Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liping Ma, Xiao-Tao Jiang, Lei Guan, Bing Li, Tong Zhang
Summary: This study used deep sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to investigate the microbial diversity and biogeography of household drinking water samples from 29 provinces/regions in China. The results showed that the spatial turnover of drinking water communities is influenced by rainfall and water source river. Potential pathogenic species that may pose health risks were also identified.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
K. L. G. Learbuch, H. Smidt, P. W. J. J. van der Wielen
Summary: The study investigated the influence of different pipe materials on microbial populations in water and biofilm under semi-stagnant conditions. The results showed that pipe materials affect ATP concentrations, gene copy numbers of specific microbial groups, and bacterial community composition. Different materials had different effects on microbial communities in water and biofilm.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Rita Pereira, Ines B. Gomes, Manuel Simoes
Summary: Parabens have been found in drinking water worldwide, and their impact on microbial communities in the water remains to be studied. Exposure to parabens in water distribution systems may affect the quality and safety of the drinking water. This study evaluated the effects of different types of parabens on bacterial biofilms formed on various surfaces commonly found in water distribution systems. The results show that exposure to methylparaben had the most significant effects on biofilms, increasing their density, thickness, and culturability. The study also found that the type of surface material influenced the action of parabens on biofilms.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tasrin Shahnaz, Gasim Hayder
Summary: This review investigates the potential and rationale of graphene-based materials for antibacterial applications in water treatment. Graphene-based materials possess robust antibacterial properties, effectively deterring bacterial attachment, inhibiting biofilm development, and reducing growth. They have the potential to revolutionize water treatment by reducing microbial pollution and improving water quality.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bei Zhang, Hui Sun, Qiang Wang
Summary: The study analyzed the potential risks of kindling behavior in Chinese rural families, particularly the use of harmful materials such as plastic for fuel. The findings suggest a higher than expected population attributable fraction for cancer and type 2 diabetes due to dioxin exposure. It also highlights the need for strengthened environmental health education and regulations in rural China.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Natasha Potgieter, Clarissa van der Loo, Tobias George Barnard
Summary: In rural communities, water used for drinking and cooking is often stored in containers without treatment, leading to potential contamination by harmful microorganisms such as free-living amoebae and pathogenic bacteria. This study found a high prevalence of free-living amoebae and potentially harmful bacteria in stored water samples from rural households, highlighting the health risks faced by communities with limited access to clean water.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Md Shamsur Rahim, Khoi Anh Nguyen, Rodney Anthony Stewart, Damien Giurco, Michael Blumenstein
Summary: Analyzing household water consumption data through digital water meters using advanced customer profiling techniques helps identify patterns and habits, adapt to changing behaviors, and promote sustainable water conservation efforts. The developed method offers in-depth insights into customer behaviors, previously unseen, allowing for targeted conservation strategies. This research is valuable for data analytics experts, water demand management practitioners, and policymakers aiming to conserve potable water resources.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lili Shan, Siyang Xu, Yunyan Pei, Zebing Zhu, Linyan Xu, Xiaohua Liu, Yixing Yuan
Summary: This study investigates microbial biofilm formation and chlorine resistance in three representative domestic pipes: PPR, SS, and copper. The results show that bacteria in PPR pipes develop significantly more biofilm biomass than in the two metal pipes. Bacterial chlorine resistance did not differ significantly between the three pipe materials.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shengxin Sun, Yu Zhou, Haitao Yu, Weiying Li, Wenying Zhou, Guanyuan Luo, Wei Zhang
Summary: In this study, the impact of different pipe materials on water quality and microbial communities was investigated using static and dynamic devices. The results showed that steel plastic composite pipe, ductile iron pipe, and cast iron pipe had better water quality, while ductile iron pipe had the highest microbial diversity. Furthermore, various nitrate-reducing bacteria were identified, with nitrate-reducing bacteria being the most dominant in all pipe materials.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ellis Adjei Adams, Sydney Byrns, Save Kumwenda, Richard Quilliam, Theresa Mkandawire, Heather Price
Summary: This study examines the daily water fetching journeys of women in urban informal settlements in Africa, highlighting the physical labor and risks involved in the process and their impact on women's health. It emphasizes the importance of considering the embodied effects of water-fetching journeys in interventions to improve household water insecurity.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Melissa N. Sidote, Zachary T. Goodman, Christina L. Paraggio, Raymond A. Tutu, Justin Stoler
Summary: This research tested the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale in a peri-urban community in Accra, Ghana, and found that the metric was not equivalent across two survey waves, potentially due to factors such as the metric itself, sample size, instrumentation changes, or other unobserved factors. The dynamic nature of household water use may also make test-retest reliability difficult to achieve.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bahaa A. Hemdan, Gamila E. El-Taweel, Pranab Goswami, Deepak Pant, Surajbhan Sevda
Summary: This review explores the survival of pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water distribution systems through the formation of stable biofilms. It highlights the impact of these biofilms on human health and the recent advances in understanding biofilm formation, dynamics, and prevention measures.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Syed Imran Ali, Syed Saad Ali, Jean-Francois Fesselet
Summary: The study found that generating site-specific and evidence-based chlorination targets through modeling can improve household water safety, especially in hotter climates or poorer WASH conditions. However, in environments with smaller chlorine decay, the upper range of the current chlorination guideline still provides sufficient chlorine residual for ensuring household water safety.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aleksandra Hagberg, Shashank Gupta, Olena Rzhepishevska, Jerker Fick, Mette Burmolle, Madeleine Ramstedt
Summary: Low concentrations of pharmaceutical substances in the environment may have effects on biological systems, such as bacterial consortia living on riverbed substrates. A study conducted in Sweden found 19 different pharmaceuticals in water downstream from a sewage treatment plant, with differences observed in microbial composition between samples upstream and downstream.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Arnaud Igor Nde-Tchoupe, Bernard Konadu-Amoah, Nadege Gatcha-Bandjun, Rui Hu, Willis Gwenzi, Chicgoua Noubactep
Summary: This article critically evaluates the conventional Kanchan Arsenic Filter (KAF) and identifies the main reasons for its poor performance in removing arsenic. The study highlights the design limitations of the KAF and emphasizes the need to focus on the suitability of the technology rather than its sustainability. It suggests correcting the design mistakes and exploring alternative materials to improve the performance of the filter.
