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Abstract Background Enteric hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections during childhood are often asymptomatic but may cause severe illness in adults. To improve public health surveillance we assessed the applicability of sewage monitoring during an HAV outbreak at a primary school. Methods Between October 19 and December 27, 2022, five symptomatic HAV cases were notified to the Public Health Service Amsterdam; all attended the same primary school. Passive samplers, small absorbent tools, were deployed in sewage near the school from November 14, 2022, to March 22, 2023. The absorbents were subjected to RNA extraction, HAV PCR testing, and, if positive, sequencing. PCR and sequencing were also performed on plasma and feces samples of HAV cases. Results In 22 out of 88 (25%) of sewage samples, HAV RNA was detected. All HAV-RNA-positive sewage samples until 8 February 2023 were subgenotype IB, matching the strain detected in all cases. Another strain of HAV (subgenotype IA) was detected in sewage from 15 February 2023 onwards, without associated cases. Conclusions Passive sampler-based sewage monitoring is an effective method to rapidly detect HAV shedding linked to diagnosed cases. It detects unnoticed viral infections and allows monitoring of outbreaks. This suggests that passive sampler-based monitoring is a promising tool supporting the public health response during HAV and other outbreaks.

Background: Enteric hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections during childhood are often asymptomatic but may cause severe illness in adults. To improve public health surveillance we assessed the applicability of sewage monitoring during an HAV outbreak at a primary school. Methods: Between October 19 and December 27, 2022, five symptomatic HAV cases were notified to the Public Health Service Amsterdam; all attended the same primary school. Passive samplers, small absorbent tools, were deployed in sewage near the school from November 14, 2022, to March 22, 2023. The absorbents were subjected to RNA extraction, HAV PCR testing, and, if positive, sequencing. PCR and sequencing were also performed on plasma and feces samples of HAV cases. Results: In 22 out of 88 (25%) of sewage samples, HAV RNA was detected. All HAV-RNA-positive sewage samples until 8 February 2023 were subgenotype IB, matching the strain detected in all cases. Another strain of HAV (subgenotype IA) was detected in sewage from 15 February 2023 onwards, without associated cases. Conclusions: Passive sampler-based sewage monitoring is an effective method to rapidly detect HAV shedding linked to diagnosed cases. It detects unnoticed viral infections and allows monitoring of outbreaks. This suggests that passive sampler-based monitoring is a promising tool supporting the public health response during HAV and other outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance is raging, but large size of India limits comprehensive exploration. This demands a sample like sewage, which could represent a large population and is often reported to harbor resistant microbes. Here, we did pan-India sewage sampling and studied the antibiotic resistance pattern in the microbial community. We used culture-based antibiotic susceptibility assays and estimated the level of antibiotics present at each site. We found high antibiotic resistance across all cities of India with more diversity of resistance profiles in bigger cities as compared to smaller ones. Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the most common, predominant resistant genera across Indian cities and many sites harbored multi-drug resistant phenotypes. Antibiotic concentrations were below recommended limits at all sites and thus high resistance is not likely caused solely due to antibiotics. Sewage proved to be a good representative for rapidly studying antibiotic resistance in a big country and for similar epidemiological strides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to assess performance of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) on the removal of Listeria spp. in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 104 samples were taken from eight sampling locations from influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Sewage samples were analyzed for the presence of Listeria spp. using selective enrichment protocol. Listeria isolates were also identified by biochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Listeria spp. was enumerated by a three tube most probable number (MPN) for total coliform counts (TC), fecal coliform counts (FC), total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS). In total, 54/104 (51.92%), 49/104 (47.11%), 36/104 (34.61%), and 27/104 (25.95%) samples were positive for Listeria spp., L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, and L. seeligeri, respectively. The mean MPN/100 mL enumeration of L. monocytogenes for influent, anaerobic, facultative ponds 1, 2, 3, 4 and maturation ponds 1 and 2 were 21.54, 10.61, 8, 5.77, 4, 2.54, 1.38, and 0.46, respectively. The removal percentage of Listeria spp. in the anaerobic, facultative, and maturation ponds were 44.71, 76.5, and 81.4%, respectively. Results showed that the WSPs were able to decrease the Listeria spp. levels significantly, although unable to remove them completely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergenic disperse dyes are a group of environmental contaminants, which are toxic and mutagenic to human beings. In this work, a method of dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) using graphene-coated polystyrene-divinylbenzene (G@PS-DVB) microspheres coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was proposed for the rapid determination of 10 allergenic disperse dyes in industrial wastewater samples. G@PS-DVB microspheres were synthesized by coating graphene (G) sheets onto polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) polymers. Such novel sorbents were employed in d-SPE for the purification and concentration of allergenic disperse dyes in wastewater samples prior to the determination by SFC with UV detection. To achieve the maximum extraction efficiency for the target dyes, several parameters influencing d-SPE process such as sorbent dosage, extraction time, desorption conditions were investigated. SFC conditions including stationary phase, modifier composition and percentage, column temperature, backpressure and flow rate were optimized to well separate the allergenic disperse dyes. Under the optimum conditions, satisfactory linear relationship (R ≥ 0.9989) was observed with the concentration of dyes ranging from 0.02 to 10.0 μg/mL. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) for the ten dyes were in the range of 1.1–15.6 ng/mL. Recoveries for the spiked samples were between 89.1% and 99.7% with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 10.5% in all cases. The proposed method is time-saving, green, precise and repeatable for the analysis of the target dyes. Furthermore, the application of G@PS-DVB based d-SPE process can be potentially expanded to isolate and concentrate other aromatic compounds in various matrices and supercritical fluid chromatography methodology featuring rapidity, accuracy and green will be an ideal candidate for the analysis of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater transport along sewers favors the colonization of inner pipe surfaces by wastewater-derived microorganisms that grow forming biofilms. These biofilms are composed of rich and diverse microbial communities that are continuously exposed to antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) from urban wastewater. Sewer biofilms thus appear as an optimal habitat for the dispersal and accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, the concentration of antibiotics, integron ( intI1 ) and antibiotic resistance genes ( qnrS , sul1 , sul2 , bla TEM , bla KPC , ermB , tetM and tetW ), and potential bacterial pathogens were analyzed in wastewater and biofilm samples collected at the inlet and outlet sections of a pressurized sewer pipe. The most abundant ARGs detected in both wastewater and biofilm samples were sul1 and sul2 with roughly 1 resistance gene for each 10 copies of 16s RNA gene. Significant differences in the relative abundance of gene intI1 and genes conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones ( qnrS ), sulfonamides ( sul1 and sul2 ) and betalactams ( bla TEM ) were only measured between inlet and outlet biofilm samples. Composition of bacterial communities also showed spatial differences in biofilms and a higher prevalence of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) with high sequence identity (> 98%) to well-known human pathogens was observed in biofilms collected at the inlet pipe section. Our study highlights the role of sewer biofilms as source and sink of ARB and ARGs and supports the idea that community composition rather than antibiotic concentration is the main factor driving the diversity of the sewage resistome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work represents a simple and effective preparation of a novel mixed-mode anion-exchange (MAX) sorbent based on porous poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene] (poly(DEAEMA-DVB)) spherical particles synthesized by one-step Pickering emulsion polymerization. The poly(DEAEMA-DVB) particles were quaternized with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) followed by triethylamine (TEA) via epoxy-amine reaction to offer strong anion exchange properties. The synthesized MAX sorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements and elemental analysis. The MAX sorbent possessed regular spherical shape and narrow diameter distribution (15–35 μm), a high IEC of 0.54 meq/g, with carbon and nitrogen contents of 80.3% and 1.62%, respectively. Compared to poly(DEAEMA-DVB), the MAX sorbent exhibited decreased S BET (390.5 vs. 515.3 m 2 g −1 ), pore volume (0.74 vs. 0.85 cm 3 g −1 ) and pore size (16.8 vs. 17.3 nm). Moreover, changes of N content for producing the MAX sorbent reveal a successful two-step quaternization, which can be highly related to such a high IEC. Finally, the MAX sorbent was successfully evaluated for selective isolation and purification of some selected acidic pharmaceuticals (ketoprofen, KEP; naproxen, NAP; and ibuprofen, IBP) from neutral (hydrocortisone , HYC ), basic (carbamazepine, CAZ; amitriptyline, AMT) pharmaceuticals and other interferences in water samples using solid phase extraction (SPE). An efficient analytical method based on the MAX-based mixed-mode SPE coupled with HPLC-UV was developed for highly selective extraction and cleanup of acidic KEP, NAP and IBP in spiked wastewater samples. The developed method exhibited good sensitivity (0.009–0.085 μg L −1 limit of detection), satisfactory recoveries (82.1%–105.5%) and repeatabilities (relative standard deviation < 7.9%, n = 3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli strains from sewage sample were screened for the presence and expression of heavy metal-translocating zntA gene by PCR and RT-PCR analysis with type culture of K-12 as standard strain. The strain which showed high level of gene expression (SBVP1) was chosen to further study the growth and heavy metal translocation. This superior strain was grown in the presence of ZnSO4, Pb (CH3COO)2 and mixture of ZnSO4, Pb(CH3COO)2 metal salts and the growth was observed at different time points. The cell pellet fraction was found to have more of zinc than lead as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy indicating the translocation of these metals from media to the cells. However, the intracellular translocation of zinc is affected by the presence of lead in the media. Expression of the zntA gene in bacteria grown in the presence of ZnSO4 was also studied and the molecular analysis results correlate with spectroscopic observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater irrigation is associated with several benefits but can also lead to significant health risks. The health risk for contracting infections from Soil Transmitted Helminths (STHs) among farmers has mainly been assessed indirectly through measured quantities in the wastewater or on the crops alone and only on a limited scale through epidemiological assessments. In this study we broadened the concept of infection risks in the exposure assessments by measurements of the concentration of STHs both in wastewater used for irrigation and the soil, as well as the actual load of STHs ova in the stool of farmers and their family members (165 and 127 in the wet and dry seasons respectively) and a control group of non-farmers (100 and 52 in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Odds ratios were calculated for exposure and non-exposure to wastewater irrigation. The results obtained indicate positive correlation between STH concentrations in irrigation water/soil and STHs ova as measured in the stool of the exposed farmer population. The correlations are based on reinfection during a 3 months period after prior confirmed deworming. Farmers and family members exposed to irrigation water were three times more likely as compared to the control group of non-farmers to be infected with Ascaris (OR = 3.9, 95% CI, 1.15–13.86) and hookworm (OR = 3.07, 95% CI, 0.87–10.82). This study therefore contributes to the evidence-based conclusion that wastewater irrigation contributes to a higher incidence of STHs infection for farmers exposed annually, with higher odds of infection in the wet season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) analyses were carried out on samples from two Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) in Lombardy, similar for treatment sequences but fed on different influents: industrial component accounts for 70% at Alto Seveso plant while it is absent in Nosedo plant. Sampling concerned the influent and the effluent from activated sludge reactor and the final effluent after disinfection (ozonation for Alto Seveso and peracetic acid treatment for Nosedo). The concentrations of total PAHs were 5.3 ± 4.0 μg L−1and 2.4 ± 1.3 μg L−1in Alto Seveso and Nosedo influent, respectively. The lowest molecular weight PAHs had the highest concentrations in both plants; acenaphthene and naphthalene were the most important components in the influent to Alto Seveso and Nosedo WWTPs, respectively. The higher molecular weight compounds had the lowest concentrations and benzo(g,h,i)perylene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene were never detected. Most of the PAH load entered biological treatment in dissolved form. For both plants PAHs were mostly removed in the biological section (96.5% and 89.5% for Alto Seveso and Nosedo, respectively), while disinfection had a minor role. Peracetic acid (Nosedo) seemed more efficient than ozone (Alto Seveso) in the removal of PAHs (4.18% and 0.89%, respectively). It is now necessary to confirm this result by using the same effluent for the two disinfection treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine norovirus (NoV) and astrovirus (AstV) were studied in 20 domestic sewage samples collected in two cities in Uruguay. Four samples were characterized as canine AstV after phylogenetic analysis clustering with strains detected in Italy and Brazil in 2008 and 2012, respectively. One sample was characterized as canine NoV and clustered with a strain detected in Hong Kong and recently classified as GVII. This study shows the occurrence of a canine NoV GVII strain for the first time in the American continent and also warns about possible zoonotic infection, since canine strains were detected in domestic sewage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat exchangers used for treated sewage energy recovery usually suffer from the composite fouling problem, which seriously impairs the heat transfer efficiency. Treated sewage heat exchanger composite fouling is mostly composed of biofouling and is notably affected by interactions between the biofouling and suspended matter. Experiments were performed using simulated treated sewage and two kinds of simulated suspended matter, silicon dioxide particles and polyamide filaments, to model the interactions. Different flow velocities, particle sizes and concentrations were tested with their influences presented by the fouling wet weight changes. Empirical equation and threshold were developed based on the results to predict whether the suspended matter promotes or impedes fouling growth. The results indicate that proper control of the flow velocities, particle sizes and concentrations of suspended matter using empirical equation and threshold can inhibit fouling by reducing unwanted positive interactions and promoting beneficial negative interactions. The filament interactions were analysed and the unique attachment mechanisms of filaments were discussed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining accurate and precise results for total cyanide concentrations in wastewater samples is fraught with positive and negative interferences. Even the United States Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged that it may be difficult or impossible to adequately mitigate all interferences. We demonstrated that a field spike of complex cyanide can be successfully used to demonstrate when sampling, preservation, pre-treatment, and analysis techniques are working adequately to retain any cyanide present in the sample without causing false positives or false negatives. For 257 industrial wastewater effluent samples collected at a wide variety of Greater Boston industries, 237 (92.2%) had usable field spike recoveries, averaging 86.2% recovery. Field spike recoveries for problematic industries that had very high or very low field spike recoveries were useful to show when alternative preservations and field dilutions were successfully preserving total cyanide. The field spike approach is general and should also work in a similar manner for raw and treated drinking water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Vibrio alginolyticus lytic bacteriophage was isolated from sewage samples obtained from a local aquatic market. Morphological analysis revealed that the phage, designated as PVA1, belonged to the family Podoviridae. The complete genomic sequence of phage PVA1 contained 41,529 bp with a G + C content of 43.7 % and 75 putative open reading frames. The genome was grouped into four modules, including phage structure, DNA packaging, DNA replication and regulation, and some additional functions. Further genomic comparison of the phage PVA1 with other known phages showed no significant similarities. Genes related to virulence and lysogeny were not detected in the phage genome. Our results suggest that phage PVA1 may be classified as a new Vibrio phage. We believe that these phage genomic sequence data will provide useful basic information for further molecular research on this Vibrio phage and its host as well for determining its infection/interaction mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid development in Yucatan has had a dramatic impact on the environment, especially the water supply. Groundwater is the only source of water in Yucatan, since surface water is virtually absent due to the karstic nature of the soil. The ring of cenotes (RC) is a geological feature which functions as a source of water and as nodes in the underground river system that canalizes water towards the coast. Numerous productive and domestic activities take place around the RC in the absence of wastewater treatment or sewage systems. Consequently, a number of researchers have hypothesized that pollutants could migrate from the land surface to the underlying aquifer and, eventually, to the coast. Therefore, the present study investigates the relationship among sources of fecal sterols and their levels in cenotes , using the expected levels of fecal sterols obtained by a spatial analysis of the sources and a Pollution Source Index. Accordingly, expected levels are compared with the detected levels of fecal sterols in 5 areas around the RC. Regarding levels, observed during a sampling campaign carried out along the RC during September 2011 (rainy season) and May 2012 (dry season), varied from low to high concentrations of sterols (0.5–2396.42 μg g − 1 ) and fecal sterols (0.3–1690.18 μg g − 1 ). These concentrations showed no relationship between neighboring cenotes , where similar fecal sterol concentrations or gradients were expected. When comparing expected fecal sterols levels with the detected ones, only two of the five analyzed areas concur, suggesting that no clear relationship exists among sources and fecal sterols levels at the regional scale. Multivariate analysis showed that fecal sterols were associated with sterols and fine grain particulates during the rainy season, which suggests co-transport. During the dry season, fecal sterols associated with fine grain particulate and organic matter, which indicates a change to a deposition phenomenon. These findings indicate that defining a relationship among sources and fecal sterols levels is highly difficult and this could be the result of the absorption or migration through an intricate conduit, crack, or fracture karst system. Nevertheless, the “source-levels approach”, used in this study, was consistent for the northeast edge and the middle western part of the RC. New and more extensive research should be done to assess the environmental fate of fecal sterols, especially considering the intricate karstic system and its compound retention capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential removal and preconcentration of lead(II), cadmium(II), and chromium(III) ions from wastewaters were investigated and explored. Magnetite nanoparticles were chemically modified with p-nitro aniline. The aniline-coated magnetite nanoparticles (ANMNPs) were fully characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM measurements. Batch studies were performed to address various experimental parameters for the removal and determination of these ions. ANMNPs showed high tendency to investigated metal ions, in this order: Cr(III) > Cd(II) > Pb(II), owing to the strong contribution of surface loaded aniline. The potential applications of ANMNPs adsorbent for removal and preconcentration of Pb(II), Cr(III), and Cd(II) from wastewaters as well as drinking tap water samples were successfully accomplished giving recovery values of (98-101 %), without any noticeable interference of the wastewater or drinking tap water matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norovirus (NoV) genogroup (G) IV has been infrequently isolated from patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis (AGE), although this virus has not been detected in Korea. Klassevirus, a novel virus belonging to the family Picornaviridae and a possible etiologic agent of AGE, and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), which originates from processed pepper products and is shed in human feces, are suggested to be new indicators of fecal pollution. We aimed to investigate the presence of NoV-GIV, klassevirus, and PMMoV in sewage samples collected in Korea. Between December 2010 and February 2012, influent sewage samples were collected every month from a wastewater treatment plant located in the eastern part of Seoul in Korea. The sewage samples were concentrated by the adsorption elution method using an HA (pore size of 0.45 μm with mixed cellulose ester) electronegative filter with an acid-rinse procedure. RT-PCR was performed using specific primers for the capsid gene of NoV-GII and NoV-GIV, the coat gene of PMMoV, and the VP0/VP1 gene of klassevirus. Among the 14 sewage samples tested, klassevirus was detected in eight (57.1 %), PMMoV in eight (57.1 %), NoV-GII in five (35.7 %), and NoV-GIV in three (21.4 %). NoV-GIV was detected in December 2010 and January and March 2011. PMMoV and klassevirus were frequently detected in winter. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the NoV-GIV detected in this study belonged to G-IV1 lineage. This is the first study to confirm the presence of NoV-GIV, klassevirus, and PMMoV in sewage samples in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel giant phage of the family Myoviridae is described. Pseudomonas phage PA5oct was isolated from a sewage sample from an irrigated field near Wroclaw, Poland. The virion morphology indicates that PA5oct differs from known giant phages. The phage has a head of about 131 nm in diameter and a tail of 136 × 19 nm. Phage PA5oct contains a genome of approximately 375 kbp and differs in size from any tailed phages known. PA5oct was further characterized by determination of its latent period and burst size and its sensitivity to heating, chloroform, and pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and simple technique composed of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and online preconcentration MEKC with diode array detection was developed for the determination of four phenoxyacetic acids, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,6-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, in drinking water. The four phenoxyacetic acids were separated in reversed-migration MEKC to the baseline. About 145-fold increases in detection sensitivity were observed with online concentration strategy, compared with standard hydrodynamic injection (5 s at 25 mbar pressure). LODs ranged from 0.002 to 0.005 mg/L using only the online preconcentration procedures without any offline concentration of the extract. A DLLME procedure was used in combination with the proposed online preconcentration strategies, which achieved the determination of analytes at limits of quantification ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 μg/kg, which is far lower than the maximum residue limits established by China. The satisfactory recoveries obtained by DLMME spiked at two levels ranged from 67.2 to 99.4% with RSD <15%, making this proposed method suitable for the determination of phenoxyacetic acids in water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development, optimization, and validation of a method for the determination of five pharmaceuticals from different therapeutic classes (antibiotics, anthelmintics, glucocorticoides) in water samples. Water samples were prepared using SPE and extracts were analyzed by HPLC with diode-array detection. The efficiency of 11 different SPE cartridges to extract the investigated compounds from water was tested in preliminary experiments. Then, the pH of the water sample, elution solvent, and sorbent mass were optimized. Except for optimization of the SPE procedure, selection of the optimal HPLC column with different stationary phases from different manufacturers has been performed. The developed method was validated using spring water samples spiked with appropriate concentrations of pharmaceuticals. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 2.4-200 μg/L, depending on the pharmaceutical with the correlation coefficients >0.9930 in all cases, except for ciprofloxacin (0.9866). Also, the method has revealed that low LODs (0.7-3.9 μg/L), good precision (intra- and interday) with RSD below 17% and recoveries above 98% for all pharmaceuticals. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of production wastewater samples from the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aichi virus (AiV) is suspected to play a role in viral gastroenteritis in humans. In this study, we assessed the presence of AiV in untreated influent sewage samples collected at four wastewater treatment plants in central Italy. AiV was detected in 6 (12.5 %) of the 48 specimens and in all plants. All of the Italian strains showed the highest nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity to genotype B AiV detected recently in Asia, especially in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the development, optimization, and validation (including a whole stability study) of a fast, reliable, and comprehensive method for the analysis of ten anticancer drugs in hospital and urban wastewater is described. Extraction of these pharmaceutical compounds was performed using automated off-line solid-phase extraction followed by their determination by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer. Target compounds include nine cytotoxic agents: cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, docetaxel, paclitaxel, etoposide, vincristine, tamoxifen, methotrexate, and azathioprine; and the cytotoxic quinolone, ciprofloxacin. Method detection limits (MDL) ranged from 0.8 to 24 ng/L. Levels found of cytostatic agents in the hospital and wastewater influents did not differ significantly, and therefore, hospitals cannot be considered as the primary source of this type of contaminants. All the target compounds were detected in at least one of the influent samples analyzed: Ciprofloxacin, cyclophosphamide, tamoxifen, and azathioprine were found in most of them and achieving maximum levels of 14.725, 0.201, 0.133, and 0.188 μg/L, respectively. The rest of target cancer drugs were less frequently detected and at values ranging between MDL and 0.406 μg/L. Furthermore, a feasible, useful, and advantageous approach based on information acquisition tool (information-dependent acquisition) was used for the screening of human metabolites in hospital effluents, where the hydroxy tamoxifen, endoxifen, and carboxyphosphamide were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, few water utilities or researchers were aware of possible virus presence in deep aquifers and wells. During 2008 and 2009 we collected a time series of virus samples from six deep municipal water-supply wells. The wells range in depth from approximately 220 to 300 m and draw water from a sandstone aquifer. Three of these wells draw water from beneath a regional aquitard, and three draw water from both above and below the aquitard. We also sampled a local lake and untreated sewage as potential virus sources. Viruses were detected up to 61% of the time in each well sampled, and many groundwater samples were positive for virus infectivity. Lake samples contained viruses over 75% of the time. Virus concentrations and serotypes observed varied markedly with time in all samples. Sewage samples were all extremely high in virus concentration. Virus serotypes detected in sewage and groundwater were temporally correlated, suggesting very rapid vims transport, on the order of weeks, from the source(s) to wells. Adenovirus and enterovirus levels in the wells were associated with precipitation events. The most likely source of the viruses in the wells was leakage of untreated sewage from sanitary sewer pipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to define a new indicator for the quality of wastewaters that are released into the environment. A quality index is proposed for wastewater samples in terms of the inertness of wastewater samples toward enzyme activity. This involves taking advantage of the sensitivity of enzymes to pollutants that may be present in the waste samples. The effect of wastewater samples on the rate of a number of different enzyme-catalyzed reactions was measured, and the results for all the selected enzymes were analyzed in an integrated fashion (multi-enzymatic sensor). This approach enabled us to define an overall quality index, the “Impact on Enzyme Function” (IEF-index), which is composed of three indicators: i) the Synoptic parameter, related to the average effect of the waste sample on each component of the enzymatic sensor; ii) the Peak parameter, related to the maximum effect observed among all the effects exerted by the sample on the sensor components; and, iii) the Interference parameter, related to the number of sensor components that are affected less than a fixed threshold value. A number of water based samples including public potable tap water, fluids from urban sewage systems, wastewater disposal from leather, paper and dye industries were analyzed and the IEF-index was then determined. Although the IEF-index cannot discriminate between different types of wastewater samples, it could be a useful parameter in monitoring the improvement of the quality of a specific sample. However, by analyzing an adequate number of waste samples of the same type, even from different local contexts, the profile of the impact of each component of the multi-enzymatic sensor could be typical for specific types of waste. The IEF-index is proposed as a supplementary qualification score for wastewaters, in addition to the certification of the waste's conformity to legal requirements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An accurate quantitative detection of enteric viruses from the primary wastewater requires, sample concentration followed by extraction of nucleic acid with high purity. A highly efficient and sensitive method was developed for the concentration and quantitative detection of human adenovirus (HAdv) from wastewater samples. The two-step method which combines concentration of virus from 10mL sample with centrifugal filters followed by extraction and purification of DNA with commercially available nucleic acid extraction kit resulted in high purity DNA for downstream quantitative PCR (qPCR). The results obtained on analytical sensitivities of five commercial nucleic acid extraction kits show that they differ in their ability for DNA yield and purity. Nevertheless, despite variable analytical sensitivities extracted nucleic acid was found to be relatively PCR inhibition free. The genomic copy numbers of HAdv detected from the same concentrated wastewater sample were significantly higher (P <0.01) when Qiagen Blood and Tissue kit (1.54×106 L−1) was used as compared to Mo-Bio PowerSoil kit (5.30×105 L−1) which suggests that the nucleic acid extraction kit can influence the sensitivity of qPCR assays. The method developed in this study is simple, rapid, sensitive, and can be applicable for the qPCR detection of adenovirus and other DNA virus in wastewater. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel flow injection (FI) system for chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination is evaluated. Manganese (VII) is used as oxidant. FI microwave solid phase extraction system by activated carbon (AC) was employed. FI system involves a digestion circuit, placed in a home MW oven, coupled to inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Manganese (II) was determined after the reduction of Mn (VII) and eluted from AC with nitric acid (1% v/v) at pH 4. Doehlert experimental design has been used to speed up the optimization of assisted digestion methods and the optimum values obtained for different experimental variables studied. The method can give a high throughput of about 22 samples per 60min. Under optimum conditions, the evaluated assisted digestion methods have been successfully applied to several pure organic compounds and real samples. A large linear range of 2.6–850mgO2 L−1 with an excellent detection limit of 1.25mgO2 L−1was obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.998. The interference by high chloride concentration was studied, and values below 3000mgCl− ionsL−1, is not interfering in the estimation of COD load without any masking agents. COD values for various types of wastewater samples were well correlated with those obtained by standard manual methods. Thus, the FI-MW-SPE method seems to be an interesting and promising alternative to conventional COD digestion methods since it is faster and reduces reagent volume, hazardous emission and external contamination with a good reproducibility and accuracy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple, rapid, sensitive, accurate and reliable multiresidue method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) is developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 13 quinolone derivatives in urban wastewaters. The main parameters influencing the preliminary sample treatment and selective solid‐phase extraction procedure have been analyzed in order to optimize a suitable procedure for extraction of amphoteric and acidic quinolones in one single step. Matrix components of wastewater samples were significantly reduced and even eliminated. The mass spectrometric conditions in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode were individually optimized for each analyte to obtain maximum sensitivity in the Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mode. Selection of two specific fragmentation reactions for each compound allowed simultaneous quantification and identification in one run, ensuring a high specificity of the method. The analytes were separated in less than 10min. Marbofloxacin and cincophen were used as surrogates for amphoteric and acid quinolones, respectively. The limits of detection ranged from 0.02 to 0.04ngmL−1 and limits of quantification from 0.07 to 0.15ngmL−1, while inter‐ and intra‐day variabilities were <4%. Due to the absence of certified materials, the method was validated using matrix‐matched calibration and a recovery assay with spiked samples. Recovery rates ranged from 98.5% to 103.9%. The method was satisfactorily applied for the determination of these antibiotics in wastewater samples collected from different wastewater treatments plants from the province of Granada (Spain). In addition, the method will be applied in further studies of the occurrence and fate of these commonly used antibiotics in sewage treatment plants and in aquatic environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The work develops a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the identification and quantification of alkyl homologues of alcohol sulfates (AS) and ethoxymers of alcohol ethoxysulfates (AES) in wastewaters. The method involves isolation and preconcentration of the analytes from the samples using solid-phase extraction (SPE) with SAX cartridges prior to their quantification by LC–MS/MS with electrospray (ESI) interface in negative mode. The limits of detection (LOD) found were 0.1μgL−1 for AS, and ranged from 0.2 to 0.5μgL−1 for AES. The limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3 to 0.4μgL−1 for AS, and from 0.5 to 1.5μgL−1 for AES. The accuracy of the method was studied in terms of trueness and precision. Trueness was evaluated by using a spike recovery assay with spiked blank samples. Recoveries ranged from 96.0 to 102.8% for AS and from 93.4 to 105.1% for AES. Precision (in terms of inter- and intra-day RSD) was lower than 5% for AS and AES. Finally, the method was satisfactorily applied to the quantification of compounds in wastewater samples collected from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in the city of Granada (Spain). Data obtained showed that AS are present in concentration levels from 0.7 to 39.4μgL−1 in influent waters and from 1.1 to 8.1μgL−1 in effluent waters. As for AES, the amounts (sum of ethoxymers) found ranged from 0.7 to 24.0μgL−1 in influents and from 1.9 to 2.5μgL−1 in effluents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most common human parasitic protozoa and is responsible for many waterborne outbreaks in several industrialized countries. The oocyst, which is the infective form, is known to be highly resistant to wastewater treatment procedures and represents a potential hazard to human populations through contaminated raw or treated wastewater. In this investigation, the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in wastewater samples was monitored and removal efficiency was assessed. Treated (effluent) and untreated (influent) wastewater samples were collected seasonally over a period of 2 years. Oocysts were repeatedly detected in influent and effluent samples collected from the treatment plant during all sampling seasons, with a mean concentration of 782 oocysts/L. The seasonal distribution showed that oocysts are predominant during autumn and winter. Molecular analyses via the small (18S) subunit of rRNA amplification and subsequent sequencing with an objective of characterizing the oocysts revealed that Cryptosporidium parvum was the dominant Cryptosporidium parasite present in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new type of Cr(III)-imprinted polymer was prepared from Cr(III)–pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complex, acrylamide functional monomer and ethylene glycol methacrylate cross-linking agent. The polymer was employed as a selective solid phase extraction material for separation of trace amounts of Cr(III) ions under dynamic conditions. The effects of the conditioning of imprinted polymer, conditions of Cr(III) retention and elution were studied. It was found that Cr(III) ions can be retained on tested sorbent with high efficiency and repeatability (87%, RSD=3.2%) from a solution of pH 3.50–4.75. The quantitative elution of analyte was obtained with 0.2molL−1 nitric acid solution. The retention of Cr(VI) ions on the polymer in the studied pH range (1.0–7.0) was at the level of 10–15%. The selectivity of prepared sorbent towards Cr(III) ions was good in the presence of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions and worse in the presence of Fe(III) ions at a concentration higher than 0.5μgmL−1. The detection limit for Cr(III) obtained by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) after preconcentration of 40mL of sample on the polymer was 0.018ngmL−1. The developed separation method was successfully applied to the ETAAS determination of trace amounts of Cr(III) in tap and river water and municipal sewage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mercury in water samples was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after the preconcentration of Hg(II) on a gold working electrode in a flow system coupled on-line to the AAS instrument. The porous electrode is made of glassy carbon particles coated with gold. Tap, river, and wastewater samples were analyzed using this method. The method enables us to determine Hg in the concentration range of 0.05 to 60 µg·dm-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new “green” methodology, free of hazardous solvents, was developed for the extraction and determination of five fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and sarafloxacin) in environmental water matrices. The method is based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence and mass spectrometry detection. In this work, we replaced an organic solvent by a micellar media in the desorption step of the SPE process. This combination has never before been optimized and applied to environmental samples analysis. After SPE extraction optimization, a detailed study on the optimum conditions for micellar desorption (i.e., surfactant type, concentration, and volume) was performed. The proposed method was compared to the conventional SPE procedure using methanol as the desorbing agent and tested on several aqueous environmental samples, including seawater, groundwater, and wastewater. Extraction efficiencies of 73%–97% were obtained for all five compounds with relative standard deviations below 11% in all matrices. Finally, real sewage samples from a hospital and wastewater treatment plant were analyzed with both conventional and micellar desorption using fluorescence and mass spectrometry detection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Drug concentrations in composite municipal wastewater samples and census-based estimates of population are used to derive daily loads of illicit substances that are indexed to population. However, such estimates do not provide information on the diurnal trends of substance excretion nor can they account for changes in population. To address these limitations, a series of 1 h composites created by sampling wastewater influent at 6 min intervals was collected over four consecutive days at a single wastewater treatment plant. Creatinine (a urinary indicator), caffeine, methamphetamine, benzoylecgonine (BZE), and cocaine were analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Diurnal trends and between-day trends were substance specific and related to the number of estimated doses and excretory half-life. Normalization to creatinine yielded trends in substances that differed significantly from non-normalized trends by accounting for changes in population within the municipality studied. Increases in normalized substance excretion observed during early morning hours originate from individuals among the resident population of the municipality due to the absence of commuters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. This Research work introduces the results obtained in the monitoring of the stabilization ponds system used to treat domestic waste waters in Santa Fe de Antioquia, a town located in the West of Antioquia. The system has a treatment train which includes an anaerobic pond that works coordinated with another two that are facultative, operating in parallel. This project started because of the problem caused by stinking odors in the communities located near the waste water treatment plant of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Objective. Evaluating and monitoring the behavior of the stabilization ponds system used to treat domestic waste water in Santa Fe de Antioquia. Methodology. Five samplings were performed between November 2006 and December 2007. 14 sampling stations were established, comprehending the influent and the effluent of each pond, the center of each pond, three different depths and the total effluent of the system. The following variables were determined: Environment and water temperature, dissolved oxygen, redox potential, pH, COD, DBO5, total solids, dissolved solids, suspended solids, settleable solids, volatile suspended solids, "a" chlorophyll and flow. With the time-space analysis of the variables, the best performance conditions of this treatment system were related. Results. In the anaerobic pond a media temperature of 26,7 °C was obtained and in the facultative ponds the temperature was approximately 28,0 °C. As for the dissolved oxygen, average data of 17,4 y 24,6 mg/L were reported on the surfaces of the facultative ponds, and these decreased with respect to depth and time. The media of the redox potential in the anaerobic pond was -235 mV, and for the facultative ponds it varied between 24 and 69 mV. The media of the pH in the facultative ponds was 7,5 in their centers, varying in time and space, while that of the anaerobic pond was 7,0 with a little variation due to its depth. In general, in both facultative ponds, during the daytime, there was a chemical stratification. Important values were measured for the "a" chlorophyll production in the facultative ponds, with media values up to 2.275 ug/L. When the efficiency of the system was measured, a load removal in soluble DBO5 of 92% was obtained, considering a variation for anaerobic pond between 50% and 70% and between 59% and 62% for the facultative ones.Conclusions. According to this research, it can be clearly appreciated how the control of the physical-chemical standards and the flows that enter in the pond system is essential for an adequate operation of the plant. On the other hand, the anaerobic pond is the unit that produces distress in the community due to the generation of stinking odors, so its removal efficiency is a factor that must be highly regarded in the treatment plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photochemical formation of hydroxyl radical (HO•) from effluent organic matter (EfOM) was evaluated using three bulk wastewater samples collected at different treatment facilities under simulated sunlight. For the samples studied, the formation rates of HO• (RHO•) were obtained from the formation rate of phenol following the hydroxylation of benzene. The values of RHO• ranged from 2.3 to 3.8 × 10-10 M s-1 for the samples studied. The formation rate of HO• from nitrate photolysis (RHO•NO,) was determined be 3.0 × 10-7 MHO• MNO.-1 s-1.The HO• production sate from EfOM (RHO•EfOM) ranged from 0.76 to 1.3 × 10-10 M s-1. For the wastewater samples studied, RHO•EfOM varied from 1.5 to 2.4 × MHO• Mc-1 s-1 on molar carbon basis, which was dose to HO• production from nitrate photolysis. The apparent quantum yield for the formation of HO• from nitrate (ΦaNO3-HO•) was determined as 0.010 ± 0.001 for the wavelength range 290-400 rim in ultrapure water. The apparent quantum yield for HO• formation in EfOM (ΦaEfOM-HO•) ranged from 61 to 9.8 × 10-5 compared to 2.99 to 4.56 × 10-5 for organic matter (OM) isolates The results indicate that wastewater effluents could produce significant concentrations of HO• as shown by potential higher nitrate levels and relatively higher quantum yields of HO• formation from EfOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phosphorus is a key nutrient and in natural environments regulates trophic status and consequently water quality. Therefore monitoring of phosphorus content in natural and wastewater is essential. Although several phosphorus species can be found in the environment, the majority of the methods developed are for orthophosphate determination. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma with atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) has been first used in this study for the speciation of the most common phosphorus oxoanions in aquatic environments: orthophosphate, phosphite, hypophosphite, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate. The chromatograms have been obtained by registering the phosphorous 213.618nm emission intensity variation with time. The pH and the ionic strength of the mobile phase have been the most critical variables of the chromatographic separation. Moreover, methanol addition promotes the elution of the most retained species. Finally, by using ammonium nitrate and a gradient elution, increasing ionic strength and decreasing the pH, the separation has been achieved in 12min. Limits of detection have been included within the 1–5mgL−1 range. The developed methodology has been tested with spiked tap water and effluent water of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) obtaining recoveries in the range of 91.5–114.1% for a 20mgPL−1 spike concentration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Here, nonelectrosprayed nanoscale zerovalent iron (NE-nZVI), electrosprayed nZVI (E-nZVI) and preoxidized nZVI (O-nZVI) particles were applied to inactivating Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli as well as bacteria in various wastewater samples. In addition, magnetic separation was applied to the mixture of 0.2 mL bacterial sample and 1.8 mL E-nZVI or NE-nZVI suspensions. Bacterial concentrations and optical density of the supernatants were analyzed using culturing, optical adsorption and qPCR tests. In general, for wastewater samples the inactivations were shown to range from 1-log to 3-log. PCR-DGGE analysis indicated that no gene mutation occurred when bacteria were treated with nZVI. Using magnetic separation, significant physical removals, revealed as a function of nZVI type (NE-,E- and O-nZVI) and bacterial concentration, up to 6-log were obtained. E-nZVI and NE-nZVI were shown to react differently with B. subtilis and E. coli, although exhibiting similar inactivation rates. qPCR tests detected higher amount of DNA in the supernatants from mixing E. coli with NE-nZVI, but less for E-nZVI. However, the opposite was observed with B. subtilis. Our data together with optical adsorption analysis suggested that the inactivation and magnetic separation mainly depend on Fe0/Fe3O4 shell compositions, the type of bacteria (aerobic and anaerobic) and their concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental contamination and fate of benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZTs) have received increasing attention due to their large production volume and wide usage in various consumer and industrial products. In the present work, 60 municipal sewage sludge samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 33 cities in China were collected to investigate the occurrence and distribution of 9 frequently used BZTs. The most dominant analogue was 2-[3,5-bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)-2-hydroxyphenyl]benzotriazole (UV-234) at a median concentration of 116 ng/g (dry weight) and accounted on average for 27.2% of total BZTs. The abundance was successively followed by 2-(2-hydroxy-5-tert-octylphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-329, average 24.3%), 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole (UV-326, average 22.2%), 2-(3,5-di-tert-amyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-328, average 17.7%), and 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-P, average 6.6%), with median concentrations of 66.8, 67.8, 57.3, and 20.6 ng/g, respectively. 5-Chloro-2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-327) and 2-(3-sec-butyl-5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-350) had low detection frequency, while 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-320) and 2-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole (UV-PS) were not detectable in any sample. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the occurrence of UV-234, UV-329, and UV-350 in sewage sludge in China. Significant correlations were found among the BZT concentrations and also with a WWTP characteristic (daily treatment volume). Furthermore, results from degradation prediction and multimedia fate simulation based on a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model at screening level also implied that the commercial BZT chemicals and their plausible transformation products might be persistent in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intensive sampling campaign has been carried out in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to assess the dynamics of the influent pharmaceutical active compounds (PhAC) and musks. The mass loadings of these compounds in wastewater influents displayed contrasting diurnal variations depending on the compound. The musks and some groups of PhACs tended to follow a similar diurnal trend as compared to macropollutants, while the majority of PhACs followed either the opposite trend or no repeatable trend. The total musk loading to the WWTP was 0.74±0.25gd−1, whereas the total PhAC mass loading was 84.7±63.8gd−1. Unlike the PhACs, the musks displayed a high repeatability from one sampling day to the next. The range of PhAC loadings in the influent to WWTPs can vary several orders of magnitude from one day or week to the next, representing a challenge in obtaining data for steady-state modelling purposes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: To study the circulation of non-polio enteroviruses in the Cypriot population and assess the clinical relevance of different serotypes by the analysis of clinical specimens and environmental samples. Methods and Results: Sewage samples were collected on a monthly basis for 2 years from all five districts of Cyprus. Enteroviruses were isolated using the VIRADEN method and typed by partial VP1 region sequencing. In addition, all enterovirus-positive clinical samples received during this 2-year period were typed, and a phylogenetic comparison of clinical and sewage samples based on the partial VP1 sequences was made. A significant difference between the most common serotypes found in sewage and clinical samples was observed. While Coxsackieviruses B constituted the most frequent serotypes in sewages, Echoviruses 30 and 18 prevailed in clinical samples. Conclusions: The phylogenetic analysis revealed that certain enterovirus strains circulate in the population over long period of time, while others are observed only sporadically and disappear quickly. For some serotypes, it was observed that several strains were cocirculating in the population but only some of them being detected also in clinical specimens. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study, for the first time, compares enteroviruses isolated from environmental samples and clinical specimens on a molecular level, which allowed for strain identification and discrimination. A more comprehensive molecular analysis of these strains will help identify factors, which determine different degrees of pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were calibrated in situ for selected illicit drugs and their metabolites at a sewage treatment works. Eleven out of 13 target compounds were detected and eight of those exhibited linear uptake kinetics with sampling rates between 0.035 and 0.150 L d-1. Subsequently POCIS were deployed for 2 week periods over the course of a whole year, in order to examine trends in drug usage. Amphetamine and methamphetamine showed several similar peaks in concentration during the course of the year as did cocaine and two of its metabolites. Low levels of ecstasy were observed, with a prominent peak in May and a steady increase toward the end of the year. The antihistamine Cetirizine showed a clear increase in use during the summer months as expected and back calculation of the yearly dosage from POCIS accumulations yielded very similar results to that registered in the Norwegian prescription database. Estimations of cocaine usage using the parent compound averaged between 0.31 and 2.8 g d-1 per 1000 inhabitants. POCIS is a cost-effective technique for the long-term monitoring of drug usage of a defined population and may overcome the difficulties of representative sampling associated with autosampling equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced water treatment of secondary treated effluent requires stringent quality control to achieve a water quality suitable for augmenting drinking water supplies. The removal of micropollutants such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCP) is paramount. As the concentrations of individual contaminants are typically low, frequent analytical screening is both laborious and costly. We propose and validate an approach for continuous monitoring by applying passive sampling with Empore disks in vessels that were designed to slow down the water flow, and thus uptake kinetics, and ensure that the uptake is only marginally dependent on the chemicals' physicochemical properties over a relatively narrow molecular size range. This design not only assured integrative sampling over 27 days for a broad range of chemicals but also permitted the use of a suite of bioanalytical tools as sum parameters, representative of mixtures of chemicals with a common mode of toxic action. Bioassays proved to be more sensitive than chemical analysis to assess the removal of organic micropollutants by reverse osmosis, followed by UV/H2O2 treatment, as many individual compounds fell below the quantification limit of chemical analysis, yet still contributed to the observed mixture toxicity. Nonetheless in several cases, the responses in the bioassays were also below their quantification limits and therefore only three bioassays were evaluated here, representing nonspecific toxicity and two specific end points for estrogenicity and photosynthesis inhibition. Chemical analytical techniques were able to quantify 32 pesticides, 62 PCPPs, and 12 EDCs in reverse osmosis concentrate. However, these chemicals could explain only 1% of the nonspecific toxicity in the Microtox assay in the reverse osmosis concentrate and 0.0025% in the treated water. Likewise only 1% of the estrogenic effect in the E-SCREEN could be explained by the quantified EDCs after reverse osmosis. In comparison, >50% of the estrogenic effect can typically be explained in sewage. Herbicidal activity could be fully explained by chemical analysis as the sampling period coincided with an illegal discharge and two herbicides dominated the mixture effect. The mass balance of the reverse osmosis process matched theoretical expectations for both chemical analysis and bioanalytical tools. Overall the investigated treatment train removed >97% estrogenicity, >99% herbicidal activity, and >96% baseline toxicity, confirming the suitability of the treatment train for polishing water for indirect potable reuse. The product water was indistinguishable from local tap water in all three bioassays. This study demonstrates the suitability and robustness of passive sampling linked with bioanalytical tools for semicontinuous monitoring of advanced water treatment with respect to micropollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling is a key step in the analysis of chemical compounds. It is particularly important in the environmental field, for example for wastewater effluents, wet-weather discharges or streams in which the flows and concentrations vary greatly over time. In contrast to the improvements that have occurred in analytical measurement, developments in the field of sampling are less active. However, sampling errors may exceed by an order of magnitude those related to analytical processes. We proposed an Internet-based application based on a sampling theory to identify and quantify the errors in the process of taking samples. This general theory of sampling, already applied to different areas, helps to answer questions related to the number of samples, their volume, their representativeness, etc. The use of the internet to host this application facilitates use of theoretical tools and raise awareness of the uncertainties related to sampling. An example is presented, which highlights the importance of the sampling step in the quality of analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel design of solid phase microextraction fiber containing carbon nanotube reinforced sol–gel which was protected by polypropylene hollow fiber (HF-SPME) was developed for pre-concentration and determination of BTEX in environmental waste water and human hair samples. The method validation was included and satisfying results with high pre-concentration factors were obtained. In the present study orthogonal array experimental design (OAD) procedure with OA16 (44) matrix was applied to study the effect of four factors influencing the HF-SPME method efficiency: stirring speed, volume of adsorption organic solvent, extraction and desorption time of the sample solution, by which the effect of each factor was estimated using individual contributions as response functions in the screening process. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for estimating the main significant factors and their percentage contributions in extraction. Calibration curves were plotted using ten spiking levels of BTEX in the concentration ranges of 0.02–30,000ng/mL with correlation coefficients (r) 0.989–0.9991 for analytes. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the method showed good linearity (0.3–20,000ng/L), repeatability, low limits of detections (0.49–0.7ng/L) and excellent pre-concentration factors (185–1872). The best conditions which were estimated then applied for the analysis of BTEX compounds in the real samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The sewage epidemiology approach was applied to a one-year sampling campaign in the largest wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Belgium. The consumption of cocaine (COC), amphetamine (AMP), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine (METH), methadone (MTD) and heroin (HER) was evaluated based on measured concentrations of the parent compound and/or metabolites in daily 24-hour composite influent wastewater samples. The inevitable back-calculations used in the sewage epidemiology approach were adapted to newly available information regarding the stability of the compounds in wastewater and the excretion pattern of illicit drugs. For COC, three different back-calculation approaches were evaluated. In addition, for the first time, efforts were made to calculate the number of inhabitants living in the catchment area of the WWTP in a real-time and dynamic way, based on concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and oxygen in the wastewater samples. Clear variations in the amount of inhabitants in the catchment area of the WWTP were observed. For COC, AMP and MDMA a significant higher weekend use was observed while for HER and MTD no significant daily variations could be found. METH consumption was negligible. Generally, the sewage epidemiology calculations were in agreement with official statistics. This manuscript shows that sewage epidemiology provides consistent and logical results and that it is a promising tool that can be used in addition to classical studies to estimate illicit drug use in populations. Therefore, efforts should be made to further optimize this approach in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new depth-integrated sample arm (DISA) was developed to improve the representation of solids in stormwater, both organic and inorganic, by collecting a water quality sample from multiple points in the water column. Data from this study demonstrate the idea of vertical stratification of solids in storm sewer runoff. Concentrations of suspended sediment in runoff were statistically greater using a fixed rather than multi-point collection system. Median suspended sediment concentrations measured at the fixed location (near the pipe invert) were approximately double those collected using the DISA. In general, concentrations and size distributions of suspended sediment decreased with increasing vertical distance from the storm sewer invert. Coarser particles tended to dominate the distribution of solids near the storm sewer invert as discharge increased. In contrast to concentration and particle size, organic material, to some extent, was distributed homogenously throughout the water column, likely the result of its low specific density, which allows for thorough mixing in less turbulent water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial establishments discharging directly into municipality sewers is one of the major water pollution control activities conducted by municipalities. For largely industrialised municipalities, the task can be quite expensive and not effective if sampling programmes are not properly designed. In most cases, samples are randomly collected without proper knowledge of the discharge patterns of various industries. As a result, the information obtained does not give a good reflection of the quality of effluent being discharged. Methods: These problems can be resolved by adapting a statistical approach to the design of sampling programmes. This approach is useful in determining the frequency of sampling, the number of samples needed to estimate the average concentration of target pollution indicator parameters and the magnitude of the uncertainty involved. Results: The benefits and applications of this approach are demonstrated by a case study presented in this paper. It was found that the number of samples and cost of sample analysis can be greatly reduced by the use of systematic instead of random sampling. Conclusion: The statistical approach greatly improves the estimate of monthly means of pollution indicator parameters and is an effective approach for pollution control when coupled with the 'polluter pays principle'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]