Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayokunle Christopher Dada, Pradip Gyawali
Summary: This study assessed the occupational health risks of wastewater treatment plant operators from inhalation of aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 using a QMRA framework. Factors such as virus concentration, exposure doses, and various scenarios were considered. Results indicated that the risk of accidental occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewater is negligible, particularly when the infection rate is less than 0.3% in the population served by the plant.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ankita Bhatt, Ayokunle Christopher Dada, Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati, Pratham Arora
Summary: An integrated approach combining LCA and QMRA was used to assess a sewage treatment plant in India. The study found that high electricity consumption had the greatest environmental impact, while the impacts on human health were measured as 0.01 DALYs pppy. The QMRA model developed in the study determined the health risks associated with the reuse of treated water, with a cumulative health risk of 0.07 DALYs pppy.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun-ting Wu, Xiao-qing Song, Lan-wei Liang, Cheng Yan
Summary: This study estimated the acceptable exposure time for staff and visiting researchers exposed to bioaerosols in wastewater treatment plants and found differences in exposure time based on gender, occupation, and aeration mode. The results provide valuable insights for developing health risk management strategies in this context.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Nicholas Clements, Ilan Arvelo, Phil Arnold, Nicholas J. Heredia, Ulrike W. Hodges, Stan Deresinski, Peter W. Cook, Kerry A. Hamilton
Summary: Using aerosol-based tracers, a method is proposed to scale a SARS-CoV-2 bulk aerosol quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model, allowing estimation of risk of infectious aerosol transmission and evaluating the impact of risk mitigation efforts. By measuring aerosolized synthetic DNA tracer concentrations and accounting for pathogen infectivity loss over time, the inhaled pathogen dose and risk of infection can be scaled with time-integrated tracer concentrations. Scenario testing is conducted to assess the effectiveness of ventilation, occupancy, masking, and layering interventions on infection risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Davidson Jean-Baptiste, Pascal De Giudici, Frederic Monette
Summary: This paper evaluates the microbial risks faced by operators during the use of container-based toilets (CBTs) using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) method. The study focuses on nine pathogens prevalent in Haiti and finds that the probability of infection is high, while the probability of illness is generally moderate or minor, except for poliovirus and Ascaris. Preventive measures such as wearing gloves, disposable protective masks, and appropriate clothing can be implemented to reduce these risks.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mary E. Schoen, Michael A. Jahne, Jay Garland, Lucia Ramirez, Allison J. Lopatkin, Kerry A. Hamilton
Summary: This study used quantitative microbial risk assessment to estimate the risks associated with antibiotic-resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus colonization and found that the probability of infection was most sensitive to treatment log reduction value, S. aureus concentration, and morbidity ratios. The estimated infection risks and disease burdens were below health benchmarks for certain reuse systems, but potentially higher for exposure to minimally treated greywater or wastewater. Further strain-specific data are needed to validate the QMRA.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Prez Veronica Emilse, Victoria Matias, Martinez Laura Cecilia, Giordano Miguel Oscar, Masachessi Gisela, DiCola Guadalupe, Re Viviana Elizabeth, Pavan Jorge Victorio, Colina Rodney, Nates Silvia Viviana, Barril Patricia Angelica
Summary: This study aimed to assess the presence of norovirus, rotavirus, and infective enterovirus in leafy green vegetables and irrigation waters collected from a farm in Argentina, estimating the risk of infection through consuming these vegetables. The study found a wide distribution of these human pathogenic viruses in irrigation waters and green leafy vegetables, with a higher risk of infection through raw consumption of the vegetables.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
G. F. Akpeimeh, L. A. Fletcher, B. E. Evans, I. E. Ibanga
Summary: The study utilized bioaerosol exposure data to calculate the risk of infection for dumpsite workers exposed to Aspergillus fumigatus and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Workers engaged in different activities at specific areas of the dumpsite were found to have high risks of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Akanksha Joshi, Dinesh Bhardwaj, Abhishek Kaushik, Vijay K. Juneja, Pankaj Taneja, Sheetal Thakur, Neetu Kumra Taneja
Summary: The increasing consumption of packaged and ready-to-eat food products has led to a higher risk of foodborne illness, necessitating proper management. Traditional microbial risk assessment methods often overlook crucial information related to the characteristics of food matrix. Recent advancements in molecular methods and bioinformatics tools have created new opportunities for risk analysis in food safety.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Franella Francos Halla, Said Maneno Massawa, Elihaika Kengalo Joseph, Kishor Acharya, Shadrack Mwita Sabai, Shaaban Mrisho Mgana, David Werner
Summary: Pit latrines play a crucial role in providing sanitation services, but the presence of bacteria and the potential transmission of infectious diseases raises concerns. A study conducted in an informal settlement in Dar es Salaam examined the bacteria in pit latrine sludge, leachate, and groundwater. The study found the presence of Vibrio cholerae, indicating potential cholera transmission among pit latrine users. Although bacterial indicators decreased in the sand aquifers, the study revealed an overestimation of long-range hazard attenuation. The cooccurrence of human sewage markers in groundwater samples suggested the human origin of Vibrio cholerae hazards. The study also predicted a high burden of gastrointestinal diseases for the community, surpassing WHO targets.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christopher H. Jones, Varsha Wylie, Hannah Ford, John Fawell, Melanie Holmer, Katherine Bell
Summary: This study used quantitative microbial risk analysis (QMRA) to evaluate the microbiological risks of indirect water recycling for drinking water supply. Scenario analyses were conducted to investigate four key assumptions of the quantitative microbial risk assessment model. The results demonstrated that the proposed water recycling scheme could meet the WHO pathogen risk guidelines under 18 simulated scenarios.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor Vinas, Ekaterina Sokolova, Annika Malm, Olof Bergstedt, Thomas J. R. Pettersson
Summary: This study aims to provide a framework for assessing the risk of infection from cross-connection and backflow events. The study found that the risk of infection from cross-connection and backflow events in Swedish networks is generally high and requires microbial risk assessment. The framework was successfully validated, but local data is still necessary for well-performing systems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zi-cheng Gui, Xiang Li, Man-li Liu, Zhang-di Peng, Cheng Yan, Zaheer Ahmad Nasir, Sonia Garcia Alcega, Frederic Coulon
Summary: This study assessed the seasonal variation of health risks associated with bioaerosol emission from a wastewater treatment plant. The results showed that airborne E. coli, fecal coliform, and Enterococcus concentrations were higher in the rotating-disc aeration mode compared to the microporous aeration mode. Field engineers had higher health risks than academic visitors, and the health risks of airborne Enterococcus were highest in summer. Wearing N95 masks could significantly reduce health risks.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rui-ning Wang, Xiang Li, Cheng Yan
Summary: This study analyzed the seasonal fluctuation of bioaerosols in wastewater treatment plants and the quantitative health risks associated with exposure to different types of bioaerosols. The aerosolization ratio of airborne bacteria was higher in cold seasons, while airborne fungi showed the highest ratio in summer. Health risks were generally higher for males, with different levels of risk associated with exposure to different types of bioaerosols depending on the season. Additionally, the use of masks significantly reduced health risks for all exposure populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Seyed Yaser Hashemi, Shohreh Shahmahmoodi, Mahdi Hadi, Ramin Nabizadeh Nodehi, Mahmood Alimohammadi, Ahmad Nejati, Alireza Mesdaghinia
Summary: This study used quantitative microbial risk assessment to estimate the potential risk of enterovirus infection for consumers of effluent-irrigated raw vegetables in Tehran, Iran. The results showed that the method of vegetable washing has a significant impact on reducing microbial risk and prevalence of viral infections.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Diana M. Byrne, Kerry A. Hamilton, Stephanie A. Houser, Muwonge Mubasira, David Katende, Hannah A. C. Lohman, John T. Trimmer, Noble Banadda, Assata Zerai, Jeremy S. Guest
Summary: Decision-makers in developing communities often lack credible data to inform decisions related to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) can be informative but is often undermined by data gaps. By integrating QMRA, uncertainty and sensitivity analyses, and household surveys, this study aimed to improve the suitability of QMRA for informal settlements. Health risks were found to be most sensitive to pathogen data, hand-to-mouth contact frequency, and dose-response models. When managing censored data, upper limits of detection, half of limits of detection, and uniform distributions returned similar results.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fiona B. Dunn, Andrea Silverman
Summary: The study evaluated sunlight photolysis kinetics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and ARGs, finding that long amplicon qPCR targets quantified greater photolysis rate constants and intracellular ARGs decayed faster than extracellular ARGs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Engineering, Environmental
Marlene K. Wolfe, Anand Archana, David Catoe, Mhara M. Coffman, Samuel Dorevitch, Katherine E. Graham, Sooyeol Kim, Lorelay Mendoza Grijalva, Laura Roldan-Hernandez, Andrea I. Silverman, Nasa Sinnott-Armstrong, Duc J. Vugia, Alexander T. Yu, Winnie Zambrana, Krista R. Wigginton, Alexandria B. Boehm
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Andrea Silverman, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: The study reviewed and analyzed decay rate constants (k) of enveloped viruses from 12 families in environmental waters and wastewater. It identified factors such as virus type, enumeration method, water temperature, and water type that significantly influence k. Enveloped viruses were found to have higher k values compared to nonenveloped viruses.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Warish Ahmed, Stuart L. Simpson, Paul M. Bertsch, Kyle Bibby, Aaron Bivins, Linda L. Blackall, Silvia Bofill-Mas, Albert Bosch, Joao Brandao, Phil M. Choi, Mark Ciesielski, Erica Donner, Nishita D'Souza, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Daniel Gerrity, Raul Gonzalez, John F. Griffith, Pradip Gyawali, Charles N. Haas, Kerry A. Hamilton, Hapuarachchige Chandithal Hapuarachchi, Valerie J. Harwood, Rehnuma Haque, Greg Jackson, Stuart J. Khan, Wesaal Khan, Masaaki Kitajima, Asja Korajkic, Giuseppina La Rosa, Blythe A. Layton, Erin Lipp, Sandra L. McLellan, Brian McMinn, Gertjan Medema, Suzanne Metcalfe, Wim G. Meijer, Jochen F. Mueller, Heather Murphy, Coleen C. Naughton, Rachel T. Noble, Sudhi Payyappat, Susan Petterson, Tarja Pitkanen, Veronica B. Rajal, Brandon Reyneke, Fernando A. Roman, Joan B. Rose, Marta Rusinol, Michael J. Sadowsky, Laura Sala-Comorera, Yin Xiang Setoh, Samendra P. Sherchan, Kwanrawee Sirikanchana, Wendy Smith, Joshua A. Steele, Rosalie Subburg, Erin M. Symonds, Phong Thai, Kevin Thomas, Josh Tynan, Simon Toze, Janelle Thompson, Andy S. Whiteley, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Daisuke Sano, Stefan Wuertz, Irene Xagoraraki, Qian Zhang, Amity G. Zimmer-Faust, Orin C. Shanks
Summary: Monitoring pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using RT-PCR is effective for public health information, but there is a lack of standardized protocols for wastewater surveillance. Key strategies for improving accuracy include QA/QC measures, representative sampling, virus concentration, and clear data interpretation guidelines.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mwanarusi H. Mwatondo, Andrea Silverman
Summary: Published data on chlorine disinfection of bacteria primarily come from experiments using laboratory-cultured reference-strain bacteria. However, indigenous environmental bacteria from wastewater exhibit greater resistance to disinfection than their laboratory-cultured counterparts. This difference is likely due to cell-related factors rather than sample matrix effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ashley Heida, Alexis Mraz, Mark T. Hamilton, Mark H. Weir, Kerry A. Hamilton
Summary: Legionella pneumophila is a bacterium that can grow in water heaters, adjusting the water heater temperature can reduce health risks and costs. Research found that in a hospital setting, the optimal water heater temperature for reducing cost and health risks was 55 degrees Celsius or 48 degrees Celsius.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andrea I. Silverman, Tega Brain, Brett Branco, Praneeth Sai Venkat Challagonda, Petra Choi, Rebecca Fischman, Kathryn Graziano, Elizabeth Henaff, Charlie Mydlarz, Paul Rothman, Ricardo Toledo-Crow
Summary: This article highlights the significance of low-cost water level sensors in measuring flood profiles, providing real-time hyperlocal flood data for various stakeholders, such as municipal agencies, community members, and researchers.
Correction
Engineering, Environmental
Fiona B. Dunn, Andrea I. Silverman
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fiona B. Dunn, Andrea Idette Silverman
Summary: Wastewater surveillance is used to complement clinical testing data for understanding COVID-19 trends. Sunlight-mediated decay of the N1 gene target in wastewater is minimal and unlikely to affect surveillance results.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Sayalee Joshi, Rain Richard, Carlos Levya, Joanna Ciol Harrison, Daniella Saetta, Naushita Sharma, Lucas Crane, Noelle Mushro, Lucien Dieter, Grace V. Morgan, Ashley Heida, Bennett Welco, Treavor H. Boyer, Paul Westerhoff, Kerry A. Hamilton
Summary: In this study, sampling was conducted in a LEED-certified commercial building, and it was found that the concentration of L. pneumophila in the water increased as the distance from the building entrance increased. Factors conducive to microbial growth, such as fluctuating water temperatures, lack of chlorine residual, and colonized water-saving fixtures, were identified. Flushing and thermal disinfection alone were not effective in resolving the issue.
FRONTIERS IN WATER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Mwale Chiyenge, Andrea Silverman
Summary: Understanding the influence of pH on solar disinfection is crucial for improving the design of sunlight-dependent wastewater treatment systems. Previous research has focused on the role of pH in solar disinfection rates when exogenous photosensitizers are present. This study examines the effects of external pH on endogenous solar inactivation processes, and finds that pH does indeed impact the kinetics of solar inactivation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Catherine Hoar, Yitao Li, Andrea I. Silverman
Summary: We evaluated the relationship between wastewater parameters and population estimates of sewage systems using data from New York City's wastewater treatment facilities. The study found that ammonia mass load had a consistent relationship with sewershed population and could reflect population shifts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rain Richard, Kerry A. Hamilton, Paul Westerhoff, Treavor H. Boyer
Summary: Water quality in buildings is influenced by in-building water treatment devices, with softeners having a detrimental impact on pH, disinfectant residual, and trihalomethane concentrations. Disinfectant residual is highest at the building inlet, with sinks and fountains having little to no measurable free chlorine. Copper levels fluctuate within the building, and HVAC operations result in higher in-building water temperatures compared to the building inlet.