Water arsenic including in public water is linked to higher urinary arsenic totals among the U.S. population

Highest concentrations found in the West and South and among Mexican American and other Hispanic participants

Date: April 20, 2023

Source: Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

Summary: A new study shows that water arsenic levels are linked to higher urinary arsenic among the U.S. population for users of both private wells and public water systems.

Journal Reference:

1. Maya Spaur, Melissa A. Lombard, Joseph D. Ayotte, Benjamin C. Bostick, Steven N. Chillrud, Ana Navas-Acien, Anne E. Nigra. Cross-sectional associations between drinking water arsenic and urinary inorganic arsenic in the United States: NHANES 2003–2014. Environmental Research, 2023; 227: 115741 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115741

Karen D Bradham 1, Clay M Nelson 2, Tyler D Sowers 3, Darren A Lytle 4, Jennifer Tully 4, Michael R Schock 4, Kevin Li 5, Matthew D Blackmon 3, Kasey Kovalcik 3, David Cox 6, Gary Dewalt 6, Warren Friedman 7, Eugene A Pinzer 7, Peter J Ashley 7
Affiliations expand
PMID: 35986209 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00461-6

Abstract

Keywords: Arsenic; Copper; Drinking water; Human exposure.; Lead.

Ian T. Cousins, Jana H. Johansson, Matthew E. Salter, Bo Sha, and Martin Scheringer

Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56, 16, 11172–11179
Publication Date:August 2, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c02765
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society

ABSTRACT: It is hypothesized that environmental contamina-
tion by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) defines a separate planetary boundary and that this boundary has been
exceeded. This hypothesis is tested by comparing the levels of four
selected perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) (i.e., perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane-
sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)) in various global environmental media (i.e., rainwater, soils, and
surface waters) with recently proposed guideline levels. On the
basis of the four PFAAs considered, it is concluded that (1) levels
of PFOA and PFOS in rainwater often greatly exceed US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lifetime Drinking
Water Health Advisory levels and the sum of the aforementioned four PFAAs (Σ4 PFAS) in rainwater is often above Danish
drinking water limit values also based on Σ4 PFAS; (2) levels of PFOS in rainwater are often above Environmental Quality Standard
for Inland European Union Surface Water; and (3) atmospheric deposition also leads to global soils being ubiquitously
contaminated and to be often above proposed Dutch guideline values. It is, therefore, concluded that the global spread of these four
PFAAs in the atmosphere has led to the planetary boundary for chemical pollution being exceeded. Levels of PFAAs in atmospheric
deposition are especially poorly reversible because of the high persistence of PFAAs and their ability to continuously cycle in the
hydrosphere, including on sea spray aerosols emitted from the oceans. Because of the poor reversibility of environmental exposure to
PFAS and their associated effects, it is vitally important that PFAS uses and emissions are rapidly restricted.
KEYWORDS: PFAS, planetary boundary, chemical pollution, environmental exposure

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been a focal point of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation in recent years, culminating in a shift from individual PFAS regulation toward a PFAS group regulatory approach in Europe. PFASs are a highly diverse group of substances, and knowledge about this group is still scarce beyond the well-studied, legacy long-chain, and short-chain perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs). Herein, quantitative and semiquantitative data for 43 legacy short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFASs (≤2 perfluorocarbon atoms for PFCAs, ≤3 for PFSAs and other PFASs) in 46 water samples collected from 13 different sources of German drinking water are presented. The PFASs considered include novel compounds like hexafluoroisopropanol, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The ultra-short-chain PFASs trifluoroacetate, perfluoropropanoate, and trifluoromethanesulfonate were ubiquitous and present at the highest concentrations (98% of sum target PFAS concentrations). “PFAS total” parameters like the adsorbable organic fluorine (AOF) and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay were found to provide only an incomplete picture of PFAS contamination in these water samples by not capturing these highly prevalent ultra-short-chain PFASs. These ultra-short-chain PFASs represent a major challenge for drinking water production and show that regulation in the form of preventive measures is required to manage them.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.1c07949

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Authors:  Schymanski, D., Oßmann, B. E., Benismail, N., Boukerma, K., Dallmann, G., Esch, E. von der, Fischer, D., Fischer, F., Gilliland, D., Glas, K., Hofmann, T., Käppler, A., Lacorte, S., Marco, J., Rakwe, M. EL, Weisser, J., Witzig, C., Zumbülte, N., & Ivleva, N. P. (2021). Analysis of microplastics in drinking water and other clean water samples with micro-Raman and micro-infrared spectroscopy: minimum requirements and best practice guidelines. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2021, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00216-021-03498-Y

Abstract

Microplastics are a widespread contaminant found not only in various natural habitats but also in drinking waters. With spectroscopic methods, the polymer type, number, size, and size distribution as well as the shape of microplastic particles in waters can be determined, which is of great relevance to toxicological studies. Methods used in studies so far show a huge diversity regarding experimental setups and often a lack of certain quality assurance aspects. To overcome these problems, this critical review and consensus paper of 12 European analytical laboratories and institutions, dealing with microplastic particle identification and quantification with spectroscopic methods, gives guidance toward harmonized microplastic particle analysis in clean waters. The aims of this paper are to (i) improve the reliability of microplastic analysis, (ii) facilitate and improve the planning of sample preparation and microplastic detection, and (iii) provide a better understanding regarding the evaluation of already existing studies. With these aims, we hope to make an important step toward harmonization of microplastic particle analysis in clean water samples and, thus, allow the comparability of results obtained in different studies by using similar or harmonized methods. Clean water samples, for the purpose of this paper, are considered to comprise all water samples with low matrix content, in particular drinking, tap, and bottled water, but also other water types such as clean freshwater.

Discussion and conclusions

The lack of harmonized methods and analytical standard substances and the difficulty to validate methods for the variable and even sometimes contradictory data [15]. The proposed quality criteria by Koelmans and colleagues include the sampling method, sample size, sample processing and storage, laboratory preparation, clean air conditions, positive and negative controls, sample treatment, and polymer identification. The present consensus paper discusses and sums up details regarding the most important spectroscopic methods that can be used for MP analysis in clean water. All of the above-mentioned quality criteria were integrated in this guideline (see Table 1). It allows the reader to compare and evaluate existing studies. Furthermore, the guidelines can be used to better understand and thus make a more advantageous choice when setting up MP research studies. Given best practice approaches will contribute to a better harmonization of analytical methods for MP analysis in clean water samples down to 1 μm. A schematic overview of important precautions for MP analysis and sampling advices are given in Figure 1.

All these elements are intended to support the standardization processes throughout the different normalization committees. While this consensus paper from twelve European analytical laboratories and institutions has concentrated on (FT)IR/RM methods, for the purpose of monitoring as well as gaining a more comprehensive knowledge on MP contamination in food, water, air, and environmental samples, both spectroscopic and thermo-analytical methods are required. Therefore, it will also be important that a similar consideration be given to harmonizing thermo-analytical methods for MP detection. Above all, an ongoing exchange of scientists and laboratories, ILC studies with certified polymer standards and coordinating structures are required. These will pave the way to enable progress in the harmonization and standardization of MP detection and to allow for representative and reliable MP analysis in different environmental and food samples.

Authors: Orellana-Macias, Jose Maria; Perles Rosello, Maria Jesus; Causape, Jesus

Abstract: Groundwater pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources is a common environmental issue. In order to support risk analysis, hazard maps are used to classify land uses according to their potential of pollution. The aim of this study is to propose a new hazard index based on nitrogen input and its connection with nitrate concentration in groundwater. The effectiveness of the Nitrogen Input Hazard Index was tested in the Gallocanta Groundwater Basin (Spain), a highly polluted area, declared as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. Agricultural data at a plot scale were used to estimate the nitrogen fertilizer requirement of each crop, and the correlation between nitrogen input and nitrate concentration in groundwater was explored. The resulting hazard map allows us to delimit the most hazardous areas, which can be used to implement more accurate nitrate pollution control programs. The index was proven to successfully estimate nitrogen input influence over groundwater nitrate concentration, and to be able to create hazard maps. The criterion used to create categories was empirically based on nitrate concentration thresholds established by the EU Nitrate Directive. The Nitrogen Input Hazard Index may be a useful tool to support risk analyses of agricultural activities in vulnerable areas, where nitrate pollution could endanger human water supply.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116321

Authors: Kumar, Swatantra; Haikerwal, Amrita; Saxena, Shailendra K.

Abstract: Infection pervasiveness is significantly related to the exposure and rate of transmission which are influenced by ecological factors, for example, precipitation, air/water temperature, and seasonal variability. Vibrio cholerae is solely responsible for approximately 1.7 million cases annually with 525,000 deaths in children below 5 years. Similarly, enteric fever (typhoid) is a severe systemic infection and is the foremost public health water-borne infectious disease with an estimated 26 million cases annually in the same way. Giardia intestinalis is the foremost cause of parasitic infection in the USA with an estimated 1.2 million cases and 3581 reported hospitalizations annually. So far, three species of schistosome have been archived including Schistosoma haematobium which causes urogenital disease in sub-Saharan Africa. According to WHO-World Malaria Report-2016, 212 million cases along with 429,000 deaths were reported in the year 2015. Shigellosis is caused by a group of bacteria known as Shigella with an estimated 500,000 cases annually in the USA. Recently around 6000 cases of Legionellosis were reported in the USA in the year 2015.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337446303_Epidemiology_of_Water-Associated_Infectious_Diseases

Authors: Erin M.Bell^a1SylvainDe Guise^b1Jeffrey R.McCutcheon^c1YuLei^c1MiltonLevin^bBaikunLi^dJames F.Rusling^eijDavid A.Lawrence^afJennifer M.Cavallari^gCaitlinO’Connell^hBethanyJavidi^hXinyuWang^dHeejeongRyu^c

Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a large group of persistent anthropogenic chemicals which are difficult to degrade and/or destroy. PFAS are an emerging class of contaminants, but little is known about the long-term health effects related to exposure. In addition, technologies to identify levels of contamination in the environment and to remediate contaminated sites are currently inadequate. In this opinion-type discussion paper, a team of researchers from the University of Connecticut and the University at Albany discuss the scientific challenges in their specific but intertwined PFAS research areas, including rapid and low-cost detection, energy-saving remediation, the role of T helper cells in immunotoxicity, and the biochemical and molecular effects of PFAS among community residents with measurable PFAS concentrations. Potential research directions that may be employed to address those challenges and improve the understanding of sensing, remediation, exposure to, and health effects of PFAS are then presented. We hope our account of emerging problems related to PFAS contamination will encourage a broad range of scientific experts to bring these research initiatives addressing PFAS into play on a national scale.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146399

Authors: AntonioBuonerba^abMary Vermi AizzaCorpuz^cFlorencioBallesteros^cKwang-HoChoo^dShadi W.Hasan^eGregory V.Korshin^fVincenzoBelgiorno^aDamiàBarceló^gVincenzoNaddeo

Abstract: Considerable attention has been recently given to possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via water media. This review addresses this issue and examines the fate of coronaviruses (CoVs) in water systems, with particular attention to the recently available information on the novel SARS-CoV-2. The methods for the determination of viable virus particles and quantification of CoVs and, in particular, of SARS-CoV-2 in water and wastewater are discussed with particular regard to the methods of concentration and to the emerging methods of detection. The analysis of the environmental stability of CoVs, with particular regard of SARS-CoV-2, and the efficacy of the disinfection methods are extensively reviewed as well. This information provides a broad view of the state-of-the-art for researchers involved in the investigation of CoVs in aquatic systems, and poses the basis for further analyses and discussions on the risk associated to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in water media. The examined data indicates that detection of the virus in wastewater and natural water bodies provides a potentially powerful tool for quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) and for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for the evaluation of the level of circulation of the virus in a population. Assays of the viable virions in water media provide information on the integrity, capability of replication (in suitable host species) and on the potential infectivity. Challenges and critical issues relevant to the detection of coronaviruses in different water matrixes with both direct and surrogate methods as well as in the implementation of epidemiological tools are presented and critically discussed.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125580

By: Rapant, S.; Cveckova, V.; Hiller, E.; et al.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health  Volume: ‏ 17   Issue: ‏ 16   Pages: ‏ 5915   Published: ‏ 2020

The US EPA health risk assessment method is currently widely used to assess human health risks for many environmental constituents. It is used for risk assessment from the exposure to various contaminants exceeding tolerable or safe reference doses, determined e.g., for drinking water, soil, air and food. It accepts widely that excess contents of non-essential elements (e.g., As, Pb or Sb) in environmental compartments represent a general risk to human health. However, contrary to toxic trace elements, deficient contents of essential (biogenic) elements e.g., F, I, Se, Zn, Fe, Ca or Mg may represent even higher health risk. Therefore, we propose to extend the human health risk assessment by calculating the health risk for deficient content and intake of essential elements, and to introduce the terms Average Daily Missing Dose (ADMD), Average Daily Required Dose (ADRD) and Average Daily Accepted Dose (ADAD). We propose the following equation to calculate the Hazard Quotient (HQ) of health risk from deficient elements: HQd=ADRD/ADAD. At present, there are no reference concentrations or doses of essential elements in each environmental compartment in world databases (Integrated Risk Information System IRIS, The Risk Assessment Information System RAIS). ADRD and ADMD can be derived from different regulatory standards or guidelines (if they exist) or calculated from actual regional data on the state of population health and content of essential elements in the environment, e.g., in groundwater or soil. This methodology was elaborated and tested on inhabitants of the Slovak Republic supplied with soft drinking water with an average Mg content of 5.66 mg. L-1. The calculated ADMD of Mg for these inhabitants is 0.314 mg.kg-1.day-1 and HQd is equal to 2.94, indicating medium risk of chronic diseases. This method extending traditional health risk assessment is the first attempt to quantify deficient content of essential elements in drinking water. It still has some limitations but also has potential to be further developed and refined through its testing in other countries. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

https://apps.webofknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=FSTA&search_mode=AlertSummary&qid=1&SID=F3wPe7WBT7slgQUK1xd&page=1&doc=5

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32824039/

By: Syafiuddin, Achmad; Boopathy, Raj; Hadibarata, Tony

CURRENT POLLUTION REPORTS     

Purpose of Review This paper aims to critically review the current status of groundwater usage from the point of view of pollutant control and integrated management. Recent Findings This paper has shown that sustainable efforts must be encouraged to minimize the arsenic content from all the possible sources before entering the groundwater system. Excessive nitrate and pesticide utilization must be significantly reduced for a sustainable environment. Although various in situ remediation technologies are possible to remove some contaminants in the groundwater, the future concern is how it can be carried out in accordance with environmental sustainable goal such as the implementation of in situ bioremediation and bioelectroremediation which provide a cheaper and greener solution compared to physical and chemical approaches. To develop a successful integrated management for a sustainable groundwater usage in the future, conjunctive water management is recommended as it involves the management of ground and surface water resources to enhance security of water supply and environmental sustainability. This paper critically reviews the current state of knowledge concerning groundwater usage from the point of view of pollutant control and integrated management. Information presented in this paper is highly useful for the management of groundwater not only in the quality point of view but also in the sustainable quantity for future development.

https://apps.webofknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=WOS&search_mode=AlertSummary&qid=4&SID=C29NbIxAZf9vqUvePQt&page=1&doc=6

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-020-00167-z

By: Essien, Eno E.; Said Abasse, Kassim; Cote, Andre; et al.

ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH     

Early Access: NOV 2020

Background

Nitrate is an inorganic compound that occurs naturally in all surface and groundwater, although higher concentrations tend to occur only where fertilizers are used on the land. The regulatory limit for nitrate in public drinking water supplies was set to protect against infant methemoglobinemia, but other health effects were not considered. Risk of specific cancers and congenital disabilities may be increased when the nitrate is ingested, and nitrate is reduced to nitrite, which can react with amines and amides by nitrosation to form N-nitroso compounds which are known animal carcinogens. This study aims to evaluate the association between nitrate ingested through drinking water and the risk of developing cancers in humans.

Methods

We performed a systematic review following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library databases, Web of Science and Google Scholars in the time-frame from their inception to January 2020, for potentially eligible publications. STATA version 12.0 was used to conduct meta-regression and a two-stage meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 48 articles with 13 different cancer sites were used for analysis. The meta-regression analysis showed stomach cancer had an association with the median dosage of nitrate from drinking water (t = 3.98, p = 0.0001, and adjusted R-squared = 50.61%), other types of cancers didn’t show any association. The first stage of meta-analysis showed there was an association only between the risk of brain cancer & glioma (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.24) and colon cancer (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.17) and nitrate consumption in the analysis comparing the highest ORs versus the lowest. The 2(nd) stage showed there was an association only between the risk colon cancer (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.23) and nitrate consumption in the analysis comparing all combined higher ORs versus the lowest.

Conclusion

This study showed that there is an association between the intake of nitrate from drinking water and a type of cancer in humans. The effective way of controlling nitrate concentrations in drinking water is the prevention of contamination (water pollution). Further research work on this topic is needed.

https://apps.webofknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=WOS&search_mode=AlertSummary&qid=4&SID=C29NbIxAZf9vqUvePQt&page=1&doc=8

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33138742/

By: Post, Gloria B.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY     

Early Access: NOV 2020

Full Text from Publisher

Close Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic chemicals produced for over 70 years, are of increasing concern because of their widespread environmental presence, extreme persistence, bioaccumulative nature, and evidence for health effects from environmentally relevant exposures. In 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established nonregulatory drinking water Health Advisories of 70 ng/L for individual and total concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), the 8-carbon perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) that are the most thoroughly studied PFAS. As of May 2020, 9 US states had concluded that the USEPA Health Advisories are insufficiently protective and developed more stringent PFOA and PFOS guidelines. In addition, 10 states had developed guidelines for other PFAS, primarily PFAAs. This Critical Review discusses the scientific basis for state and USEPA drinking water guidelines for PFOA and PFOS; the same principles apply to guidelines for other PFAS. Similarities and differences among guidelines arise from both toxicity and exposure considerations. The approximately 4-fold range among state guidelines (8-35 ng/L for PFOA, 10-40 ng/L for PFOS) is not large or unexpected for guidelines developed by different scientists at different time points, especially when compared with older USEPA and state guidelines that were generally several orders of magnitude higher. Additional state guidelines for PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS are expected to become available. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;00:1-14. (c) 2020 SETAC

https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/etc.4863

By: Brouwer, Stijn; Hofman-Caris, Roberta; van Aalderen, Nicolien

WATER   Volume: ‏ 12   Issue: ‏ 9     Article Number: 2608   Published: ‏ SEP 2020

Free Full Text from Publisher

Close Abstract

In the context of an increasing societal demand for transparency in parallel with rapidly increasing numbers and concentrations of substances found in drinking water, this paper investigates how different drinking water customers perceive their tap water quality, and possible risks involved. Empirically, the paper draws on results from a representative survey, a series of interviews and focus groups conducted in the Netherlands, applying both a traditional and modern segmentation approach based on four types of perspectives (“aware and committed”, “down to earth and confident”, “egalitarian and solidary”, and “quality and health concerned”). Although in general it was found that people’s trust in tap water is high, certain groups are more concerned about water quality and health effects than others. It was shown that transparency and the availability of more information about water treatment and quality would contribute to increasing customer trust. It was also observed that, at least in the Netherlands, people have a larger trust in drinking water companies than in other institutions. Therefore, instead of referring to standards made by other institutions, it is recommended that water companies themselves provide information on water quality and emphasize their treatment procedures.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/9/2608

By: Gomes, Ines B.; Maillard, Jean-Yves; Simoes, Lucia C.; et al.

NPJ CLEAN WATER   Volume: ‏ 3   Issue: ‏ 1     Article Number: 39   Published: ‏ SEP 18 2020

The presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in the environment has been consistently recognized as a worldwide concern. ECs may be defined as chemicals or materials found in the environment at trace concentrations with potential, perceived, or real risk to the “One Health” trilogy (environment, human, and animal health). The main concern regarding pharmaceuticals and in particular antibiotics is the widespread dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Nevertheless, non-antimicrobials also interact with microorganisms in both bulk phase and in biofilms. In fact, drugs not developed for antimicrobial chemotherapy can exert an antimicrobial action and, therefore, a selective pressure on microorganisms. This review aims to provide answers to questions typically ignored in epidemiological and environmental monitoring studies with a focus on water systems, particularly drinking water (DW): Do ECs exposure changes the behavior of environmental microorganisms? May non-antibiotic ECs affect tolerance to antimicrobials? Do ECs interfere with biofilm function? Are ECs-induced changes in microbial behavior of public health concern? Nowadays, the answers to these questions are still very limited. However, this study demonstrates that some ECs have significant effects in microbial behavior. The most studied ECs are pharmaceuticals, particularly antibiotics, carbamazepine and diclofenac. The pressure caused by antibiotic and other antimicrobial agents on the acquisition and spread of antibiotic resistance seems to be unquestionable. However, regarding the effects of ECs on the development and behavior of biofilms, the conclusions of different studies are still controversial. The dissimilar findings propose that standardized tests are needed for an accurate assessment on the effects of ECs in the microbiome of water systems. The variability of experimental conditions, combined with the presence of mixtures of ECs as well as the lack of information about the effects of non-pharmaceutical ECs constitute the main challenge to be overcome in order to improve ECs prioritization.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345208543_Emerging_contaminants_affect_the_microbiome_of_water_systems-strategies_for_their_mitigation

DonatellaFeretti^aMattiaAcito^bMarcoDettori^cElisabettaCeretti^aCristinaFatigoni^bStefanoPosadino^cIlariaZerbini^aMilenaVillarini^bMassimoMoretti^bPaoloCastiglia^cAntonioAzara

Abstract

Maura Allaire ¹, Taylor Mackay ², Shuyan Zheng ³, Upmanu Lall ^3 4

Abstract

Authors: Sharma, N; Karanfil, T; Westerhoff, P ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS

DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.9b00278

Abstract:

While iodide (I-) is critical for biological systems, it can serve as a precursor to organic iodinated disinfection byproducts (I-DBPs) of human health concern during water treatment. Thus, understanding potential I- occurrence in fresh waters is critical. Although I- occurrence data are sparse in surface water (SW) or groundwater (GW) used for drinking water supplies, data exist for other locations. We analyzed historical I- occurrence for similar to 9200 SW and GW sampling locations in the United States to understand potential I- sources and also spatial and temporal variability. I- ranged from below detection limits (<1 mu g/L) to 95th percentile concentrations of 320 and 1300 mu g/L (median = 12 and 13 mu g/L), respectively, in SW and GW. I- appears to be influenced by halite basins, organic-rich shale/oil formations, saltwater intrusion, and rainfall, with median Br-/I- mass ratios of 10 and 17 mu g/mu g in SW and GW, respectively. Our results demonstrated considerable variability in iodine sources and speciation, which can impact I-DBP formation at WTPs. We advocate for occurrence studies to measure I- IO3- and total iodine in raw and finished drinking waters to fill critical data gaps necessary to understand the potential formation of I-DBPs that impact public health.

Authors: Kibuye, FA; Gall, HE; Elkin, KR; Swistock, B; Veith, TL; Watson, JE; Elliott, HA JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

DOI: 10.2134/jeq2018.08.0301

Abstract:

Over-the-counter and prescription medications are routinely present at detectable levels in surface and groundwater bodies. The presence of these emerging contaminants has raised both environmental and public health concerns, particularly when the water is used for drinking either directly or with additional treatment. However, the frequency of occurrence, range of concentrations, and potential human health risks are not well understood, especially for groundwater supplies. Private wells are often not tested for contaminants regulated by drinking water standards and are even less frequently tested for emerging contaminants. By partnering with the Pennsylvania Master Well Owner Network, water samples were collected from 26 households with private wells in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River basin in central Pennsylvania in winter 2017. All samples were analyzed for six pharmaceuticals (acetaminophen, ampicillin, naproxen, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim) and one over-the-counter stimulant (caffeine). At least one compound was detected at each site. Ofloxacin and naproxen were the most and least frequently detected compounds, respectively. Concentrations from the groundwater wells were higher than those of nearby surface water samples. However, risk calculations revealed that none of the concentrations measured in groundwater samples posed significant human health risk. A simple, physicochemical-based modeling approach was used to predict pharmaceutical transport from septic absorption field to groundwater and further elucidate variations in detection frequencies. Findings indicate that although septic tanks may act as contaminant sources for groundwater wells, the human health impacts from trace-level pharmaceuticals that may be present are likely minimal.

JiafuLi^aJiahuiHe^aYunaLi^bYunqingLiu^cWenjieLi^cNanWu^cLifenZhang^bYingZhang^bZhiguangNiu

Abstract

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135419300892?via%3Dihub

UrszulaSzymańska^aMarekWiergowski^bIreneuszSołtyszewski^cJarosławKuzemko^dGabrielaWiergowska^efMateusz KacperWoźniak

Abstract

Crystal Lee Pow Jackson, PhD, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Max Zarate-Bermudez, MSc, MPH, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Description

North Carolina has the second highest number of residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water supply. Studies report that about 3.3 million North Carolina residents (35% of the population) use private wells, with the highest county having 85.4% of the residents using private wells. Unlike public water systems that benefit from the regulatory safeguards of the Safe Drinking Water Act, there are no federal regulations for private wells in the U.S. Testing, treating, maintaining, and managing private wells are up to well owners, often with little to no technical or financial support.

In 2015, the Private Well and Health Program (PWHP) of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Safe Water for Community Health (Safe WATCH) Program to enhance services to private well users. PWHP was understaffed, had limited access to water quality data, and lacked established partnerships, which prevented it from enhancing services for private well users to better protect their health.

This month’s column highlights how PWHP used the funding to address vulnerabilities in its private wells and water quality, as well as initiatives to close the gaps in ensuring safe drinking water for its residents.

https://www.neha.org/node/60627

K.L.G.Learbuch^aM.C.Lut^bG.Liu^bcdH.Smidt^eP.W.J.J.van der Wielen

Abstract

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135419302568?via%3Dihub

http://cel.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?customersID=Alerting&smartRedirect=yes&mode=FullRecord&IsProductCode=Yes&product=CEL&Init=Yes&Func=Frame&action=retrieve&SrcApp=Alerting&SrcAuth=Alerting&SID=5AqHoDkWqf92igjg9Fa&UT=WOS%3A000474672000005

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12560-019-09370-8

QiongLuo^aZe-huaLiu^abcdHuaYin^aZhiDang^aPing-xiaoWu^aNeng-wuZhu^aZhangLin^aeYuLiu^fg

Abstract

HanHao^a1Dan-yangShi^b1DongYang^bZhong-weiYang^bZhi-gangQiu^bWei-liLiu^bZhi-qiangShen^bJingYin^bHua-ranWang^bJun-wenLi^bHuiWang^aMinJin^b

Abstract

http://cel.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?customersID=Alerting&smartRedirect=yes&mode=FullRecord&IsProductCode=Yes&product=CEL&Init=Yes&Func=Frame&action=retrieve&SrcApp=Alerting&SrcAuth=Alerting&SID=7AB9JBL94nddc3l9SEp&UT=WOS%3A000455903400144

http://cel.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?customersID=Alerting&smartRedirect=yes&mode=FullRecord&IsProductCode=Yes&product=CEL&Init=Yes&Func=Frame&action=retrieve&SrcApp=Alerting&SrcAuth=Alerting&SID=7EVL7rxuxxAhK21kz5a&UT=WOS%3A000459163900095

Water Research – Volume: 139     Pages: 10-18     Published: 2018      Publication Type: J Document type: Journal Article – DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.056

Abstract:
The aquatic environment can contain numerous micropollutants and there are concerns about endocrine activity in environmental waters and the potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. In this study a complementary chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay approach was applied to evaluate endocrine activity in treated wastewater, surface water and drinking water samples from six countries (Germany, Australia, France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain). The bioassay test battery included assays indicative of seven endocrine pathways, while 58 different chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, were analysed by targeted chemical analysis. Endocrine activity was below the limit of quantification for most water samples, with only two of six treated wastewater samples and two of six surface water samples exhibiting estrogenic, glucocorticoid, progestagenic and/or anti-mineralocorticoid activity above the limit of quantification. Based on available effect-based trigger values (EBT) for estrogenic and glucocorticoid activity, some of the wastewater and surface water samples were found to exceed the EBT, suggesting these environmental waters may pose a potential risk to ecosystem health. In contrast, the lack of bioassay activity and low detected chemical concentrations in the drinking water samples do not suggest a risk to human endocrine health, with all samples below the relevant EBTs. All rights reserved, Elsevier

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135418302525?via%3Dihub

Author(s): Flanagan, S. V.; Gleason, J. A.; Spayd, S. E.; Procopio, N. A.; Rockafellow-Baldoni, M.; Braman, S.; Chillrud, S. N.; Yan Zheng

Source: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 221 (6):929-940; 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.05.008 2018

Abstract: Exposure to naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater is a public health concern, particularly for households served by unregulated private wells. At present, one of the greatest barriers to exposure reduction is a lack of private well testing due to difficulties in motivating individual private well owners to take protective actions. Policy and regulations requiring testing could make a significant contribution towards universal screening of private well water and arsenic exposure reduction. New Jersey’s Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) requires tests for arsenic during real estate transactions; however, the regulations do not require remedial action when maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) are exceeded. A follow-up survey sent to residents of homes where arsenic was measured above the state MCL in PWTA-required tests reveals a range of mitigation behavior among respondents (n = 486), from taking no action to reduce exposure (28%), to reporting both treatment use and appropriate maintenance and monitoring behavior (15%). Although 86% of respondents recall their well was tested during their real estate transaction, only 60% report their test showed an arsenic problem. Treatment systems are used by 63% of households, although half were installed by a previous owner. Among those treating their water (n = 308), 57% report that maintenance is being performed as recommended, although only 31% have tested the treated water within the past year. Perceived susceptibility and perceived barriers are strong predictors of mitigation action. Among those treating for arsenic, perceived severity is associated with recent monitoring, and level of commitment is associated with proper maintenance. Mention of a treatment service agreement is a strong predictor of appropriate monitoring and maintenance behavior, while treatment installed by a previous owner is less likely to be maintained. Though the PWTA requires that wells be tested, this study finds that not all current well owners are aware the test occurred or understood the implications of their arsenic results. Among those that have treatment installed to remove arsenic, poor monitoring and maintenance behaviors threaten to undermine intentions to reduce exposure. Findings suggest that additional effort, resources, and support to ensure home buyers pay attention to, understand, and act on test results at the time they are performed may help improve management of arsenic water problems over the long term and thus the PWTA’s public health impact.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438463918302797?via%3Dihub

Brandon M. Owen and Neha Sunger * 

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a worst-case risk assessment for children’s health from ingestion exposure to water sources in two densely populated counties of the Piedmont province of New Jersey—Hunterdon and Mercer counties. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk estimates for 19 contaminants, representing 3 different chemical classes—organic, inorganic and contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), for which environmental monitoring data are available—were generated. The three exposure scenarios examined were: (1) ingestion exposure to untreated groundwater from contaminated private wells; (2) recreational exposure through incidental ingestion of water from the Delaware River; and (3) ingestion exposure through fish consumption sourced from the Delaware River. The total health hazard posed by each contaminant across all the three exposure scenarios was compared to prioritize contaminants based on health risk potential. As a result of this analysis, arsenic and trichloroethylene in private well water were identified as key drivers of health risk and, hence, are proposed as the contaminants of primary concern for the target population. Significantly high total excess cancer risk of 2.13 × 10⁻³ from arsenic exposure was estimated, highlighting the need for testing and treating water sources as well as setting a framework for more detailed work in the future.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/10/3/276

Abstract

Elliott, SM; Brigham, ME; Kiesling, RL; Schoenfuss, HL; Jorgenson, ZG

INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT, 14 (4):509-518; 10.1002/ieam.4041 JUL 2018

Abstract: The North American Great Lakes are a vital natural resource that provide fish and wildlife habitat, as well as drinking water and waste assimilation services for millions of people. Tributaries to the Great Lakes receive chemical inputs from various point and nonpoint sources, and thus are expected to have complex mixtures of chemicals. However, our understanding of the co-occurrence of specific chemicals in complex mixtures is limited. To better understand the occurrence of specific chemical mixtures in the US Great Lakes Basin, surface water from 24 US tributaries to the Laurentian Great Lakes was collected and analyzed for diverse suites of organic chemicals, primarily focused on chemicals of concern (e.g., pharmaceuticals, personal care products, fragrances). A total of 181 samples and 21 chemical classes were assessed for mixture compositions. Basin wide, 1664 mixtures occurred in at least 25% of sites. The most complex mixtures identified comprised 9 chemical classes and occurred in 58% of sampled tributaries. Pharmaceuticals typically occurred in complex mixtures, reflecting pharmaceutical-use patterns and wastewater facility outfall influences. Fewer mixtures were identified at lake or lake-influenced sites than at riverine sites. As mixture complexity increased, the probability of a specific mixture occurring more often than by chance greatly increased, highlighting the importance of understanding source contributions to the environment. This empirically based analysis of mixture composition and occurrence may be used to focus future sampling efforts or mixture toxicity assessments. (C) 2018 SETAC

https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ieam.4041

Baken, Kirsten A.; Sjerps, Rosa M. A.; Schriks, Merijn; van Wezel, Annemarie P.

ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL, 118 293-303; 10.1016/j.envint.2018.05.006 SEP 2018

Abstract: Toxicological risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in (sources of) drinking water is required to identify potential health risks and prioritize chemicals for abatement or monitoring. In such assessments, concentrations of chemicals in drinking water or sources are compared to either (i) health-based (statutory) drinking water guideline values, (ii) provisional guideline values based on recent toxicity data in absence of drinking water guidelines, or (iii) generic drinking water target values in absence of toxicity data. Here, we performed a toxicological risk assessment for 163 CEC that were selected as relevant for drinking water. This relevance was based on their presence in drinking water and/or groundwater and surface water sources in downstream parts of the Rhine and Meuse, in combination with concentration levels and physicochemical properties. Statutory and provisional drinking water guideline values could be derived from publically available toxicological information for 142 of the CEC. Based on measured concentrations it was concluded that the majority of substances do not occur in concentrations which individually pose an appreciable human health risk. A health concern could however not be excluded for vinylchloride, trichloroethene, bromodichloromethane, aniline, phenol, 2-chlorobenzenamine, mevinphos, 1,4-dioxane, and nitrolotriacetic acid. For part of the selected substances, toxicological risk assessment for drinking water could not be performed since either toxicity data (hazard) or drinking water concentrations (exposure) were lacking. In absence of toxicity data, the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) approach can be applied for screening level risk assessment. The toxicological information on the selected substances was used to evaluate whether drinking water target values based on existing TTC levels are sufficiently protective for drinking water relevant CEC. Generic drinking water target levels of 37 mu g/L for Cramer class I substances and 4 mu g/L for Cramer class III substances in drinking water were derived based on these CEC. These levels are in line with previously reported generic drinking water target levels based on original TTC values and are shown to be protective for health effects of the majority of contaminants of emerging concern evaluated in the present study. Since the human health impact of many chemicals appearing in the water cycle has been studied insufficiently, generic drinking water target levels are useful for early warning and prioritization of CEC with unknown toxicity in drinking water and its sources for future monitoring.

ISSN:0160-4120

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018302721?via%3Dihub

Hopkins, Z. R.; Sun, M.; DeWitt, J. C.; Knappe, D. R. U.

Journal – American Water Works Association, 110 (7):13-28; 10.1002/awwa.1073 2018

Abstract:For several decades, a common processing aid in the production of fluoropolymers was the ammonium salt of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Because PFOA is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, its production and use are being phased out in the United States. In 2009, the US Environmental Protection Agency stipulated conditions for the manufacture and commercial use of GenX, a PFOA replacement. While GenX is produced for commercial purposes, the acid form of GenX is also generated as a byproduct during the production of fluoromonomers. The discovery of high concentrations of GenX and related perfluoroalkyl ether acids (PFEAs) in the Cape Fear River and in finished drinking water of more than 200,000 North Carolina residents required quick action by researchers, regulators, public health officials, commercial laboratories, drinking water providers, and consulting engineers. Information about sources and toxicity of GenX as well as an analytical method for the detection of GenX and eight related PFEAs is presented. GenX/PFEA occurrence in water and GenX/PFEA removal by different drinking water treatment processes are also discussed. © 2018 American Water Works Association.

https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/awwa.1073

Schrammel, Barbara; Cervero-Arago, Silvia; Dietersdorfer, Elisabeth; Walochnik, Julia; Lueck, Christian; Sommer, Regina; Kirschner, Alexander

WATER RESEARCH, 141 417-427; 10.1016/j.watres.2018.04.027 SEP 15 2018

Abstract: Legionellae are among the most important waterborne pathogens in industrialized countries. Monitoring and surveillance of Legionella in engineered water systems is usually performed with culture-based methods. Since the advent of culture-independent techniques, it has become clear that Legionella concentrations are often several orders of magnitude higher than those measured by culture-based techniques and that a variable proportion of these non-culturable cells are viable. In engineered water systems, the formation of these viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells can be caused by different kinds of stress, such as, and most importantly, nutrient starvation, oxidative stress and heat. In this study, the formation of VBNC cells of six Legionella strains under conditions of starvation was monitored in mono species microcosms for up to one year using a combination of different viability indicators. Depending on the strain, complete loss of culturability was observed from 11 days to 8 weeks. During the starvation process, three distinct phases and different sub-populations of VBNC cells were identified. Until complete loss of culturability, the number of membrane-intact cells decreased rapidly to 5.5-69% of the initial cell concentration. The concentration of the sub-population with low esterase activity dropped to 0.03-55%, and the concentration of the highly esterase-active sub-population dropped to 0.01-1.2% of the initial concentration; these sub-populations remained stable for several weeks to months. Only after approximately 200 days of starvation, the number of VBNC cells started to decrease below detection limits. The most abundant VBNC sub-populations were characterized by partially damaged membranes and low esterase-activity. With this study, we showed that upon starvation, a stable VBNC Legionella community may be present over several months in a strain-dependent manner even under harsh conditions. Even after one year of starvation, a small proportion of L pneumophila cells with high esterase-activity was detected. We speculate that this highly active VBNC subpopulation is able to infect amoebae and human macrophages. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135418303117?via%3Dihub

Reses, H. E.; Gargano, J. W.; Liang, J. L.; Cronquist, A.; Smith, K.; Collier, S. A.; Roy, S. L.; Vanden Eng, J.; Bogard, A.; Lee, B.; Hlavsa, M. C.; Rosenberg, E. S.; Fullerton, K. E.; Beach, M. J.; Yoder, J. S.

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION, 146 (9):1071-1078; 10.1017/S0950268818001073 JUL 2018

Abstract: Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal parasite of humans in the USA, but the risk factors for sporadic (non-outbreak) giardiasis are not well described. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Colorado and Minnesota public health departments conducted a case-control study to assess risk factors for sporadic giardiasis in the USA. Cases (N = 199) were patients with non-outbreak-associated laboratory-confirmed Giardia infection in Colorado and Minnesota, and controls (N = 381) were matched by age and site. Identified risk factors included international travel (aOR = 13.9; 95% CI 4.9-39.8), drinking water from a river, lake, stream, or spring (aOR = 6.5; 95% CI 2.0-20.6), swimming in a natural body of water (aOR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.5-7.0), male-male sexual behaviour (aOR = 45.7; 95% CI 5.8-362.0), having contact with children in diapers (aOR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.01-2.6), taking antibiotics (aOR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.0) and having a chronic gastrointestinal condition (aOR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-3.0). Eating raw produce was inversely associated with infection (aOR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.7). Our results highlight the diversity of risk factors for sporadic giardiasis and the importance of non-international-travel-associated risk factors, particularly those involving person-to-person transmission. Prevention measures should focus on reducing risks associated with diaper handling, sexual contact, swimming in untreated water, and drinking untreated water.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/risk-factors-for-sporadic-giardia-infection-in-the-usa-a-casecontrol-study-in-colorado-and-minnesota/63B6FA03D86700897DFEA5473695A217

Zamyadi, Arash; Henderson, Rita K.; Newton, Kelly; Capelo-Neto, Jose; Newcombe, Gayle

WATER, 10 (5):10.3390/w10050590 MAY 2018

Abstract: Potentially toxic cyanobacteria have been increasingly detected worldwide in water supply systems in recent years. The management of cyanobacteria in source water and through drinking water treatment processes has been a focus of global research for over thirty years. However, despite the volume of research outcomes and the publication of guidance documents, gaps still exist in the knowledge base that inhibits the confident application of individual treatment strategies for the mitigation of aesthetic and health risks associated with cyanobacteria and their metabolites at the full-scale. The main objective of this project is to deliver a suite of tools and other resources to the water industry to support the implementation of a regulatory framework for the management of water quality for the assessment and management of aesthetic and toxicity risks associated with cyanobacteria. This study includes (1) the development of a guide (based on real-world examples) for treatment plant operators to perform plant audits and investigative sampling to assess the risk associated with cyanobacteria in their plants, and validate the performance of existing unit processes, and (2) the validation of a treatment model that can be applied at any plant and used to as a guide to the removals of cyanobacteria and metabolites and the expected quality of treated water under a range of challenges from cyanobacteria. Full-scale sampling was undertaken at three Australian regions in 14 water treatment plants to validate the model. The results presented in this paper represent a comprehensive database of full-scale removal efficiencies of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin for a range of water quality and treatment processes. The major findings and conclusions from this project include: (1) the investigative sampling procedures developed are effective and have been successfully applied by utilities; and (2) while routine monitoring data is important, investigative sampling within the water treatment plant provides more detailed and insightful information about the effectiveness of unit processes within the plant. This paper also identifies the knowledge gaps and needs for further studies.

ISSN:2073-4441

http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/10/5/590

Fujioka, Takahiro; Hoang, Anh T.; Aizawa, Hidenobu; Ashiba, Hiroki; Fujimaki, Makoto; Leddy, Menu

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, 5 (6):389-393; 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00200 JUN 2018

Abstract: Rigorous monitoring of microbial water quality is essential to ensure the safety of recycled water after advanced treatment for indirect and direct potable reuse. This study evaluated real-time bacterial monitoring for assessing reverse osmosis (RO) treatment for removal of bacteria. A strategy was employed to monitor bacterial counts online and in real time in the RO feed and permeate water using a real time continuous bacteriological counter. Over the course of 68 h pilot-scale testing, bacterial counts were monitored in real time over approximate ranges from 1 x 10(3) to 4 x 10(4) and from 4 to 342 counts/mL in the RO feed (ultrafiltration treated wastewater) and permeate, respectively. The results indicate that the bacteriological counter can track the variations in bacterial counts in the RO feed and permeate. Bacterial concentrations were confirmed by epi-fluorescence microscopy for total bacterial counts. A high correlation (R-2 = 0.83) was identified between the online bacterial counts and epi-fluorescence counts in the RO feed; a negligible correlation was observed for RO permeate. In this study, we evaluated a real-time bacteriological counter (i.e., counts per milliliter every second) to ensure continuous removal of bacterial contaminants by RO treatment.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00200

Borthong, Jednipit; Omori, Ryosuke; Sugimoto, Chihiro; Suthienkul, Orasa; Nakao, Ryo; Ito, Kimihito

FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, 9 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01272 JUN 19 2018

Abstract: Metagenomic analysis has become a powerful tool to analyze bacterial communities in environmental samples. However, the detection of a specific bacterial species using metagenomic analysis remains difficult due to false positive detections of sequences shared between different bacterial species. In this study, 16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun metagenomic analyses were conducted on samples collected along a stream and ponds in the campus of Hokkaido University. We compared different database search methods for bacterial detection by focusing on Legionella pneumophila. In this study, we used L. pneumophila-specific nested PCR as a gold standard to evaluate the results of the metagenomic analysis. Comparison with the results from L. pneumophila-specific nested PCR indicated that a blastn search of shotgun reads against the NCBI-NT database led to false positive results and had problems with specificity. We also found that a blastn search of shotgun reads against a database of the catalase-peroxidase (katB) gene detected L. pneumophila with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve among the tested search methods; indicating that a blastn search against the katB gene database had better diagnostic ability than searches against other databases. Our results suggest that sequence searches targeting long genes specifically associated with the bacterial species of interest is a prerequisite to detecting the bacterial species in environmental samples using metagenomic analyses.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01272/full

Allaire, M.; Haowei Wu; Lall, U.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115 (9):2078-2083; 10.1073/pnas.1719805115 2018

Abstract

Ensuring safe water supply for communities across the United States is a growing challenge in the face of aging infrastructure, impaired source water, and strained community finances. In the aftermath of the Flint lead crisis, there is an urgent need to assess the current state of US drinking water. However, no nationwide assessment has yet been conducted on trends in drinking water quality violations across several decades. Efforts to reduce violations are of national concern given that, in 2015, nearly 21 million people relied on community water systems that violated health-based quality standards. In this paper, we evaluate spatial and temporal patterns in health-related violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act using a panel dataset of 17,900 community water systems over the period 1982–2015. We also identify vulnerability factors of communities and water systems through probit regression. Increasing time trends and violation hot spots are detected in several states, particularly in the Southwest region. Repeat violations are prevalent in locations of violation hot spots, indicating that water systems in these regions struggle with recurring issues. In terms of vulnerability factors, we find that violation incidence in rural areas is substantially higher than in urbanized areas. Meanwhile, private ownership and purchased water source are associated with compliance. These findings indicate the types of underperforming systems that might benefit from assistance in achieving consistent compliance. We discuss why certain violations might be clustered in some regions and strategies for improving national drinking water quality.

http://www.pnas.org/content/115/9/2078

Sanborn, L. H.; Carpenter, A. T.

Journal – American Water Works Association, 110 (3):E18-E33; 10.1002/awwa.1022 2018

Abstract

Ander, E. L.; Watts, M. J.; Smedley, P. L.; Hamilton, E. M.; Close, R.; Crabbe, H.; Fletcher, T.; Rimell, A.; Studden, M.; Leonardi, G.

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH, 38 (6):1313-1332; 10.1007/s10653-016-9798-0 DEC 2016

Abstract:

Tap water from 497 properties using private water supplies, in an area of metalliferous and arsenic mineralisation (Cornwall, UK), was measured to assess the extent of compliance with chemical drinking water quality standards, and how this is influenced by householder water treatment decisions. The proportion of analyses exceeding water quality standards were high, with 65 % of tap water samples exceeding one or more chemical standards. The highest exceedances for health-based standards were nitrate (11 %) and arsenic (5 %). Arsenic had a maximum observed concentration of 440 µg/L. Exceedances were also high for pH (47 %), manganese (12 %) and aluminium (7 %), for which standards are set primarily on aesthetic grounds. However, the highest observed concentrations of manganese and aluminium also exceeded relevant health-based guidelines. Significant reductions in concentrations of aluminium, cadmium, copper, lead and/or nickel were found in tap waters where households were successfully treating low-pH groundwaters, and similar adventitious results were found for arsenic and nickel where treatment was installed for iron and/or manganese removal, and successful treatment specifically to decrease tap water arsenic concentrations was observed at two properties where it was installed. However, 31 % of samples where pH treatment was reported had pH < 6.5 (the minimum value in the drinking water regulations), suggesting widespread problems with system maintenance. Other examples of ineffectual treatment are seen in failed responses post-treatment, including for nitrate. This demonstrates that even where the tap waters are considered to be treated, they may still fail one or more drinking water quality standards. We find that the degree of drinking water standard exceedances warrant further work to understand environmental controls and the location of high concentrations. We also found that residents were more willing to accept drinking water with high metal (iron and manganese) concentrations than international guidelines assume. These findings point to the need for regulators to reinforce the guidance on drinking water quality standards to private water supply users, and the benefits to long-term health of complying with these, even in areas where treated mains water is widely available.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10653-016-9798-0

Valcarcel, Y.; Valdehita, A.; Becerra, E.; Alda, M. L. de; Gil, A.; Gorga, M.; Petrovic, M.; Barcelo, D.; Navas, J. M.

Chemosphere, 201 388-398; 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.099 2018

Abstract

Hartmann, Julia; van der Aa, Monique; Wuijts, Susanne; Husman, Ana Maria de Roda; van der Hoek, Jan Peter

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY, 84 97-104; 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.02.015 JUN 2018

Abstract

Lesaulnier, Celine C.; Herbold, Craig W.; Pelikan, Claus; Berry, David; Gerard, Cedric; Le Coz, Xavier; Gagnot, Sophie; Niggemann, Jutta; Dittmar, Thorsten; Singer, Gabriel A.; Loy, Alexander

MICROBIOME, 5 10.1186/s40168-017-0344-9SEP 22 2017

Abstract

Borgmastars, E.; Jazi, M. M.; Persson, S.; Jansson, L.; Radstrom, P.; Simonsson, M.; Hedman, J.; Eriksson, R.

Food and Environmental Virology, 9 (4):395-405; 10.1007/s12560-017-9295-32017

Abstract: Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detection of waterborne RNA viruses generally requires concentration of large water volumes due to low virus levels. A common approach is to use dead-end ultrafiltration followed by precipitation with polyethylene glycol. However, this procedure often leads to the co-concentration of PCR inhibitors that impairs the limit of detection and causes false-negative results. Here, we applied the concept of pre-PCR processing to optimize RT-qPCR detection of norovirus genogroup I (GI), genogroup II (GII), and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in challenging water matrices. The RT-qPCR assay was improved by screening for an inhibitor-tolerant master mix and modifying the primers with twisted intercalating nucleic acid molecules. Additionally, a modified protocol based on chaotropic lysis buffer and magnetic silica bead nucleic acid extraction was developed for complex water matrices. A validation of the modified extraction protocol on surface and drinking waters was performed. At least a 26-fold improvement was seen in the most complex surface water studied. The modified protocol resulted in average recoveries of 33, 13, 8, and 4% for mengovirus, norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively. The modified protocol also improved the limit of detection for norovirus GI and HAV. RT-qPCR inhibition with C _q shifts of 1.6, 2.8, and 3.5 for norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively, obtained for the standard nucleic acid extraction were completely eliminated by the modified protocol. The standard nucleic acid extraction method worked well on drinking water with no RT-qPCR inhibition observed and average recoveries of 80, 124, 89, and 32% for mengovirus, norovirus GI, GII, and HAV, respectively.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12560-017-9295-3

Boue, G.; Wasiewska, L. A.; Cummins, E.; Antignac, J. P.; Bizec, B. le; Guillou, S.; Membre, J. M.

Food Research International, 108 558-570; 10.1016/j.foodres.2018.03.0542018

Abstract

Swaffer, B.; Abbott, H.; King, B.; Linden, L. van der; Monis, P.

Water Research, 138 282-292; 10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.0632018

Abstract

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135418302598?via%3Dihub