polluted waters). Electrophoretic patterns analysis reflects the incidence and diversity of analyzed plasmids. DNA fingerprinting with genomic DNA RE suggested that, depending of the isolation source, E. coli strains could be grouped in two distinct populations with a different plasmid diversity.

Aminoglycosides↗

Fruit stones from industrial waste for the removal of lead ions from polluted water.

Lead, one of the earliest metals recognized and used by humans, has a long history of beneficial use. However, it is now recognized as toxic and as posing a widespread threat to humans and wildlife. Treatment of lead from polluted water and wastewater has received a great deal of attention. Adsorption is one of the most common technologies for the treatment of lead-polluted water. This technique was evaluated here, with the goal of identifying innovative, low-cost adsorbent. This study presents experiments undertaken to determine the suitable conditions for the use of peach and apricot stones, produced from food industries as solid waste, as adsorbents for the removal of lead from aqueous solution. Chemical stability of adsorbents, effect of pH, adsorbents dose, adsorption time and equilibrium concentration were studied. The results reveal that adsorption of lead ions onto peach stone was stronger than onto apricot stone up to 3.36% at 3 h adsorption time. Suitable equilibrium time for the adsorption was 3-5 h (% Pb adsorption 93% for apricot and 97.64% for peach). The effective adsorption range for pH in the range was 7-8. Application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models show high adsorption maximum and binding energies for using these adsorbents for the removal of lead ions from contaminated water and wastewater.

Adsorption↗

Organic-solvent water pollution and low birth weight in Michigan.

This pilot study explored the association between a measure of water pollution caused by benzene or chlorinated solvents and the incidence of low birth weights for white residents of Michigan counties. A positive relationship between water pollution by these contaminants and the per cent of low-weight births (less than 2,500 grams, or about 5.5 pounds) resulted despite controls for the incidence of teenaged childbearing, infrequent prenatal care, and mean household income from wages or salaries. Water pollution showed an association with the incidence of low birth weight that was as strong as that between low birth weight and low prenatal care. While correlation cannot prove causation, the finding suggests that impure water may impair fetal growth in Michigan.

Adolescent↗

Water pollution from major industries in Paradip area--a case study.

This paper reveals the present status of water pollution generated from major industries in Paradip area. The source of water pollution and the existing pollution control measures are outlined. The quality of the surface water and ground water have been studied thoroughly and in consequence to this, further pollution control measures are recommended.

Fresh Water↗

[Surface water pollution and microbiological indicators].

Surface waters must undergo careful quality assessment before being used as drinking water. Contamination with wastewaters, whether treated, untreated or partially treated, is a risk to public health. Most waterborne infections are caused by ingestion of contaminated water, but contact or inhalation also represent a risk. In industrialized countries, epidemic episodes are mainly due to the spread of new agents or newly identified infections (Arcobacter, Norovirus, Cryptosporodium, Giardia, etc.). To determine the microbial quality of water environments, the latest regulations identify three different groups of indicators according to their contaminating role: faecal, processing, and model or index organisms. No single organism is an adequate indicator of the diverse conditions of water environments. Thus, it is necessary to accurately identify specific indicators.

Animals↗

Plasmid profile and antibiotic resistance in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from polluted water.

Four different species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from polluted waters in Fez, Morocco and found to be Staphylococcus simulans, Staph. lenticus, Staph. hyicus and Staph. xylosus. Eight isolates belonging to these four species were analysed for their plasmid content. Southern blot hybridizations were performed to define the resistance determinants of the plasmids harboured by these species. These determinants were found to be carried mainly by Class I staphylococcal plasmids (1-5 kb). A plasmid (4.3 kb) carrying a tetracycline resistance gene was present in five isolates from all identified species. Plasmids carrying a chloramphenicol resistance gene were more frequently encountered and found to be of different sizes. Plasmids carrying erythromycin, neomycin, and streptomycin resistance genes were less frequent and were the same size. The results indicate that the occurrence of multi-resistant CNS in polluted waters may constitute a reservoir for disseminating antibiotic-resistance into the community.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Detoxification and bioremediation potential of a Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate against the major Indian water pollutants.

A Pseudomonas fluorescens strain was isolated from the soil of industrial estate of Aligarh, India. This strain was resistant to some of the major Indian water pollutants, namely Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, BHC, 2,4-D, mancozeb and phenols up to the levels occurring in the highly polluted regions. Moreover, the test strain seems to have a great potential for the detoxification of these pollutants. The decrease in toxicity as determined by the Allium cepa test was recorded as 62.5% for the model water containing the mixture of test heavy metals, 71.9% for the pesticides, 73.2% for phenols, and 58.5% for combination of all these toxicants. These values were obtained after 24 hours, exposure to the immobilized cells of the test isolate in the calcium alginate matrix at the concentrations of these polutants supposedly present in the highly polluted water systems in India. The efficiency of bioremediation for certain heavy metals at the same concentrations by means of immobilized cells of the test Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate was estimated to be 75.9% for cadmium, 74.2% for hexavalent chromium and 61.0% for lead during the 24 hours' treatment. In view of the preliminary work, the test isolate seems to be a good candidate for the bioremediation of water pollutants.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Application of nano TiO(2) towards polluted water treatment combined with electro-photochemical method.

A novel composite reactor was prepared and studied towards the degradation of organic pollutants in this work. In the reactor, a UV lamp was installed to provide energy to excite nano TiO(2), which served as photocatalyst, leading to the production of hole-electron pairs, and a three-electrode electrolysis system was used to accumulate H(2)O(2) which played an important role in the degradation process. The reactor was evaluated by the degradation process of rhodamine 6G (R-6G), and the data obtained in the experiments showed that the combination of the photochemical and electrochemical system raised the degradation rate of R-6G greatly; the working mechanism of the reactor was also discussed in the article. The prepared reactor was also utilized to treat polluted water from dyeing and printing process. After continuous treatment for 0.5h, chemical oxygen demand biochemical oxygen demand, quantity of bacteria and ammonia nitrogen of the polluted water were reduced by 93.9%, 87.6%, 99.9% and 67.5%, respectively, which indicated that the method used here could be used for effective organic dyes degradation.

Catalysis↗

Assessment of toxic metal exposure following the Camelford water pollution incident: evidence of acute mobilization of lead into drinking water.

Following the incident of acidic pollution of water by aluminium sulfate centred around Camelford in July 1988, we have carried out a retrospective analysis of the mobilization of toxic metals to residents of the area. An advanced nuclear technique was used to measure trace levels of elements within hair, thus, avoiding surface contamination. In contrast to controls, lead, but no other toxic metals, was consistently found within sections of hair that dated to mid-1988 from four residents; they must, therefore, have consumed this metal around the time of the incident. The source of this lead was probably local water pipe residue, and this was found on analysis to have a matrix specific to such soft-water areas that, prior to the incident, had slowly accumulated certain toxic metals such as cadmium and uranium and particularly lead. Lead is mobilized from such residues by acidic water and could, therefore, have heavily contaminated mains water after the incident. However, analyses of residents' plasma and whole blood, and of urine following a lead-chelation test, showed no evidence of either long-term increased body burdens of toxic metals or depletion of essential elements. In addition, we found no evidence of continued poor water quality in the area. In conclusion, during a short period following the pollution, some residents who consumed mains water would have been acutely exposed to lead and other toxic metals. Prediction of the scale of metal exposure to individuals was not possible owing to heterogeneity of the water distribution network, but long-term effects to residents from lead are not anticipated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absorption↗

Comparison of antibodies in marine fish from clean and polluted waters of the New York Bight: relative levels against 36 bacteria.

Fish from polluted waters are subject to increased prevalence of disease. Because they respond to bacterial pathogens by producing serum antibodies, it was possible to construct a seasonal serological record in three fish species from clean and polluted waters of the New York Bight. Antibody levels were determined by testing sera for agglutinating activity against 36 strains of bacteria. Evaluation of 5,100 antibody titrations showed the following. During warm months, summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) from the polluted area had significantly higher antibody levels and antibody to a greater diversity of bacteria than fish from the unpolluted area. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) from the same polluted area shared with summer flounder raised titers to many bacteria. The greatest proportion of raised titers was against Vibrio species, although prominent titers were also seen against Aeromonas salmonicida and Haemophilus piscium, bacteria usually associated with diseases in freshwater but not marine fish. Differences between polluted and clean waters were not as evident in winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) during cold months. This could be due, in part, to reduced antibody production at colder temperatures. The data illustrate the usefulness of the serum antibody record in identifying environmental exposure to bacteria in marine fish and indicate that the polluted New York Bight apex has increased levels and diversity of bacteria during warm months.

Animals↗

Surface water pollution by herbicides from effluents of waste water treatment plants.

Herbicide loads of urban and rural waste water treatment plant effluents were calculated over a one-year period by measuring the herbicide concentrations in 14-day mixed samples. More than three quarters of the total herbicide load of the effluent of the rural waste water treatment plant consists of isoproturon. Particularly large amounts of this substance contribute to the total herbicide load during the main application in spring and in early autumn. The measured loads of atrazine and the increased ratio between atrazine and desethylatrazine in spring indicate that atrazine is still applied in Germany. More than 80% of the total herbicide load of the effluent of the urban waste water treatment plant consists of diuron which is mainly used in urban weed control. The results show that also effluents of urban waste water treatment plants contribute to a great extent to herbicide pollution of surface water.

Environmental Monitoring↗

Exposure modeling and risk assessment at a water pollution control plant.

This study utilized tracer gas methods, influent source analysis, and simulation techniques to develop a method for predicting air concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a barscreen room at a water pollution control plant. Water pollution control plant workers are potentially exposed to numerous VOCs during routine tasks including wastewater sampling, equipment maintenance, and cleaning. Since air concentrations of VOCs within the barscreen room are assumed to be related to the VOC loading of the wastewater, exposures are expected to be variable. Due to the limitations of plant staff, limited resources, and the large number of sampling days required to adequately characterize exposures, traditional industrial hygiene monitoring methods were not judged to be feasible for exposure evaluation. This study incorporated source analysis and Monte Carlo simulation techniques to address the variability and uncertainty associated with the air contaminant emissions and to evaluate the risks associated with exposure to this area of the plant. The study was successful in developing a method for estimating barscreen room air concentrations of dissolved VOCs.

Forecasting↗

Health hazards associated with windsurfing on polluted water.

We documented the risks associated with windsurfing on sewage polluted water. Seventy-nine windsurfers and 41 controls were studied over a nine-day period for occurrence of symptoms of gastroenteritis, otitis, conjunctivitis, and skin infection. Relative risks were 2.9 for occurrence of one or more of these symptoms and 5.5 for symptoms of gastroenteritis. Relative risk increased with the reported number of falls into the water.

Epidemiologic Methods↗