Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Kelly, M. Gidley, C. Sinigalliano, N. Kumar, H. M. Solo-Gabriele
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of wastewater infrastructure construction on regional and local environments in Monroe County, Florida. The most significant factors influencing fecal coliform and enterococci concentrations were rainfall and project period. On a yearly basis, infrastructure projects showed desired effects in reducing FIB levels in the years following construction.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Ragot, Florence Lessard, Andre Belanger, Richard Villemur
Summary: Waterborne diseases are spread through fecal contamination of water and often originate from multiple sources. A study conducted in Quebec, Canada found that wild animals may contribute to fecal contamination in surface waters. This reinforces the importance of monitoring multiple animal species using mtDNA metabarcoding.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Akechai Kongprajug, Natcha Chyerochana, Surapong Rattanakul, Thammanitchpol Denpetkul, Watsawan Sangkaew, Pornjira Somnark, Yupin Patarapongsant, Kanokpon Tomyim, Montakarn Sresung, Skorn Mongkolsuk, Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
Summary: The study indicated that two tourist beaches in Thailand were contaminated with fecal pollution primarily from human sewage. Human-specific markers like HPyVs were more prevalent during the wet season, suggesting the need for increased monitoring during this period. The use of MST markers could help in more accurately assessing fecal pollution and developing a more effective water quality monitoring plan.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eunice C. Chern, Larry Wymer, Kristen Brenner, Kevin Oshima, Richard A. Haugland
Summary: Limited information exists on the environmental persistence of genetic markers for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in treated wastewaters. The decay rate constants of genetic markers and culturable cells for various FIB groups varied significantly, influenced by water temperature. Results suggest that decay rate constants of FIB genetic markers from other studies may be applicable to treated wastewaters.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mike Cyterski, Orin C. Shanks, Pauline Wanjugi, Brian McMinn, Asja Korajkic, Kevin Oshima, Rich Haugland
Summary: This study uses statistical models to predict the concentrations of E. coli and coliphage, and finds that qPCR-based enterococci and Bacteroidales models have the highest predictive performance, while F+ coliphage consistently yields poor performing models. The influential covariates vary by microbial indicator and site.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christopher A. Baker, Giselle Almeida, Jung Ae Lee, Kristen E. Gibson
Summary: The research demonstrates that the survival of fecal indicator bacteria, pathogenic microorganisms, and other bacterial and viral surrogates in freshwater differs by sample type (sediment/water) and season. There is a greater microbial persistence in sediments than in water over time, with differences in survival among microorganisms in relation to the fecal indicator bacteria E. coli and enterococci. Further investigation is needed to determine the best surrogates to assess pathogen survival in agricultural water for fresh produce.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan T. T. Searcy, Jacob R. R. Phaneuf, Alexandria B. B. Boehm
Summary: Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are monitored to assess water quality and health risk at beaches, but infrequent monitoring can lead to inaccurate assessments. This study conducted high-frequency FIB sampling at an enclosed harbor in California, showing more variability in FIB concentrations compared to open beach sites. Correlation and regression analyses revealed strong associations between FIB concentrations and chlorophyll a, turbidity, wind speed, and tide level. The study emphasizes the importance of sampling FIB concentrations and environmental parameters at appropriate temporal resolutions for water quality monitoring.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ananda Tiwari, Ari Kauppinen, Pia Rasanen, Jenniina Salonen, Laura Wessels, Janne Juntunen, Ilkka T. Miettinen, Tarja Pitkanen
Summary: Understanding the decay characteristics of health-related microbes in surface waters is important for assessing public health risks. This study comprehensively evaluated the effect of temperature and light on the decay characteristics of health-related microbes in subarctic river water conditions, suggesting that cold and dark conditions result in slower decay compared to warm and light conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Soon Bum Shin, Sung Rae Cho, Jong Soo Mok
Summary: The safety of seafood is a critical public health concern in Korea due to the high rate of raw seafood consumption. A study was conducted in 2018 to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of fecal-associated bacteria in seawater samples and aquatic animals collected from aquaculture farms along the Korean coast. The results showed that Escherichia coli was the most prevalent and exhibited resistance to multiple antimicrobials.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Shane Htet Ko, Anil Kumar Anal, Hiroshi Sakai
Summary: Antibiotics widely used in animal husbandry are contributing to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in fishpond water, especially in those fed with chicken manure. Enterococci in the fishponds exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics, which is associated with the application of manure.
Article
Ecology
Lukasz Kubera
Summary: This study reveals correlations between the location of sampling sites, seasons, physico-chemical parameters of water, and the concentrations and antibiotic resistance of faecal indicator bacteria in the river. Drug-resistant Escherichia coli showed highest concentration in summer at the site at the end of the river, while drug resistance in enterococci significantly increased in spring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wan Yang, Chen Cai, Donghai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study compared the responses of bacterial community, human pathogenic bacteria (HPB), and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to sludge pretreatment-anaerobic digestion (AD). The results showed that AD drove the variation of bacterial community and led to the convergence of HPB communities in pretreated sludge. FIB was found to be suitable for characterizing general pathogen removal rather than showing the real pattern of HPB. AD-related parameters played an important role in assessing pathogen inactivation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Afeefa A. Abdool-Ghany, Peter J. Sahwell, James Klaus, Maribeth L. Gidley, Christopher D. Sinigalliano, Helena M. Solo-Gabriele
Summary: This study evaluated seaweed as a potential source of bacteria in beach waters and found that decomposing seaweed provides an additional substrate for enterococci to grow. The results indicate that enterococci with elevated levels of human fecal markers persist in seaweed and sediment, contributing to increased bacterial levels in nearshore waters.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lorena da Graca Pedrosa de Macena, Renato Castiglia Feitosa, Jansen Couto da Silva, Fernando Cesar Ferreira, Adriana Goncalves Maranha, Marcelo Luiz Lima Branda, Nathalia Goncalves Santos Caldeira, Jessica Soldani Couto, Mariana Goncalves Coelho de Azevedo, Bruna Barbosa de Paula, Marize Pereira Miagostovich
Summary: This study assessed the microbiological contamination of a metropolitan marine area with a marine outfall for domestic sewage. Intact human mastadenovirus (HAdV) was detected in 10% of water samples suitable for bathing, indicating the sources of contamination are drainage channels flowing into the sea. The use of intact HAdV as a complementary parameter is suggested to assess recreational water quality.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuno Meuchi, Miu Nakada, Keisuke Kuroda, Seiya Hanamoto, Akihiko Hata
Summary: This study evaluated the usefulness of FPH subgroups, PMMoV, and crAssphage as indicators of source-specific fecal contamination and viral inactivation. FPH subgroups, PMMoV, and crAssphage were associated with pig and human fecal contamination, and showed different behaviors in viral inactivation. FRNA phage genogroups, especially the GIV-FRNA phage, were highly inactivated during the warm months in Japan.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Winnie Zambrana, Jingyan Tong, Claire E. Anderson, Alexandria B. Boehm, Marlene K. Wolfe
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of ash and sand as handwashing agents to commonly recommended methods. The results showed that using ash or sand can reduce viruses, but soap is more effective, especially when used for shorter durations.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Marlene K. Wolfe, Alexander T. Yu, Dorothea Duong, Madhura S. Rane, Bridgette Hughes, Vikram Chan-Herur, Marisa Donnelly, Shua Chai, Bradley J. White, Duc J. Vugia, Alexandria B. Boehm
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lauren C. Kennedy, Veronica P. Costantini, Kimberly A. Huynh, Stephanie K. Loeb, Wiley C. Jennings, Sarah Lowry, Mia C. Mattioli, Jan Vinje, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: Human norovirus, a major cause of acute gastroenteritis, can be transmitted through water but its persistence in water is not well understood. Various factors such as genome damage and capsid cleavage can affect the loss of infectivity of human norovirus in surface water.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sarah A. Lowry, Marlene K. Wolfe, Alexandria Boehm
Summary: Concentrations of nucleic acids from various respiratory viruses in wastewater solids collected from treatment plants can be correlated to clinical data on disease occurrence in the community. To establish this correlation, viral nucleic acid concentrations in human excretions need to be considered. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to characterize the concentrations and presence of different respiratory viruses in various excretions. More concentration data, especially longitudinal data, are needed across all respiratory virus types and excretion types for a quantitative linking of virus wastewater concentrations to numbers of infected individuals.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan T. T. Searcy, Jacob R. R. Phaneuf, Alexandria B. B. Boehm
Summary: Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are monitored to assess water quality and health risk at beaches, but infrequent monitoring can lead to inaccurate assessments. This study conducted high-frequency FIB sampling at an enclosed harbor in California, showing more variability in FIB concentrations compared to open beach sites. Correlation and regression analyses revealed strong associations between FIB concentrations and chlorophyll a, turbidity, wind speed, and tide level. The study emphasizes the importance of sampling FIB concentrations and environmental parameters at appropriate temporal resolutions for water quality monitoring.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claire E. Anderson, Marlene K. Wolfe, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: This study aimed to test the virucidal effect of antimicrobial treatment on the Supertowel and to evaluate its viability as a handwashing alternative. The results showed that the Supertowel had similar viral inactivation as a regular microfiber towel, indicating minimal virucidal potential.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sooyeol Kim, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: The study examines the effectiveness of using wastewater surveillance in schools to detect the presence of COVID-19 infections. The results show that infected individuals can be identified through wastewater testing, especially in solid samples which have a higher concentration of the virus compared to liquid samples.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexandria B. Boehm, Bridgette Hughes, Dorothea Duong, Vikram Chan-Herur, Anna Buchman, Marlene K. Wolfe, Bradley J. White
Summary: This study utilized wastewater-based epidemiology to investigate viral respiratory infections in the community. Results showed the presence of various viral RNA in wastewater samples, with rhinovirus and seasonal coronaviruses being the most abundant. The concentrations of viral RNA in wastewater correlated positively with the positivity rates of viral infections in clinical specimens, indicating the potential of wastewater as a real-time surveillance tool for public health responses.
Letter
Engineering, Environmental
Mark A. Borchardt, Alexandria B. Boehm, Marc Salit, Susan K. Spencer, Krista R. Wigginton, Rachel T. Noble
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Engineering, Environmental
Mark A. Borchardt, Alexandria B. Boehm, Marc Salit, Susan K. Spencer, Krista R. Wigginton, Rachel T. Noble
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Laura Roldan-Hernandez, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: Despite the widespread adoption of wastewater surveillance, more research is needed to understand the fate and transport of viral genetic markers in wastewater. This study examined the solid-liquid partitioning behavior of four viruses in wastewater and found that RNA concentrations were higher in the solid fraction than the liquid fraction by approximately 3-4 orders of magnitude.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandria B. Boehm, Marlene K. Wolfe, Bradley J. White, Bridgette Hughes, Dorothea Duong, Niaz Banaei, Amanda Bidwell
Summary: This study aims to investigate whether HuNoV GII preferentially adsorbs to wastewater solids and to explore the concentrations of HuNoV GII in wastewater solids in wastewater treatment plants across the United States. The study also aims to develop and apply a mass-balance model that predicts the fraction of individuals shedding HuNoV based on measured concentrations in wastewater solids.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Winnie Zambrana, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: Documenting the occurrence of viruses on fomites is crucial for determining the significance of fomite-mediated transmission and the potential use of fomites for environmental disease surveillance. This systematic review and meta-analysis compiled information from 134 peer-reviewed papers on the occurrence of human viruses on fomites in the environment. The data indicated that viruses may be present on fomites, fomite-mediated virus transmission may occur, and fomites may provide information on circulation of infectious diseases in the community. However, more quantitative data on diverse viruses are needed, and method reporting needs significant improvements.
ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Andrew Mertens, Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, Alexandria B. Boehm, Joe Brown, Drew Capone, Thomas Clasen, Erica Fuhrmeister, Jessica A. Grembi, David Holcomb, Jackie Knee, Laura H. Kwong, Audrie Lin, Stephen P. Luby, Rassul Nala, Kara Nelson, Sammy M. Njenga, Clair Null, Amy J. Pickering, Mahbubur Rahman, Heather E. Reese, Lauren Steinbaum, Jill Stewart, Ruwan Thilakaratne, Oliver Cumming, John M. Colford, Ayse Ercumen
Summary: This article conducts a systematic review and analysis to examine the effects of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions on the presence of pathogens and faecal contamination in the environment. The findings show that while these interventions can reduce pathogen detection, they have limited impact on human and animal faecal markers. It suggests that the implemented sanitation measures may not adequately address human waste and reduce exposure to enteropathogens in the environment.
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mary E. Schoen, Amanda L. Bidwell, Marlene K. Wolfe, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: IAV RNA in wastewater settled solids can serve as an indicator for tracking the onset and peak of influenza season, providing early warning and helping inform vaccination and intervention strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rong-Gui Zhu, Chang-Gui Pan, Feng-Jiao Peng, Chao-Yang Zhou, Jun-Jie Hu, Kefu Yu
Summary: This comprehensive survey investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic magnification of parabens and their metabolite 4-HB in a marine food web. Results showed that parabens were the predominant pollutants in marine organisms, with significant bioaccumulation from sediments. The estimated trophic magnification factor indicated biomagnification for MeP and trophic dilution for 4-HB. Overall, the risks for humans consuming marine organisms were found to be low.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andres F. Torres-Franco, Deborah Leroy-Freitas, Cristina Martinez-Fraile, Elisa Rodriguez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Raul Munoz
Summary: Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies have emerged as sustainable alternatives for municipal wastewater treatment. However, the presence of viruses in the treated wastewater is a major concern for reuse applications. This study assessed the ability of these technologies to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment. The results showed that all technologies were effective in reducing the concentration of viruses, with microalgae-based treatment exhibiting the highest potential for reducing the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Young Gwang Kim, Sae Yun Kwon, Spencer J. Washburn, Scott C. Brooks, Ji Won Yoon, Lucien Besnard
Summary: The study uses Hg isotope ratios to identify the sources and exposure pathways of mercury in bivalves, finding that dissolved Hg phases in the water column are the primary source and exposure pathway to bivalves. This provides new insights into using bivalves as bioindicators for sediment quality monitoring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Geng, Ying Xu, Rui Liu, Dianhai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cation exchange resin (CER) on the sequential recovery of hydrogen and methane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the corresponding mechanisms. The results show that CER can simultaneously enhance the production of hydrogen and methane by promoting the solubilisation, hydrolysis, and acidification of organic matter. Additionally, CER facilitates effective contact between bacteria and organic particulates and reduces the energy barrier for mass transfer during methane production. The study also reveals changes in the microbial community structure and metagenomics during the AD process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Lin, Zhan Jin, Shunfeng Jiang, Zhiquan Wang, Suqing Wu, Ke Bei, Min Zhao, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: Dehumidification combined with addition of absorbent resin supplement (ARS) was used to achieve rapid evaporation of non-pretreated urine, resulting in high water evaporation efficiency and nutrient recovery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangli Che, Chaoran Lin, Shen Li, Jiao Liu, Longhai Zhu, Shilei Yu, Nan Wang, Haoshuai Li, Mutai Bao, Yang Zhou, Tonghao Si, Rui Bao
Summary: Hydrodynamic processes play a crucial role in the transmission of sediments, microbial assembly, and organic carbon redistribution in the ocean. Through experiments and analysis, we found that hydrodynamics shape the assembly of microbial communities and control the redistribution of different sourced organic carbon, thereby influencing microbial-mediated biogeochemical transformation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Chen, Yu Yang, Nigel J. D. Graham, Zhenyu Li, Xingtao Yang, Zhining Wang, Nadia Farhat, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Li -an Hou
Summary: The fouling of seawater reverse osmosis membranes is a persistent challenge in desalination. This study monitored the operational performance of a desalination plant for 7 years and the fouling development in different areas of membrane modules. The findings showed that operational performance declined over time and fouling mainly occurred at the feed side of the modules, with the highest microbial diversity. Keystone species like Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes played an important role in maintaining community structure and biofilm maturation. Polysaccharides, soluble microbial products, marine humic acid-like substances, and inorganic substances contributed to fouling. Overall, biofouling had a significant impact on membrane fouling after 7 years of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dan Li, Jieyi Sun, Yibo Fu, Wentao Hong, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Junhong Wu, Sen Yang, Jianhui Xu, Yunfei Zhang, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: Sulfidation-oxidation treatment of magnetite (Fe3O4) enhances the production of dark center dot OH, which can efficiently degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerate carbon cycling.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Yu, Kaijun Wang, Kaiyuan Zhang, Ruiyang Liu, Pingping Zheng
Summary: This study implemented a microaerobic-aerobic configuration in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility and investigated the effects on sludge characteristics, pollutant removal, microbial community, and granulation mechanisms. The results showed successful transition from flocculent-activated sludge to well-defined AGS after two months of operation. The primary pathways for pollutant removal were simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Moreover, the incorporation of internal separators induced shifts in the flow pattern, which promoted granulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Zhang, Shaoyang Hu, Guangrong Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: Halogenated aromatic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as halogenated phenols, have garnered widespread attention due to their high toxicity and prevalence. This study reports on the analysis, occurrence, and cytotoxicity of a group of emerging halogenated aromatic DBPs, known as halogenated polyhydroxyphenols (HPPs), in drinking water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyue Chen, Jinliang Huang, Peng Wang, Xi Tang, Zhenyu Zhang
Summary: Accurate prediction of river water quality is crucial for sustainable water management. This study introduces wavelet analysis and transfer learning techniques to assist LSTM modeling, proposing a newly coupled modeling approach that improves short-term prediction of river water quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bang Du, Xinmin Zhan, Piet N. L. Lens, Yifeng Zhang, Guangxue Wu
Summary: Efficient anaerobic digestion relies on the cooperation of different microorganisms with different metabolic pathways. This study investigated the effects of different operational modes and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on ethanol metabolic pathways. The results showed that the SBR mode and the presence of CO2 facilitated ethanol metabolism towards propionate production, while the CFR mode with extended solids retention time enriched Geobacter. Adjusting operational modes and PAC addition can modulate anaerobic ethanol metabolism and enrich Geobacter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Jun Zhong, Yuanbi Yi, Fujun Yue, Zenglei Han, Qixin Wu, Ding He, Cong-Qiang Liu
Summary: This study compares the carbon biogeochemical processes in karst and non-karst regions within large thermal stratified river-reservoir systems. The results demonstrate that karst reservoirs have a reduced potential for carbon emissions and highlight the importance of considering geologic settings to improve accuracy in regional and global CO2 emission estimates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunxia Jiang, Zelong Zhao, Dong Zhu, Xiong Pan, Yuyi Yang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental media of the Yangtze River using metagenomics. Core resistome dominated by multidrug resistance genes was found in all samples, while rare resistome dominated by various resistance genes was more prevalent in plasmids. Specific bacteria were identified as hosts for both core and rare resistomes, with high clinical concern ARGs found in the rare resistome. Particle-associated environment provided the most ideal conditions for resistome hosts. This study provided insights into the genetic locations of ARGs and the community assembly mechanisms of ARG hosts in freshwater environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Zhang, Yongtao He, Linchun Jia, Lei Xu, Zheng Wang, Yueling He, Ling Xiong, Xumeng Lin, Hong Chen, Gang Xue
Summary: By synergizing organic carbon source, thiosulfate, and zero-valent iron, efficient mixotrophic denitrification of oligotrophic secondary effluent can be achieved. Thiosulfate plays a vital role in promoting TN removal efficiency, while corrosion of Fe0 releases OH- to neutralize H+ from thiosulfate-driven denitrification, creating a suitable environment for denitrification. The coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintains the dominance of Thiobacillus for denitrification.