Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tucker R. Burch, Joel P. Stokdyk, Nancy Rice, Anita C. Anderson, James F. Walsh, Susan K. Spencer, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Mark A. Borchardt
Summary: Infection risk from waterborne pathogens can be estimated using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). However, site-specific hazard identification and exposure assessment are often lacking in groundwater QMRAs, leading to poorly defined risks. This study estimated the infection risk for 9 waterborne pathogens based on a 2-year study in Minnesota, USA. The results showed variations in risk among different types of wells, with some exceeding the US benchmark. Additionally, while the overall risk was high, the average daily doses for individual pathogens were low.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sarah Lavallee, Tessa Latchmore, Paul D. Hynds, R. Stephen Brown, Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Sarah Dickson-Anderson, Anna Majury
Summary: Understanding water consumption patterns among private well users in Ontario helps in developing accurate risk assessments for waterborne infections. This study found that factors such as gender and previous experiences with waterborne illnesses can influence well water consumption rates. Additionally, respondents who reported previous testing or ongoing water treatment had higher rates of well water consumption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Gao, Pengcheng Xu, Rong Chen, Xiaochang C. Wang, Mawuli Dzakpasu
Summary: The Environmental burden of disease (EBD) quantitatively evaluates the health impacts of pathogens using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) method, and constructing a linear morbidity model can effectively compensate for missing data in DALY calculation, helping to optimize the process for EBD evaluation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Emile Sylvestre, Michele Prevost, Patrick Smeets, Gertjan Medema, Jean-Baptiste Burnet, Philippe Cantin, Manuela Villion, Caroline Robert, Sarah Dorner
Summary: Appropriately conservative statistical distributions are needed to predict microbial peak events in drinking water sources. Poisson and mixed Poisson distributions were used to model data from 30 drinking water treatment plants, showing small differences in estimates but significant disparities in confidence intervals. Improper model choice may mislead assessment of treatment requirements and health risks.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
M. Ambili, Denoj Sebastian
Summary: The study developed multiplex PCR and qPCR assays for simultaneous detection and quantification of waterborne pathogens, with specific primers against virulence and species-specific genes. Cost analysis showed lower unit costs for molecular technologies, and all target genes had a detection limit of 1 cell/ml in qPCR. These assays could be used successfully for co-detection of aquatic pathogens due to their speed, sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Olga Sojka, Henny C. C. van der Mei, Patrick van Rijn, Maria Cristina Gagliano
Summary: The presence of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems can cause operational and maintenance issues. In this study, a poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) (P(SBMA))-based hydrogel coating was proposed as a control strategy for biofilms. The coating effectively reduced bacterial adhesion, indicating its potential as a localized biofilm control strategy in the distribution systems.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liquan Liu, Yingxi Qu, Jun Huang, Roland Weber
Summary: Research studies have shown that many cities and regions in China have been contaminated with PFASs in drinking water, posing potential risks to the population. It is crucial for authorities to better control and reduce PFAS releases from industries and other sources to protect public health. Further monitoring and re-evaluation of PFAS risk assessment based on the most recent toxicological studies are needed for a science-based approach to countermeasures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hadi Eslami, Abbas Esmaeili, Mohsen Razaeian, Mahnaz Salari, Abdolreza Nassab Hosseini, Mohammad Mobini, Ali Barani
Summary: This study evaluated the concentration and spatial distribution of potentially toxic metals in groundwater in Rafsanjan, Iran, and estimated the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. The results showed that arsenic and lead concentrations exceeded the maximum limit, while other metals were within the standard level. Children had a higher non-carcinogenic risk of arsenic exposure. It is important to treat and remove arsenic from groundwater resources in the study area.
GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liang Yu, Xiaodong Liu, Zulin Hua
Summary: The study investigated the occurrence, spatial distribution, potential sources, and risk assessment of 14 PFAAs in 21 drinking water sources from the lower Yangtze River. Results showed that the sources of PFAAs included industrial development and surface runoff/tide currents, and the human health risks of PFAAs decreased with increasing age.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isaiah Spencer-Williams, Mitchell Meyer, William Depas, Emily Elliott, Sarah-Jane Haig
Summary: Increases in phosphate availability from phosphate-based corrosion control strategies may result in shifts in nutrient and microbial community composition in drinking water distribution systems. This study found that orthophosphate addition led to significant changes in microbial community composition and increased bacterial density, particularly for nontuberculous mycobacteria. The study also revealed potential species-specific interactions between phosphate and bacteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luca Penserini, Beatrice Cantoni, Dirk Vries, Andrea Turolla, Patrick W. M. H. Smeets, Bas G. H. Bokkers, Manuela Antonelli
Summary: This article proposes a new method for quantitative chemical risk assessment of CEC mixtures (QCRA(MIX)). Through a case study, the potential of this method is illustrated. The method considers uncertainties in both exposure and hazard assessment to calculate a probabilistic mixture Benchmark Quotient (BQ(MIX)). The results show that the health risks posed by alkylphenols and phthalates in both tap water and bottled water are significant based on overall water consumption.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Nyamai Mutono, Jim Wright, Henry Mutembei, S. M. Thumbi
Summary: This study investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of domestic piped water distribution in Nairobi, Kenya between 1985 and 2018, revealing disparities in water sufficiency based on residential areas, age of neighborhoods, and population density. Residents in high-and middle-income areas were more likely to receive the recommended 1500 L per capita per month compared to those in low-income areas. Additionally, non revenue water loss accounted for 29% of water distributed in Nairobi, highlighting the need for deliberate planning and governance to enhance equity in water distribution.
HABITAT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huirong Lin, Yue Hu
Summary: Source-water switching can cause instability in drinking water distribution systems, especially in estuarine cities. This study found that the new source water had lower and more stable Larson Index (LI). Simulations of different switching patterns showed that microbial risk did not increase significantly, and the stability of the current distribution system contributed to biostability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ming Shen, Zhigang Cao, Liqiang Xie, Yanyan Zhao, Tianci Qi, Kaishan Song, Lili Lyu, Dian Wang, Jinge Ma, Hongtao Duan
Summary: Cyanobacterial blooms and the release of algal toxins pose a serious threat to the safety of drinking water sources. However, the monitoring and evaluation of algal toxins in lake water have not been carried out regularly. This study developed a remote sensing scheme based on satellite data to assess the risk of algal toxins and found that most large lakes in eastern China had experienced high risk at least once. Fortunately, the frequency of high human health risks in terms of lake areas was low, indicating the potential to set drinking water intakes in most waters while reducing cyanobacterial blooms.
Review
Microbiology
Yoong-Ling Oon, Yoong-Sin Oon, Muhammad Ayaz, Min Deng, Lu Li, Kang Song
Summary: This comprehensive review examines the trajectory of waterborne pathogenic bacteria detection technologies from traditional techniques to current detection methods including PCR techniques and emerging techniques such as biosensors and artificial intelligence. The paper discusses the merits, constraints, research gaps, and future perspectives of these techniques, with a focus on their applicability in field settings and timely analyses. The integration of AI with these technologies has enhanced detection accuracy, enabling real-time analysis of large datasets.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Saheba Bhatnagar, Laurence Gill, Shane Regan, Stephen Waldren, Bidisha Ghosh
Summary: This study automates the creation of seasonal wetland vegetation community maps by combining remote sensing, image processing, and machine learning techniques, reducing the time-consuming traditional manual field surveys in wetland monitoring.
ISPRS JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Saheba Bhatnagar, Laurence W. Gill, Steve Waldren, Nova Sharkey, Owen Naughton, Paul Johnston, Catherine Coxon, Patrick Morrissey, Bidisha Ghosh
Summary: A study utilizing a 28-year hydrological record assessed ecohydrological metrics for different vegetation communities in a karst area, revealing distinct differences in flood conditions experienced by different communities. The study also used satellite data to evaluate changes in the spatial distribution of the communities.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Pierre-Yves Jeannin, Guillaume Artigue, Christoph Butscher, Yong Chang, Jean-Baptiste Charlier, Lea Duran, Laurence Gill, Andreas Hartmann, Anne Johannet, Herve Jourde, Alireza Kavousi, Tanja Liesch, Yan Liu, Martin Luthi, Arnauld Malard, Naomi Mazzilli, Eulogio Pardo-Iguzquiza, Dominique Thiery, Thomas Reimann, Philip Schuler, Thomas Woehling, Andreas Wunsch
Summary: The complexity of karst groundwater flow modelling is demonstrated through various simulation approaches, showing that model performance is influenced by architecture and time steps, as well as the way data is transformed. While some global models performed well, most models still struggled with predicting baseflow conditions accurately.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joanne Mac Mahon, Jan Knappe, Laurence W. Gill
Summary: Research on on-site domestic wastewater treatment systems in Ireland shows high sludge accumulation rates in the first year of operation, dropping afterwards but still higher than international estimates. Optimal desludging frequencies have been determined based on field data and previous research, with the maximum interval set at 5 years to prevent excessive sludge accumulation in tanks.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bidroha Basu, Patrick Morrissey, Laurence W. Gill
Summary: This study develops and compares different models to predict groundwater flooding in a lowland karst area of Ireland. The results show that a NARX model taking inputs of the past 5 days' flood volume, rainfall data, and tidal amplitude data has the best performance in predicting floods up to 30 days into the future. Additionally, real-time telemetric monitoring of water levels can be used to provide an early warning flood warning tool.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Correction
Environmental Sciences
John Gallagher, Laurence W. Gill
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arunima Sarkar Basu, Laurence William Gill, Francesco Pilla, Bidroha Basu
Summary: Investigating the impact of land cover change in hydrological modelling is crucial for water resources management. This study explores the importance of land cover change in the development of SWAT, a physically-based hydrological model. Using five land cover maps from different years, the SWAT model was used to simulate runoff in the Dodder River basin from 1993 to 2019. The results suggest that using land cover data that closely matches the simulation time period improves the accuracy of the SWAT model. The study highlights the necessity of considering dynamic and time-varying land cover data for runoff simulation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luka Vucinic, David O'Connell, Rui Teixeira, Catherine Coxon, Laurence Gill
Summary: Microbial pollution of aquifers is a global water quality problem that poses significant risks to public health. This study utilized flow cytometric analysis and fecal indicator bacteria to assess the potential of providing faster and more descriptive information on microbial pollution in karst aquifers. The study also evaluated the use of turbidity as a proxy indicator for fecal groundwater contamination. The findings suggest that flow cytometry can provide additional insights into fecal pollution sources and its fate and transport in karst catchments.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Fabio M. Delle Grazie, Laurence W. Gill
Summary: Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide various services, such as water purification and carbon storage. Regulatory services are the most important for inland wetlands. Although there has been a significant increase in research on wetland ecosystem services, further studies are needed to standardize quantification and valuation methods, and to focus on specific wetland types and geographical distribution.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Salem Gharbia, Khurram Riaz, Iulia Anton, Gabor Makrai, Laurence Gill, Leo Creedon, Marion McAfee, Paul Johnston, Francesco Pilla
Summary: This paper compares the performance of four different models in simulating water level and water flow in the River Shannon hydrological system in Ireland. The study finds that the SVR-based surrogate model performs best in simulating water flow, while the hybrid wavelet-ANN model performs best in simulating water level. The results demonstrate the usefulness of data-driven methods in studying hydrological changes in large catchments.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arunima Sarkar Basu, Laurence William Gill, Francesco Pilla, Bidroha Basu
Summary: This paper uses the SWAT model to assess the potential impact of climate change on floods in the Dodder River basin in southern Dublin. Different climate change scenarios were studied using climate models and representative concentration pathways. The results show that the flood quantiles are expected to increase by 12% and 16% for 50-year and 100-year return periods.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
L. W. Gill, J. Mac Mahon, J. Knappe, P. Morrissey
Summary: The suitability of a location for on-site wastewater treatment requires assessment of soil permeability. Falling head percolation tests are widely used, but lack a sound theoretical framework and international standardization. Constant head permeameter tests provide more suitable metrics for design. A study in Ireland used numerical modeling and field tests to establish correlations between percolation time (PT) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), and compared Irish thresholds to international standards.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruchita Ingle, Saheba Bhatnagar, Bidisha Ghosh, Laurence Gill, Shane Regan, John Connolly, Matthew Saunders
Summary: PEATLANDS in Ireland cover only 20% of the land area but store 2320 million tonnes of carbon, with 90% of this drained and emitting 10 million tonnes of carbon annually. This research used satellite imagery and ground-based measurements to assess the gross primary productivity (GPP) of a near-natural peatland in Ireland. The study found that hybrid models using NDVI, EVI, and NDWI2 performed well in estimating GPP and showed a significant correlation of 89-96% with ground-based measurements.
Review
Water Resources
Arghadyuti Banerjee, Leo Creedon, Noelle Jones, Laurence Gill, Salem Gharbia
Summary: Ensuring the quantity and quality of groundwater resources is crucial for human and ecological health, society, and the economy. Groundwater vulnerability modeling techniques have become essential for groundwater protection and management, but spatiotemporal variations in precipitation and evapotranspiration have not been adequately considered. A holistic approach integrating multicriteria decision support tools is needed to evaluate the dynamic vulnerability of groundwater contamination.
Article
Ecology
Jan Knappe, Celia Somlai, Laurence W. Gill
Summary: This study monitored the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from domestic on-site treatment systems (DWWTSs) and found that the emissions were highly variable and correlated with environmental factors, water usage patterns, and system design. The results showed that the emissions were influenced by both the septic tank and the soil treatment unit, with emissions from the septic tank surface being often underestimated. The study also highlighted the overestimation of CH4 and N2O emissions by current emission factors for on-site wastewater treatment systems.