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Water Research Jun 2024Metals in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) play an important role on the fate of disinfection by-products (DBPs). They can increase the formation of DBPs... (Review)
Review
Metals in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) play an important role on the fate of disinfection by-products (DBPs). They can increase the formation of DBPs through several mechanisms, such as enhancing the proportion of reactive halogen species (RHS), catalysing the reaction between natural organic matter (NOM) and RHS through complexation, or by increasing the conversion of NOM into DBP precursors. This review comprehensively summarizes these complex processes, focusing on the most important metals (copper, iron, manganese) in DWDS and their impact on various DBPs. It organizes the dispersed 'metals-DBPs' experimental results into an easily accessible content structure and presents their underlying common or unique mechanisms. Furthermore, the practically valuable application directions of these research findings were analysed, including the toxicity changes of DBPs in DWDS under the influence of metals and the potential enhancement of generalization in DBP model research by the introduction of metals. Overall, this review revealed that the metal environment within DWDS is a crucial factor influencing DBP levels in tap water.
PubMed: 38941679
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121991 -
Journal of Global Health Jun 2024Diarrhoeal disease disproportionately affects children <5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pathogens responsible for diarrhoea are commonly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Lifestraw Family water filters in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis to define longer-term public health impact against childhood diarrhoea and inform scale-up.
BACKGROUND
Diarrhoeal disease disproportionately affects children <5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pathogens responsible for diarrhoea are commonly transmitted through faecally-contaminated drinking water. Lifestraw Family point-of-use water filters have been the subject of intervention studies for over a decade and were the first filters evaluated by the World Health Organization in its water treatment evaluation scheme to provide comprehensive protection against many diarrhoea-causing pathogens. This systematic review aimed to: 1) report on aspects related to physical environment and implementation and 2) conduct an updated meta-analysis on Lifestraw Family filter effectiveness against childhood diarrhoea based on studies with ≥12 months of follow-up.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search in November 2022 using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases. Inclusion criteria were: 1) RCTs, cluster-RCTs, quasi-experimental, or matched cohort studies on 2) Lifestraw Family 1.0 or 2.0 filters 3) conducted in LMICs 4) that evaluated filter effectiveness against diarrhoea in children <5 and 5) analysed ≥12 months of follow-up data on clinical effectiveness against diarrhoea and were 6) published from 2010 with 7) full-text availability in English. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and analysed using a random-effects meta-analysis.
RESULTS
We included 6 studies in LMICs involving 4740 children <5. Of the four clinically-effective interventions, common characteristics were access to improved water sources (75%), the 2.0 version of the filter or the 1.0 version with additional water storage (100%), use of behaviour change theory, community engagement, and health messaging (75%), local filter repair-and-replace mechanisms (75%), and specially-trained local interventionists (100%). The meta-analysis showed a 30% reduction in diarrhoea risk in the intervention group (RR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.52-0.91, P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Lifestraw Family water filters can be effective interventions to reduce diarrhoea in vulnerable paediatric populations for at least one year, though certain aspects related to physical environment and implementation may increase their public health impact. The findings of this study suggest considerations for scale-up that can be applied in settings in need of longer-term interim solutions until universal access to safe drinking water is achieved.
Topics: Humans; Diarrhea; Developing Countries; Water Purification; Public Health; Filtration; Child, Preschool; Drinking Water; Infant
PubMed: 38939952
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04018 -
Iranian Journal of Public Health Mar 2024Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, experienced a surge in production during the 20th century due to the rise of nickel-cadmium batteries, metal plating, and plastic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, experienced a surge in production during the 20th century due to the rise of nickel-cadmium batteries, metal plating, and plastic stabilizers. Exposure to cadmium primarily occurs through the consumption of contaminated food, such as vegetables and grains, as well as drinking water or inhaling polluted air. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between cadmium exposure and the incidence of prostate cancer using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach.
METHODS
This research involved searching and retrieving observational and experimental studies conducted until May 2022 from various databases, including ISI Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus, Pub-Med, and Google Scholar. Data analysis was performed using Stata 15 statistical software.
RESULTS
The initial search yielded 794 articles, which were subsequently reduced to 427 articles after eliminating duplicates. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The odds ratio of prostate cancer compared to the first quartile of exposure in the second quartile was 1.03 (0.95-1.12), in the third quartile it was 1.12 (0.99-1.26) and in the fourth quartile of exposure was equal to 1.16 (0.79-1.70). Regarding the investigation of the probability of the occurrence of publication bias, the results of Begg's and Egger's tests were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Although exposure to cadmium leads to an increase in the chance of prostate cancer, this chance increase was not statistically significant.
PubMed: 38919294
DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v53i3.15136 -
International Journal of Public Health 2024This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to: i) determine the pooled prevalence of acute diarrhea; and ii) synthesize and summarize current evidence on factors of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to: i) determine the pooled prevalence of acute diarrhea; and ii) synthesize and summarize current evidence on factors of acute diarrheal illnesses among under-five children in Ethiopia. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Global Index Medicus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and the Cochrane Library. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The methodological quality of each included article was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality assessment tool for cross-sectional and case-control studies. A random-effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of diarrheal illnesses. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using I test statistics and Egger's test, respectively. The statistical analysis was done using STATA™ software version 14. Fifty-three studies covering over 27,458 under-five children who met the inclusion criteria were included. The pooled prevalence of diarrhea among under-five children in Ethiopia was found to be 20.8% (95% CI: 18.69-22.84, n = 44, I = 94.9%, < 0.001). Our analysis revealed a higher prevalence of childhood diarrhea in age groups of 12-23 months 25.42% (95%CI: 21.50-29.35, I = 89.4%, < 0.001). In general, the evidence suggests that diarrheal risk factors could include: i) child level determinants (child's age 0-23 months, not being vaccinated against rotavirus, lack of exclusive breastfeeding, and being an under-nourished child); ii) parental level determinants {mothers poor handwashing practices [pooled odds ratio (OR) = 3.05; 95% CI:2.08-4.54] and a history of maternal recent diarrhea (pooled OR = 3.19, 95%CI: 1.94-5.25)}; and iii) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) determinants [lack of toilet facility (pooled OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.05-2.33)], lack handwashing facility (pooled OR = 4.16, 95%CI: 2.49-6.95) and not treating drinking water (pooled OR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.50-3.46). In Ethiopia, the prevalence of diarrhea among children under the age of five remains high and is still a public health problem. The contributing factors to acute diarrheal illnesses were child, parental, and WASH factors. A continued focus on improving access to WASH facilities, along with enhancing maternal hygiene behavior will accelerate reductions in diarrheal disease burden in Ethiopia.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; Diarrhea; Child, Preschool; Infant; Prevalence; Observational Studies as Topic; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38903206
DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606399 -
BMC Oral Health Jun 2024Dental fluorosis (DF) is caused by excessive exposure to fluoride during odontogenesis and leads to various changes in the development of tooth enamel. Some regions in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Dental fluorosis (DF) is caused by excessive exposure to fluoride during odontogenesis and leads to various changes in the development of tooth enamel. Some regions in Mexico are considered endemic fluorosis zones due to the high fluoride content in drinking water. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the association between the concentration of fluoride in drinking water and the severity of dental fluorosis in northern and western Mexico.
METHODS
This protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42023401519). The search for information was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar databases between January 2015 and October 2023. The overall relative risk was calculated using the inverse of variance approach with the random effects method. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to construct risk plots.
RESULTS
Eleven articles were analyzed qualitatively, and most of the included studies presented at least one level of DF severity; six articles were analyzed quantitatively, dividing them into two regions. In North region it was observed a higher prevalence of severe TF cases, corresponding to ≥ TF 5 category (4.78) [3.55, 6.42]. In the West region, most of the included studies presented a higher prevalence of less severe cases, corresponding to ≤ TF 4, in comparison with the North region (0.01) [0.00, 0.52], interpreted as a protective effect.
CONCLUSION
The concentrations of fluorides in drinking water are reportedly high in these regions and are directly related to the severity of dental fluorosis experienced by the inhabitants. In the Northern region exists a major concentration of fluoride in drinking water compared with the Western region as well as a prevalence of higher severity cases of dental fluorosis.
Topics: Fluorosis, Dental; Humans; Mexico; Fluorides; Drinking Water; Severity of Illness Index; Prevalence
PubMed: 38898439
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04472-7 -
Nutrition Reviews Jun 2024Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia increase the risk for diabetes and its complications, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. Identification of safe and...
CONTEXT
Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia increase the risk for diabetes and its complications, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and stroke. Identification of safe and cost-effective means to reduce risk factors is needed. Herbal teas may be a vehicle to deliver antioxidants and polyphenols for prevention of complications.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate and summarize the impact of herbal tea (non-Camellia sinensis) on glucose homeostasis and serum lipids in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, FSTA, Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception through February 2023 using relevant keyword proxy terms for diabetes, serum lipids, and "non-Camellia sinensis" or "tea."
DATA EXTRACTION
Data from 14 randomized controlled trials, totaling 551 participants, were included in the meta-analysis of glycemic and serum lipid profile end points.
RESULTS
Meta-analysis suggested a significant association between drinking herbal tea (prepared with 2-20 g d-1 plant ingredients) and reduction in fasting blood glucose (FBG) (P = .0034) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P = .045). In subgroup analysis based on studies using water or placebo as the control, significant reductions were found in serum total cholesterol (TC; P = .024), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = .037), and triglyceride (TG; P = .043) levels with a medium effect size. Meta-regression analysis suggested that study characteristics, including the ratio of male participants, trial duration, and region, were significant sources of FBG and HbA1c effect size heterogeneity; type of control intervention was a significant source of TC and LDL-C effect size heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
Herbal tea consumption significantly affected glycemic profiles in individuals with T2D, lowering FBG levels and HbA1c. Significance was seen in improved lipid profiles (TC, TG, and LDL-C levels) through herbal tea treatments when water or placebo was the control. This suggests water or placebo may be a more suitable control when examining antidiabetic properties of beverages. Additional research is needed to corroborate these findings, given the limited number of studies.
PubMed: 38894639
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuae068 -
Chemosphere Jul 2024Estrogenic compounds are the endocrine disruptors that receive major attention because of their ability to imitate the natural female hormone, 17β-estradiol and cause...
Estrogenic compounds are the endocrine disruptors that receive major attention because of their ability to imitate the natural female hormone, 17β-estradiol and cause adverse effects on the reproductive system of animals. The presence of estrogenic compounds in drinking water is a warning to assess the risks to which human beings are exposed. The present work has the objectives of carrying out a systematic review of studies that investigated estrogenic compounds in drinking water around the world and estimate the human health and estrogenic activity risks, based on the concentrations of each compound reported. The systematic review returned 505 scientific papers from the Web of Science®, SCOPUS® and PubMED® databases and after careful analysis, 45 papers were accepted. Sixteen estrogenic compounds were identified in drinking water, from the classes of hormones, pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products, plasticizers, corrosion inhibitors, pesticides and surfactants. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the compound found at the highest concentration, reaching a value of 1.43 mg/L. Non-carcinogenic human health risk was classified as high for 17α-ethynilestradiol and DEHP, medium for dibutyl phthalate, and low for bisphenol A. The estrogenic activity risks were negligible for all the compounds, except DEHP, with a low risk. None of the estrogenic compounds presented an unacceptable carcinogenic risk, due to estrogenic activity. However, the risk assessment did not evaluate the interactions between compounds, that occurs in drinking water and can increase the risks and adverse effects to human health. Nonetheless, this study demonstrates the need for improvement of drinking water treatment plants, with more efficient technologies for micropollutant removal.
Topics: Drinking Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Estrogens; Endocrine Disruptors; Humans; Risk Assessment; Animals
PubMed: 38821126
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142463 -
Virusdisease Mar 2024Waterborne viruses such as adenoviruses cause major health problems in the world. Human adenoviruses are the second leading cause of childhood gastroenteritis worldwide.... (Review)
Review
Waterborne viruses such as adenoviruses cause major health problems in the world. Human adenoviruses are the second leading cause of childhood gastroenteritis worldwide. In recent years, the presence of the virus in aquatic resources has been shown in several studies. In this paper, the global presence of adenovirus in different types of water resources are reviewed through studying several surveys conducted in different countries worldwide. We designed one search study to collect the maximum number of related articles to this subject in international databases search engine via relevant keywords. After reviewing the articles, the most relevant ones were selected, and after classification and extracting the required information, they were reported in the tables presented in this study. In general, it was found that the highest rate of the presence of adenoviruses has been reported in sewage water, inlet, and outlet of the treatment plant while the lowest rate of the presence of adenovirus in the dam water. These findings demonstrate that treatment plant system has weakness in removing the adenovirus and are strongly recommended for treatment plants to use new and better protocols to remove this virus. In addition, appropriate diagnostic methods that combines molecular biological technique with infectivity assay should be implemented for detection of adenoviruses in water resources.
PubMed: 38817402
DOI: 10.1007/s13337-023-00857-4 -
Microorganisms Apr 2024Pathogenic microorganisms released onto the soil from point or diffuse sources represent a public health concern. They can be transported by rainwater that infiltrates... (Review)
Review
Pathogenic microorganisms released onto the soil from point or diffuse sources represent a public health concern. They can be transported by rainwater that infiltrates into subsoil and reach the groundwater where they can survive for a long time and contaminate drinking water sources. As part of the SCA.Re.S. (Evaluation of Health Risk Related to the Discharge of Wastewater on the Soil) project, we reviewed a selection of field-scale studies that investigated the factors that influenced the fate of microorganisms that were transported from the ground surface to the groundwater. A total of 24 studies published between 2003 and 2022 were included in the review. These studies were selected from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Microbial contamination of groundwater depends on complex interactions between human activities responsible for the release of contaminants onto the soil, and a range of environmental and biological factors, including the geological, hydraulic, and moisture characteristics of the media traversed by the water, and the characteristics and the viability of the microorganisms, which in turn depend on the environmental conditions and presence of predatory species. Enterococci appeared to be more resistant in the underground environment than thermotolerant coliforms and were suggested as a better indicator for detecting microbial contamination of groundwater.
PubMed: 38792743
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050913 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Aug 2024Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been developed to decompose toxic pollutants to protect the aquatic environment. AOP has been considered an alternative... (Review)
Review
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been developed to decompose toxic pollutants to protect the aquatic environment. AOP has been considered an alternative treatment method for wastewater treatment. Bromine is present in natural waters posing toxic effects on human health and hence, its removal from drinking water sources is necessary. Of the many techniques advanced oxidation is covered in this review. This review systematically examines literature published from 1997 to April 2024, sourced from Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases, focusing on the efficacy of AOPs for pollutant removal from aqueous solutions containing bromide ions to investigate the impact of bromide ions on AOPs. Data and information extracted from each article eligible for inclusion in the review include the type of AOP, type of pollutants, and removal efficiency of AOP under the presence and absence of bromide ion. Of the 1784 documents screened, 90 studies met inclusion criteria, providing insights into various AOPs, including UV/chlorine, UV/PS, UV/HO, UV/catalyst, and visible light/catalyst processes. The observed impact of bromide ion presence on the efficacy of AOP processes, alongside the AOP method under scrutiny, is contingent upon various factors such as the nature of the target pollutant, catalyst type, and bromide ion concentration. These considerations are crucial in selecting the best method for removing specific pollutants under defined conditions. Challenges were encountered during result analysis included variations in experimental setups, disparities in pollutant types and concentrations, and inconsistencies in reporting AOP performance metrics. Addressing these parameters in research reports will enhance the coherence and utility of subsequent systematic reviews.
Topics: Oxidation-Reduction; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Bromides; Water Purification; Wastewater
PubMed: 38734054
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124136