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Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jul 2022Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a target of rigorous scientific research due to their ubiquitous nature and adverse health effects. However, there...
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a target of rigorous scientific research due to their ubiquitous nature and adverse health effects. However, there are still gaps in knowledge about their environmental fate and health implications. More attention is needed for remote locations with source exposures. This study focuses on assessing PFAS exposure in Gustavus, a small Alaska community, located near a significant PFAS source from airport operations and fire training sites. Residential water (n = 25) and serum (n = 40) samples were collected from Gustavus residents and analyzed for 39 PFAS compounds. In addition, two water samples were collected from the previously identified PFAS source near the community. Fourteen distinct PFAS were detected in Gustavus water samples, including 6 perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), 7 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), and 1 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS). ΣPFAS concentrations in residential drinking water ranged from not detected to 120 ng/L. High ΣPFAS levels were detected in two source samples collected from the Gustavus Department of Transportation (14,600 ng/L) and the Gustavus Airport (228 ng/L), confirming these two locations as a nearby major source of PFAS contamination. Seventeen PFAS were detected in serum and ΣPFAS concentrations ranged from 0.0170 to 13.1 ng/mL (median 0.0823 ng/mL). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were the most abundant PFAS in both water and serum samples and comprised up to 70% of ΣPFAS concentrations in these samples. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed PFAS concentrations in water and sera were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.495; p = 0.0192). Our results confirm a presence of a significant PFAS source near Gustavus, Alaska and suggest that contaminated drinking water from private wells contributes to the overall PFAS body burden in Gustavus residents.
Topics: Alaska; Alkanesulfonic Acids; Drinking Water; Fluorocarbons; Humans; Pilot Projects; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35367506
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119246 -
Epidemiologia E Servicos de Saude :... 2019The Drinking Water Quality Surveillance Information System (SISAGUA) is an instrument used in Brazil to record forms of water supply and water quality monitoring data...
The Drinking Water Quality Surveillance Information System (SISAGUA) is an instrument used in Brazil to record forms of water supply and water quality monitoring data recommended by the potable water standard. This information is used in the management of health risks associated with water supply in the country and supports the surveillance of drinking water quality, the structuring of public policies in the area of environmental health and sanitation, the prevention of waterborne diseases, and the characterization of the quality of water consumed by the Brazilian population. This article describes the history of SISAGUA and presents the main features of its current version (SISAGUA 4) regarding data collection and processing, variables, uses and accesses, data coverage and quality, as well as the system's applicability, limitations and challenges.
Topics: Brazil; Drinking Water; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Public Policy; Sanitation; Water Quality; Water Supply
PubMed: 30970073
DOI: 10.5123/S1679-49742019000100024 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2023Arsenic and atrazine are two water contaminants of high public health concern in Iowa. The occurrence of arsenic and atrazine in drinking water from Iowa's private wells...
Arsenic and atrazine are two water contaminants of high public health concern in Iowa. The occurrence of arsenic and atrazine in drinking water from Iowa's private wells and public water systems was investigated over several decades. In this study, the percentages of detection and violation of regulations were compared over region, season, and water source, and factors affecting the detection and concentration of arsenic and atrazine were analyzed using a mixed-effects model. Atrazine contamination in drinking water was found to vary by region, depending on agricultural usage patterns and hydrogeological features. The annual median atrazine levels of all public water systems were below the drinking water standard of 3 ppb in 2001-2014. Around 40% of public water systems contained arsenic at levels > 1 ppb in 2014, with 13.8% containing arsenic at levels of 5-10 ppb and 2.6% exceeding 10 ppb. This unexpected result highlights the ongoing public health threat posed by arsenic in drinking water in Iowa, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts to reduce exposure and associated health risks. Additionally, an atrazine metabolite, desethylatrazine, should be monitored to obtain a complete account of atrazine exposure and possible health effects.
Topics: Atrazine; Drinking Water; Arsenic; Iowa; Public Health; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Supply
PubMed: 37048011
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075397 -
Environment International Jan 2021Lead (Pb) in drinking water has re-emerged as a modern public health threat which can vary widely in space and in time (i.e., between homes, within homes and even at the... (Review)
Review
Lead (Pb) in drinking water has re-emerged as a modern public health threat which can vary widely in space and in time (i.e., between homes, within homes and even at the same tap over time). Spatial and temporal water Pb variability in buildings is the combined result of water chemistry, hydraulics, Pb plumbing materials and water use patterns. This makes it challenging to obtain meaningful water Pb data with which to estimate potential exposure to residents. The objectives of this review paper are to describe the root causes of intrinsic Pb variability in drinking water, which in turn impacts the numerous existing water sampling protocols for Pb. Such knowledge can assist the public health community, the drinking water industry, and other interested groups to interpret/compare existing drinking water Pb data, develop appropriate sampling protocols to answer specific questions relating to Pb in water, and understand potential exposure to Pb-contaminated water. Overall, review of the literature indicated that drinking water sampling for Pb assessment can serve many purposes. Regulatory compliance sampling protocols are useful in assessing community-wide compliance with a water Pb regulatory standard by typically employing practical single samples. More complex multi-sample protocols are useful for comprehensive Pb plumbing source determination (e.g., Pb service line, Pb brass faucet, Pb solder joint) or Pb form identification (i.e., particulate Pb release) in buildings. Exposure assessment sampling can employ cumulative water samples that directly capture an approximate average water Pb concentration over a prolonged period of normal household water use. Exposure assessment may conceivably also employ frequent random single samples, but this approach warrants further investigation. Each protocol has a specific use answering one or more questions relevant to Pb in water. In order to establish statistical correlations to blood Pb measurements or to predict blood Pb levels from existing datasets, the suitability of available drinking water Pb datasets in representing water Pb exposure needs to be understood and the uncertainties need to be characterized.
Topics: Drinking Water; Humans; Lead; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollution; Water Supply
PubMed: 33395926
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106259 -
Chemico-biological Interactions Mar 2019
Topics: Carcinogens; Drinking Water; Models, Biological; Publishing; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 30763553
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.01.007 -
Biocontrol Science 2018Nitrate-nitrogen (NO-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO-N) are constituents of the nitrogen cycle. NO-N is toxic to humans, primarily due to its reduction to NO-N. In Japan,...
Nitrate-nitrogen (NO-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO-N) are constituents of the nitrogen cycle. NO-N is toxic to humans, primarily due to its reduction to NO-N. In Japan, NO-N and NO-N levels in tap water must not exceed 10 mg/L and only NO-N alone not 0.04 mg/L, respectively. In this study, we verified the effect of microorganisms and ultraviolet (UV) to increase of NO-N in water. First, all tested drinking-waters including tap water and commercial mineral water in PET bottles had < 2 mg/L NO-N and undetectable levels (< 0.01 mg/L) of NO-N. However, we found that NO-N was generated in tap water left to stand at room temperature for several days, leading to increases in CF and TC counts and reduction of NO-N. We also demonstrated that direct UV and sunlight irradiation of NO-N-containing drinking water generated NO-N in 1-2 h, with NO-N reaching > 0.04 mg/mL by 4-6 h. On the other hand, NO-N and NO-N were undetectable in commercially purified water.
Topics: Colony Count, Microbial; Drinking Water; Escherichia coli; Humans; Japan; Nitrates; Nitrites; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Cycle; Oxidation-Reduction; Pseudomonas; Ultraviolet Rays; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 30249964
DOI: 10.4265/bio.23.139 -
Microbiome Jul 2019Eukaryotes are ubiquitous in natural environments such as soil and freshwater. Little is known of their presence in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) or of the...
BACKGROUND
Eukaryotes are ubiquitous in natural environments such as soil and freshwater. Little is known of their presence in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) or of the environmental conditions that affect their activity and survival.
METHODS
Eukaryotes were characterized by Illumina high-throughput sequencing targeting 18S rRNA gene (DNA) that estimates the total community and the 18S rRNA gene transcript (RNA) that is more representative of the active part of the community. DWDS cold water (N = 124), hot water (N = 40), and biofilm (N = 16) samples were collected from four cities in Finland. The sampled DWDSs were from two waterworks A-B with non-disinfected, recharged groundwater as source water and from three waterworks utilizing chlorinated water (two DWDSs of surface waterworks C-D and one of ground waterworks E). In each DWDS, samples were collected from three locations during four seasons of 1 year.
RESULTS
A beta-diversity analysis revealed that the main driver shaping the eukaryotic communities was the DWDS (A-E) (R = 0.73, P < 0.001, ANOSIM). The kingdoms Chloroplastida (green plants and algae), Metazoa (animals: rotifers, nematodes), Fungi (e.g., Cryptomycota), Alveolata (ciliates, dinoflagellates), and Stramenopiles (algae Ochrophyta) were well represented and active-judging based on the rRNA gene transcripts-depending on the surrounding conditions. The unchlorinated cold water of systems (A-B) contained a higher estimated total number of taxa (Chao1, average 380-480) than chlorinated cold water in systems C-E (Chao1 ≤ 210). Within each DWDS, unique eukaryotic communities were identified at different locations as was the case also for cold water, hot water, and biofilms. A season did not have a consistent impact on the eukaryotic community among DWDSs.
CONCLUSIONS
This study comprehensively characterized the eukaryotic community members within the DWDS of well-maintained ground and surface waterworks providing good quality water. The study gives an indication that each DWDS houses a unique eukaryotic community, mainly dependent on the raw water source and water treatment processes in place at the corresponding waterworks. In particular, disinfection as well as hot water temperature seemed to represent a strong selection pressure that controlled the number of active eukaryotic species.
Topics: Animals; Drinking Water; Eukaryota; Finland; Groundwater; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Water Quality
PubMed: 31269979
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0715-5 -
Environmental Health and Preventive... Mar 2020In low resourced countries, water-associated diseases have still impact on public health. Poor quality of water can cause waterborne diseases through bacteria, viruses,...
BACKGROUND
In low resourced countries, water-associated diseases have still impact on public health. Poor quality of water can cause waterborne diseases through bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites that has been responsible for millions of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess quality and safety of public municipal drinking water in Addis Ababa City.
METHODS
Descriptive epidemiological study design that used quantitative approach was carried out at Addis Ababa City Administration from June 2016 to October 2016. Pre-tested and standardized aseptic sample collection technique was utilized to collect a total of 2976 samples (2951 water samples for bacteriological analysis by Presence-Absence (P-A) culturing method and 25 samples for parasites identification through direct microscopy examination). Descriptive data were summarized and cleaned by the SPSS version 20 software and presented in table and graph.
RESULTS
The study revealed that 10%, 7% and 3% were positive for bacteriological, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms respectively through Presence-Absence Broth test. The bacterial distribution trends from 1st to 13th weeks of wet season were slight increment of total coliforms and slight decrement for fecal coliforms. All tested for parasitological samples from selected reservoirs were free from parasitological species.
CONCLUSION
This study reflects that there were positive for bacterial, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms during the study period. It needs continuous screening and treating water sources to utmost important for prevention and control waterborne disease.
Topics: Cities; Drinking Water; Ethiopia; Seasons; Water Quality
PubMed: 32151243
DOI: 10.1186/s12199-020-00847-8 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2021Acidification of drinking water to a pH between 2.5 and 3.0 is widely used to prevent the spread of bacterial diseases in animal colonies. Besides hydrochloric acid...
Acidification of drinking water to a pH between 2.5 and 3.0 is widely used to prevent the spread of bacterial diseases in animal colonies. Besides hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (HSO) is also used to acidify drinking water. Here we examined the effects of HSO-acidified drinking water (pH = 2.8) received from weaning (postnatal day 21) on the behavior and gut microflora of 129S6/SvEv mice, a mouse strain commonly used in transgenic studies. In contrast to HCl-acidified water, HSO-acidified water only temporarily impaired the pole-descending ability of mice (at 3 months of age), and did not change the performance in an accelerating rotarod test. As compared to 129S6/SvEv mice receiving non-acidified or HCl-acidified drinking water, the gut microbiota of 129S6/SvEv mice on HSO-acidified water displayed significant alterations at every taxonomic level especially at 6 months of age. Our results demonstrate that the effects of acidified drinking water on the behavior and gut microbiota of 129S6/SvEv mice depends on the acid used for acidification. To shed some light on how acidified drinking water affects the physiology of 129S6/SvEv mice, we analyzed the serum and fecal metabolomes and found remarkable, acidified water-induced alterations.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Drinking Water; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Mice; Models, Animal; Motor Activity; Rotarod Performance Test; Sulfuric Acids
PubMed: 33536529
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82570-0 -
Neurotoxicology and Teratology 2023Fluoride (F) exposure in drinking water may lead to reduced cognitive function among children; however, findings largely remain inconclusive. In this pilot study, we...
Fluoride (F) exposure in drinking water may lead to reduced cognitive function among children; however, findings largely remain inconclusive. In this pilot study, we examined associations between a range of chronic F exposures (low to high: 0.4 to 15.5 mg/L) in drinking water and cognition in school-aged children (5-14 years, n = 74) in rural Ethiopia. Fluoride exposure was determined from samples of community-based drinking water wells and urine. Cognitive performance was measured using: 1) assessments of ability to draw familiar objects (donkey, house, and person), and 2) a validated Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery's (CANTAB) Paired Associate Learning (PAL), which examines memory and new learning and is closely associated with hippocampus function of the brain. Associations between F and cognitive outcomes were evaluated using regression analysis, adjusting for demographic, health status, and other covariates. The median (range) of water and urine F levels was 7.6 (0.4-15.5 mg/L) and 6.3 (0.5-15.7 mg/L), respectively; these measures were strongly correlated (r = 0.74), indicating that water is the primary source of F exposure. Fluoride in drinking water was negatively associated with cognitive function, measured by both drawing and CANTAB test performance. Inverse relationships were also found between F and drawing objects task scores, after adjusting for covariates (p < 0.05). Further analysis using CANTAB PAL tasks in the children confirmed that F level in drinking water was positively associated with the number of errors made by children (p < 0.01), also after adjusting for covariates (p < 0.05). This association between water F and total errors made became markedly stronger as PAL task difficulty increased. Fluoride exposure was also inversely associated with other PAL tasksthe number of patterns reached, first attempt memory score and mean errors to success. These findings provide supportive evidence that high F exposures may be associated with cognitive deficits in children. Additional well-designed studies are critically needed to establish the neurotoxicity of F in children and adults exposed to both low levels known to protect dental caries, as well as excess F levels in drinking water.
Topics: Humans; Child; Fluorides; Drinking Water; Pilot Projects; Dental Caries; Cognition
PubMed: 37690675
DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107293