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Sreya M, Alam MS, Daula S, Lee C, Restelli V, Middlebrook K, Noble MA, Perrone LA. Improving drinking water quality through proficiency testing-the impact of testing method and accreditation status on Escherichia coli detection by Canadian environmental testing laboratories. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1338549. [PMID: 38756531 PMCID: PMC11097683 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1338549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Water quality testing is crucial for protecting public health, especially considering the number of boil water advisories annually issued across Canada that impact daily life for residents in affected areas. To overcome these challenges, the development of drinking water safety plans and accessibility to regular testing using simple, rapid, and accurate materials are necessary. However, the significance of monitoring the accuracy of environmental microbiology testing laboratories cannot be overlooked. Participation in external quality assessment programs, such as those that include proficiency testing (PT), is a necessary risk management resource that ensures the effectiveness of these testing processes. Proficiency Testing Canada (PTC), in collaboration with the Canadian Microbiological Proficiency Testing (CMPT) program based at the University of British Columbia, have implemented a drinking-water microbiology PT program since 1996. Both PTC and CMPT are ISO/IEC 17043:2010-accredited EQA providers. The drinking water program provided PT challenges to subscribing testing laboratories twice per year. Each challenge consisted of four samples containing unknown concentrations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterobacter spp. Results from participants were assessed for accuracy based on the method of testing. This cross-sectional study evaluated 150 rural and metropolitan testing sites across Canada between 2016 and 2022. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the impact of different testing methods and laboratory accreditation status on the proficiency scores. This approach enabled us to assess the association between multiple independent variables and the likelihood of achieving specific proficiency scores, providing insights into how testing methods and accreditation status affect overall performance. After adjusting for rural residence, testing time, and survey year, the membrane filtration method was positively associated with the likelihood of scoring satisfactory results compared to the enzyme-substrate method (OR: 1.75; CI: 1.37-2.24), as well as accreditation status (OR: 1.47; CI: 1.16-1.85). The potential for improvement in environmental laboratory testing performance through the implementation of regulated PT in drinking water safety plans is proposed, along with the need for reliable testing methods applicable to rapid drinking water microbiology testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahfuza Sreya
- Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Md Saiful Alam
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sahibjot Daula
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Caleb Lee
- Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Veronica Restelli
- Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Michael A. Noble
- Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lucy A. Perrone
- Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Hosoda M, Omori Y, Hashimoto H, Matsumoto M, Yasuoka Y, Sanada T, Oda Y, Kiso M, Sampei A, Kranrod C, Tazoe H, Akata N, Taira Y, Tamakuma Y, Yamada R, Kudo H, Shimizu M, Tokonami S. Calibration experiments for radon in drinking water measurements using portable-type electrostatic-collection radon monitors. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2023; 199:2203-2206. [PMID: 37935002 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncad188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Portable-type electrostatic-collection radon monitors (RAD7) are often used for in-situ measurements of radon in water. In this study, we evaluated the calibration factors and their uncertainties for two RAD7 monitors based on comparative measurements with the liquid scintillation counting method. In the first experiment, we found that both RAD7 monitors had relatively large uncertainties due to leakage of radon gas that bubbled from the gaps between the lids of the desiccant container and the glass vial. Therefore, for the second experiment, these gaps were closed as much as possible using parafilm and clay, respectively. As a result, the relative uncertainties for both RAD7 monitors were significantly decreased. Furthermore, we collected spring water samples to confirm the reliability of radon concentrations. After closing the leakage point, the uncertainty of radon concentrations in spring water we measured using the typical protocol of the RAD7 were significantly lower, which improves the measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Hosoda
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Omori
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Hiroki Hashimoto
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Maho Matsumoto
- Institute of Radioisotope Research, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakitamachi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8558, Japan
| | - Yumi Yasuoka
- Institute of Radioisotope Research, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakitamachi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 658-8558, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sanada
- Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, 7-Jo 15-4-1 Maeda, Teine, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-8585, Japan
| | - Yuki Oda
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Mizuki Kiso
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Aoi Sampei
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Chutima Kranrod
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Tazoe
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Naofumi Akata
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taira
- Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Yuki Tamakuma
- Center for Radiation Research and Education, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Ryohei Yamada
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kudo
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Mayumi Shimizu
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
| | - Shinji Tokonami
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan
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Yamada R, Hosoda M, Tabe T, Tamakuma Y, Suzuki T, Kelleher K, Tsujiguchi T, Tateyama Y, Nugraha ED, Okano A, Narumi Y, Kranrod C, Tazoe H, Iwaoka K, Yasuoka Y, Akata N, Sanada T, Tokonami S. 222Rn and 226Ra Concentrations in Spring Water and Their Dose Assessment Due to Ingestion Intake. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031758. [PMID: 35162781 PMCID: PMC8835489 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
222Rn and 226Ra concentrations of less than a few to several thousands of Bq L−1 have been observed in several underground bodies of water around the world. Although regulations for these concentrations in water have been implemented internationally, there are currently no regulations in place in Japan. However, concentrations that exceed these internationally recognized regulatory values have also been observed in Japan. In this study, concentrations in spring water in the northern part of Japan were measured and the effective dose from intake of the water was evaluated. 222Rn concentrations were measured using a liquid scintillation counter, and 226Ra concentrations were measured using a high purity germanium detector after chemical preparation. The measured 222Rn concentrations (=12.7 ± 6.1 Bq L−1) and 226Ra concentrations (<0.019–0.022 Bq L−1) did not exceed the reference values set by international and European/American organizations. A conservative estimate of the annual effective ingestion dose of 8 μSv for 222Rn and 226Ra obtained in this study is much smaller than the estimated overall annual effective dose of 2.2 mSv from natural radiation to the Japanese population. However, this dosage accounts for 8% of the WHO individual dosing criteria of 0.1 mSv/year for drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Yamada
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Masahiro Hosoda
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-172-39-5956
| | - Tomomi Tabe
- School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.T.); (A.O.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yuki Tamakuma
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Takahito Suzuki
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Kevin Kelleher
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
- Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Protection Agency, Clonskeagh Square, D14 H424 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Takakiyo Tsujiguchi
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Yoshiki Tateyama
- School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.T.); (A.O.); (Y.N.)
| | - Eka Djatnika Nugraha
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, 66-1 Honcho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (R.Y.); (Y.T.); (T.S.); (T.T.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Anna Okano
- School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.T.); (A.O.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yuki Narumi
- School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (T.T.); (Y.T.); (A.O.); (Y.N.)
| | - Chutima Kranrod
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Hirofumi Tazoe
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Kazuki Iwaoka
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage, Chiba 263-0024, Japan;
| | - Yumi Yasuoka
- Radioisotope Research Center, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Kobe, Hyogo 658–8558, Japan;
| | - Naofumi Akata
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Tetsuya Sanada
- Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Sapporo 006-8585, Japan;
| | - Shinji Tokonami
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8564, Japan; (K.K.); (C.K.); (H.T.); (N.A.); (S.T.)
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