1
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Harris NA, Sorensen JPR, Marchant B, Old GH, Naden PS, Bowes MJ, Scarlett PM, Nicholls DJE, Armstrong LK, Wickham HD, Read DS, Lapworth D, Bond T, Pond K. Temporal drivers of tryptophan-like fluorescent dissolved organic matter along a river continuum. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172285. [PMID: 38599395 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) is used to indicate anthropogenic inputs of dissolved organic matter (DOM), typically from wastewater, in rivers. We hypothesised that other sources of DOM, such as groundwater and planktonic microbial biomass can also be important drivers of riverine TLF dynamics. We sampled 19 contrasting sites of the River Thames, UK, and its tributaries. Multivariate mixed linear models were developed for each site using 15 months of weekly water quality observations and with predictor variables selected according to the statistical significance of their linear relationship with TLF following a stepwise procedure. The variables considered for inclusion in the models were potassium (wastewater indicator), nitrate (groundwater indicator), chlorophyll-a (phytoplankton biomass), and Total bacterial Cells Counts (TCC) by flow cytometry. The wastewater indicator was included in the model of TLF at 89 % of sites. Groundwater was included in 53 % of models, particularly those with higher baseflow indices (0.50-0.86). At these sites, groundwater acted as a negative control on TLF, diluting other potential sources. Additionally, TCC was included positively in the models of six (32 %) sites. The models on the Thames itself using TCC were more rural sites with lower sewage inputs. Phytoplankton biomass (Chlorophyll-a) was only used in two (11 %) site models, despite the seasonal phytoplankton blooms. It is also notable that, the wastewater indicator did not always have the strongest evidence for inclusion in the models. For example, there was stronger evidence for the inclusion of groundwater and TCC than wastewater in 32 % and 5 % of catchments, respectively. Our study underscores the complex interplay of wastewater, groundwater, and planktonic microbes, driving riverine TLF dynamics, with their influence determined by site characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A Harris
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - J P R Sorensen
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - B Marchant
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - G H Old
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - P S Naden
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - M J Bowes
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - P M Scarlett
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - D J E Nicholls
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - L K Armstrong
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - H D Wickham
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - D S Read
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - D Lapworth
- British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - T Bond
- Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, UK
| | - K Pond
- Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, UK
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2
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Knapp JLA, Napitupulu T, von Freyberg J, Rücker A, Studer B, Zappa M, Kirchner JW. Multi-year time series of daily solute and isotope measurements from three Swiss pre-Alpine catchments. Sci Data 2024; 11:393. [PMID: 38632248 PMCID: PMC11024116 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03192-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Time series analyses of solute concentrations in streamwater and precipitation are powerful tools for unraveling the interplay of hydrological and biogeochemical processes at the catchment scale. While such datasets are available for many sites around the world, they often lack the necessary temporal resolution or are limited in the number of solutes they encompass. Here we present a multi-year dataset encompassing daily records of major ions and a range of trace metals in both streamwater and precipitation in three catchments in the northern Swiss Pre-Alps. These time series capture the temporal variability observed in solute concentrations in response to storm events, snow melt, and dry summer conditions. This dataset additionally includes stable water isotope data as an extension of a publicly available isotope dataset collected concurrently at the same locations, and together these data can provide insights into a range of ecohydrological processes and enable a suite of analyses into hydrologic and biogeochemical catchment functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L A Knapp
- Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Tracy Napitupulu
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jana von Freyberg
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
- EPF Lausanne, Environmental Engineering Institute IIE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering ENAC, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Rücker
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Bjørn Studer
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Massimiliano Zappa
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - James W Kirchner
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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3
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Sinclair T, Craig P, Maltby LL. Climate warming shifts riverine macroinvertebrate communities to be more sensitive to chemical pollutants. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17254. [PMID: 38556898 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Freshwaters are highly threatened ecosystems that are vulnerable to chemical pollution and climate change. Freshwater taxa vary in their sensitivity to chemicals and changes in species composition can potentially affect the sensitivity of assemblages to chemical exposure. Here we explore the potential consequences of future climate change on the composition and sensitivity of freshwater macroinvertebrate assemblages to chemical stressors using the UK as a case study. Macroinvertebrate assemblages under end of century (2080-2100) and baseline (1980-2000) climate conditions were predicted for 608 UK sites for four climate scenarios corresponding to mean temperature changes of 1.28 to 3.78°C. Freshwater macroinvertebrate toxicity data were collated for 19 chemicals and the hierarchical species sensitivity distribution model was used to predict the sensitivity of untested taxa using relatedness within a Bayesian approach. All four future climate scenarios shifted assemblage compositions, increasing the prevalence of Mollusca, Crustacea and Oligochaeta species, and the insect taxa of Odonata, Chironomidae, and Baetidae species. Contrastingly, decreases were projected for Plecoptera, Ephemeroptera (except for Baetidae) and Coleoptera species. Shifts in taxonomic composition were associated with changes in the percentage of species at risk from chemical exposure. For the 3.78°C climate scenario, 76% of all assemblages became more sensitive to chemicals and for 18 of the 19 chemicals, the percentage of species at risk increased. Climate warming-induced increases in sensitivity were greatest for assemblages exposed to metals and were dependent on baseline assemblage composition, which varied spatially. Climate warming is predicted to result in changes in the use, environmental exposure and toxicity of chemicals. Here we show that, even in the absence of these climate-chemical interactions, shifts in species composition due to climate warming will increase chemical risk and that the impact of chemical pollution on freshwater macroinvertebrate biodiversity may double or quadruple by the end of the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Sinclair
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Peter Craig
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
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4
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Martínez-Rodríguez GA, Vázquez-Cartagena MA, Perdomo-García CR, Macchiavelli RE, Sotomayor-Ramírez D, Rosa JR. Water quality trends of streams in Puerto Rico: Evaluating 50 years of the Clean Water Act. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2024; 53:253-264. [PMID: 38384182 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Water quality regulations entail a substantial commitment of resources from governments and private entities. It is important to continually evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations to ensure they are having the intended impact. In this paper, we evaluated nutrient data as indicators of primary productivity and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and pH as response variables to assess historical water quality trends from 55 stations of Puerto Rico. The stations were divided into impaired versus non-impaired categories based on their historical total phosphorus (TP) mean concentration. Mean TP and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were significantly higher in the impaired stations relative to the non-impaired stations. In contrast, DO mean concentrations and mean pH values were significantly lower in the impaired stations. A generalized additive mixed model was used to demonstrate temporal trends. A significant decrease in TP and TN concentrations was observed with time at the impaired stations. This was accompanied by significant increases in DO concentrations and pH. The non-impaired stations showed a marginal (statistically nonsignificant) decreasing trend with time. The large reductions in nutrient concentrations observed at the impaired stations seem to be related to the closure of several primary wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the island. The conversion of abandoned crop agricultural lands into secondary forest in recent decades has resulted in small but significant decreases in TN (not TP) in receiving streams. We conclude that the Clean Water Act has promoted improvements in water quality in Puerto Rico by advancing upgrades in sanitary infrastructure and the regulation of point sources of pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo A Martínez-Rodríguez
- Agroenvironmental Sciences Department, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - Miguel A Vázquez-Cartagena
- Agroenvironmental Sciences Department, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - Cristian R Perdomo-García
- Agroenvironmental Sciences Department, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - Raul E Macchiavelli
- Agroenvironmental Sciences Department, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - David Sotomayor-Ramírez
- Agroenvironmental Sciences Department, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - Juan R Rosa
- Environmental Science Department, College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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5
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Poyntz-Wright IP, Harrison XA, Johnson A, Zappala S, Tyler CR. Assessment of the impacts of GABA and AChE targeting pesticides on freshwater invertebrate family richness in English Rivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169079. [PMID: 38049000 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Globally, riverine system biodiversity is threatened by a range of stressors, spanning pollution, sedimentation, alterations to water flow, and climate change. Pesticides have been associated with population level impacts on freshwater invertebrates for acute high-level exposures, but far less is known about the chronic impact of episodic exposure to specific classes of pesticides or their mixtures. Here we employed the use of the UK Environment Agency's monitoring datasets over 40 years (covering years 1980 to 2019) to assess the impacts of AChE (acetylcholinesterase) and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptor targeting pesticides on invertebrate family richness at English river sites. Concentrations of AChE and GABA pesticides toxic to freshwater invertebrates occurred (measured) across 18 of the 66 river sites assessed. For one of the three river sites (all found in the Midlands region of England) where data recorded over the past 40 years were sufficient for robust modelling studies, both AChE and GABA pesticides associated with invertebrate family richness. Here, where AChE total pesticide concentrations were classified as high, 46 of 64 invertebrate families were absent, and where GABA total pesticide concentration were classified as high, 16 of 64 invertebrate families were absent. Using a combination of field evidence and laboratory toxicity thresholds for population relevant endpoints we identify families of invertebrates most at risk in the selected English rivers to AChE and GABA pesticides. We, furthermore, provide strong evidence that the absence of the invertebrate family Polycentropodidae (caddisfly) from one field site is due to exposure effects to AChE pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imogen P Poyntz-Wright
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Xavier A Harrison
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Andrew Johnson
- Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Susan Zappala
- JNCC, Quay House, 2 East Station Road, Fletton Quays, Peterborough PE2 8YY, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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6
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Perry WB, Ahmadian R, Munday M, Jones O, Ormerod SJ, Durance I. Addressing the challenges of combined sewer overflows. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123225. [PMID: 38151091 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Europe's ageing wastewater system often combines domestic sewage with surface runoff and industrial wastewaters. To reduce the associated risk of overloading wastewater treatment works during storms, and to prevent wastewater backing-up into properties, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are designed into wastewater networks to release excess discharge into rivers or coastal waters without treatment. In view of growing regulatory scrutiny and increasing public concern about their excessive discharge frequencies and potential impacts on environments and people, there is a need to better understand these impacts to allow prioritisation of cost-effective solutions.We review: i) the chemical, physical and biological composition of CSOs discharges; ii) spatio-temporal variations in the quantity, quality and load of overflows spilling into receiving waters; iii) the potential impacts on people, ecosystems and economies. Despite investigations illustrating the discharge frequency of CSOs, data on spill composition and loading of pollutants are too few to reach representative conclusions, particularly for emerging contaminants. Studies appraising impacts are also scarce, especially in contexts where there are multiple stressors affecting receiving waters. Given the costs of addressing CSOs problems, but also the likely long-term gains (e.g. economic stimulation as well as improvements to biodiversity, ecosystem services, public health and wellbeing), we highlight here the need to bolster these evidence gaps. We also advocate no-regrets options to alleviate CSO problems taking into consideration economic costs, carbon neutrality, ecosystem benefit and community well-being. Besides pragmatic, risk-based investment by utilities and local authorities to modernise wastewater systems, these include i) more systemic thinking, linking policy makers, consumers, utilities and regulators, to shift from local CSO issues to integrated catchment solutions with the aim of reducing contributions to wastewater from surface drainage and water consumption; ii) broader societal responsibilities for CSOs, for example through improved regulation, behavioural changes in water consumption and disposal of waste into wastewater networks, and iii) greater cost-sharing of wastewater use.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Bernard Perry
- Water Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Reza Ahmadian
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Max Munday
- Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Owen Jones
- School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Steve J Ormerod
- Water Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
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7
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Loiselle S, Bishop I, Moorhouse H, Pilat C, Koelman E, Nelson R, Clymans W, Pratt J, Lewis V. Citizen scientists filling knowledge gaps of phosphate pollution dynamics in rural areas. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:220. [PMID: 38291271 PMCID: PMC10827960 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12389-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
In situ monitoring is fundamental to manage eutrophication in rivers and streams. However, in recent decades, the frequency and spatial coverage of regulatory monitoring have often been reduced due to funding and infrastructure limitations. This reduction has made it impossible to provide adequate coverage for most water bodies. In this study, trained citizen scientists filled spatial and temporal gaps in agency monitoring across a major catchment in rural England. By integrating data from citizen scientists, regulatory agencies, and the local water company, it was possible to demonstrate the opportunities for hypothesis-based citizen scientist monitoring to identify continuous and event-driven sources of phosphate pollution. Local citizen scientists effectively covered important spatial gaps, investigating river conditions both upstream and downstream of suspected pollution point sources, improving the identification of their temporal dynamics. When combined with long-term monitoring data from regulatory agencies, it became possible to identify areas within the catchment that exhibited increased phosphate concentrations during periods of low river discharge (summer). Inter-annual trends and anomaly detection suggested that continuous pollution sources dominated over event-driven sources in many sub-basins, allowing for the prioritisation of mitigation actions. This study highlights the opportunity for citizen scientists to fill gaps in regulatory monitoring efforts and contribute to the improved management of eutrophication in rural catchments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Loiselle
- Earthwatch Europe, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DE, UK.
- University of Siena, INSTM, 53400, Siena, Italy.
| | - Isabel Bishop
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (CBER) UCL, London, WC1H 0AG, UK
| | - Heather Moorhouse
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Caroline Pilat
- Earthwatch Europe, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DE, UK
- ARUP, Ove Arup & Partners Ltd, 4 Pierhead Street, CF10 4QP, Cardiff, UK
| | - Eline Koelman
- Earthwatch Europe, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DE, UK
| | - Rosie Nelson
- Thames Water, Clearwater Court, Vastern Road, Reading, RG1 8DB, UK
| | - Wim Clymans
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - John Pratt
- Coldstone Angling Club, Ascott-Under-Wychwood, OX7 6AF, UK
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8
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Qu Y, Keller V, Bachiller-Jareno N, Eastman M, Edwards F, Jürgens MD, Sumpter JP, Johnson AC. Significant improvement in freshwater invertebrate biodiversity in all types of English rivers over the past 30 years. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167144. [PMID: 37730070 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
There remains a persistent concern that freshwater biodiversity is in decline and being threatened by pollution. As the UK, and particularly England, is a densely populated nation with rivers of modest dilution capacity, this location is very suitable to examine how freshwater biodiversity has responded to human pressures over the past 30 years. A long-term dataset of 223,325 freshwater macroinvertebrate records from 1989 to 2018 for England was retrieved and examined. A sub-set of approximately 200 sites per English Region (1515 sites in total with 62,514 samples), with the longest and most consistent records were matched with predicted wastewater exposure, upstream land cover and terrain characteristics (latitude, altitude, slope gradient and flow discharge). To understand changes in macroinvertebrate diversity and sensitivity with respect to these parameters, the biotic indices of (i) overall family richness, (ii) Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) family richness, and (iii) the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) scores of NTAXA (number of scoring taxa) and (iv) ASPT (average score per taxon) were selected. A review of how close the BMWP scores come to those expected at minimally impacted reference sites was included. For all latitudes, altitudes, channel slope, river size, wastewater exposure levels, and differing proportions of upstream woodland, seminatural, arable and urban land cover, all diversity or sensitivity indices examined improved over this period, although this improvement has slowed in some cases post 2003. Mean overall family richness has increased from 15 to 25 family groups, a 66 % improvement. The improvement in mean EPT family richness (3 to 10 families, >300 % improvement), which are considered to be particularly sensitive to pollution, implies macroinvertebrate diversity has benefited from a national improvement in critical components of water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueming Qu
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Virginie Keller
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Nuria Bachiller-Jareno
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Michael Eastman
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; Met Office, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK
| | - Francois Edwards
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK; APEM Ltd, Chester CH4 0GZ, UK
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9
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Poyntz-Wright IP, Harrison XA, Johnson A, Zappala S, Tyler CR. Pesticide pollution associations with riverine invertebrate communities in England. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166519. [PMID: 37640080 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Globally freshwater biodiversity has experienced major decline and chemical pollutants are believed to have played a significant role in this decline, but this has not been well quantified for most riverine invertebrate populations. Here we applied a biogeographically independent trait-based bioindicator, SPEARpesticides across sites across five regions (Northern, Midlands and Western, Anglian, Southeast, and Southwest) in England to investigate for associations specifically between pesticide use/pollution and riverine invertebrate communities over a 55-year period (1965-2019). Both spatially and temporally post-1990, the Anglian and Thames regions consistently showed the lowest SPEARpesticides scores, illustrating the presence of fewer pesticide sensitive species. The Anglian region had the highest pesticide use compared to all other regions from 1990 to 2018 and there were negative relationships between the level of pesticide/insecticide use and the regional SPEARpesticides score. Biochemical Oxygen Demand and ammonia, as measures of general water quality, were also negatively correlated with the SPEARpesticides scores across the regions, but these factors were not the driver for the lower SPEARpesticides scores seen in the Anglian region. Based on SPEARpesticides scores, riverine invertebrate communities in England have been most impacted in the Anglian region and we evidence chronic insecticide exposure is likely a significant factor in shaping the status of those invertebrate communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imogen P Poyntz-Wright
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Xavier A Harrison
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Andrew Johnson
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Susan Zappala
- JNCC, Quay House, 2 East Station Road, Fletton Quays, Peterborough PE2 8YY, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- Biosciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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10
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Albini D, Lester L, Sanders P, Hughes J, Jackson MC. The combined effects of treated sewage discharge and land use on rivers. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6415-6422. [PMID: 37736004 PMCID: PMC10946937 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by multiple anthropogenic stressors. Release of treated sewage effluent and pollution from agricultural or urban sources can independently reduce water quality with implications for ecological communities. However, our knowledge of the combined effects of these stressors is limited. We performed a field study to quantify the combined effect of treated sewage discharge and land use on nutrient concentrations, sewage fungus presence and communities of macroinvertebrates and benthic algae. Over three seasons in four rivers we found that a model which included an interaction between sewage pollution and time of the year (i.e. months) was the best predictor of nutrient concentrations and the abundance of algae and sewage fungus. Both macroinvertebrate and algae communities shifted downstream of sewage input. Specifically, more tolerant groups, such as cyanobacteria and oligochaetes, were more abundant. The EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera) water quality score was best explained by an interaction between month and agriculture in the surrounding landscape. Overall, our results show that sewage discharge has a significant impact on water quality and benthic riverine communities, regardless of the surrounding land uses. Agricultural inputs, however, could be more important than treated sewage discharge in reducing the abundance of sensitive invertebrate taxa. We need both improvements to wastewater treatment processes and reductions in agricultural pollution to reduce threats to vulnerable freshwater communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dania Albini
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Somerville CollegeUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Lauren Lester
- School of Geography and the EnvironmentUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Jocelyne Hughes
- School of Geography and the EnvironmentUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Michelle C. Jackson
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Somerville CollegeUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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11
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Oliver DM, McDougall CW, Robertson T, Grant B, Hanley N, Quilliam RS. Self-reported benefits and risks of open water swimming to health, wellbeing and the environment: Cross-sectional evidence from a survey of Scottish swimmers. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290834. [PMID: 37639394 PMCID: PMC10461842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Engaging with natural environments benefits human health by providing opportunities for social interactions, enhancing mental wellbeing and enabling outdoor spaces for physical exercise. Open water swimming has seen a rapid increase in popularity, partly due to the physical health benefits it can provide but also with the growing interest in (re)connecting with nature for environment-health interactions. Using a national-scale online survey of 717 open water swimmers, the aim of this study was to investigate patterns and trends in the perceived benefits and risks of open water swimming to both public health and the environment; and to understand whether these perceived risks and benefits vary across different typologies of swimmers and open water, or 'blue space', environments. Strong associations were found between the most important self-reported benefit associated with open water swimming and both participant age and the categorisation of their typical swim style. All but one of the age-groups surveyed perceived mental wellbeing benefits to be the most important benefit of open water swimming; whilst those aged over 65 identified physical rather than mental wellbeing benefits to be the most important outcome. Participants who preferred lake swimming reported greater concern regarding possible environmental damage caused by the increasing popularity of open water swimming compared to those engaging in river or sea swimming. However, the majority of participants perceived the risks to the environment from open water swimming to be minimal. Our study adds to the growing evidence that open water swimming is perceived by participants as benefitting their mental and physical wellbeing. Improved understanding of the benefits and risks of engaging with blue spaces used for open water swimming can contribute to co-designed policy development to promote safer, healthier and more sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities associated with this increasingly popular outdoor pursuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M. Oliver
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Craig W. McDougall
- Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, United Kingdom
| | - Tony Robertson
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Blair Grant
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Hanley
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Richard S. Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
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12
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Qi Y, Liu H, Zhao J. Prediction model and demonstration of regional agricultural carbon emissions based on Isomap-ACO-ET: a case study of Guangdong Province, China. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12688. [PMID: 37542116 PMCID: PMC10403573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39996-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Scientific analysis of regional agricultural carbon emission prediction models and empirical studies are of great practical significance to the realization of low-carbon agriculture, which can help revitalize and build up ecological and beautiful countryside in China. This paper takes agriculture in Guangdong Province, China, as the research object, and uses the extended STIPAT model to construct an indicator system for the factors influencing agricultural carbon emissions in Guangdong. Based on this system, a combined Isomap-ACO-ET prediction model combing the isometric mapping algorithm (Isomap), ant colony algorithm (ACO) and extreme random tree algorithm (ET) was used to predict agriculture carbon emissions in Guangdong Province under five scenarios. Effective predictions can be made for agricultural carbon emissions in Guangdong Province, which are expected to fluctuate between 11,142,200 tons and 11,386,000 tons in 2030. And compared with other machine learning and neural network models, the Isomap-ACO-ET model has a better prediction performance with an MSE of 0.00018 and an accuracy of 98.7%. To develop low-carbon agriculture in Guangdong Province, we should improve farming methods, reduce the intensity of agrochemical application, strengthen the development and promotion of agricultural energy-saving and emission reduction technologies and low-carbon energy sources, reduce the intensity of carbon emissions from agricultural energy consumption, optimize the agricultural planting structure, and develop green agricultural products and agro-ecological tourism according to local conditions. This will promote the development of agriculture in Guangdong Province in a green and sustainable direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Qi
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China.
| | - Huailiang Liu
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China
| | - Jianbo Zhao
- School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China
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13
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Haase P, Bowler DE, Baker NJ, Bonada N, Domisch S, Garcia Marquez JR, Heino J, Hering D, Jähnig SC, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Stubbington R, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Amatulli G, Angeler DG, Archambaud-Suard G, Jorrín IA, Aspin T, Azpiroz I, Bañares I, Ortiz JB, Bodin CL, Bonacina L, Bottarin R, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, Datry T, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Dörflinger G, Drohan E, Eikland KA, England J, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forcellini M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Friberg N, Fruget JF, Georgieva G, Goethals P, Graça MAS, Graf W, House A, Huttunen KL, Jensen TC, Johnson RK, Jones JI, Kiesel J, Kuglerová L, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, L'Hoste L, Lizée MH, Lorenz AW, Maire A, Arnaiz JAM, McKie BG, Millán A, Monteith D, Muotka T, Murphy JF, Ozolins D, Paavola R, Paril P, Peñas FJ, Pilotto F, Polášek M, Rasmussen JJ, Rubio M, Sánchez-Fernández D, Sandin L, Schäfer RB, Scotti A, Shen LQ, Skuja A, Stoll S, Straka M, Timm H, Tyufekchieva VG, Tziortzis I, Uzunov Y, van der Lee GH, Vannevel R, Varadinova E, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot PFM, Verdonschot RCM, Vidinova Y, Wiberg-Larsen P, Welti EAR. The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt. Nature 2023; 620:582-588. [PMID: 37558875 PMCID: PMC10432276 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06400-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss1. Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity2. Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients. We observed overall increases in taxon richness (0.73% per year), functional richness (2.4% per year) and abundance (1.17% per year). However, these increases primarily occurred before the 2010s, and have since plateaued. Freshwater communities downstream of dams, urban areas and cropland were less likely to experience recovery. Communities at sites with faster rates of warming had fewer gains in taxon richness, functional richness and abundance. Although biodiversity gains in the 1990s and 2000s probably reflect the effectiveness of water-quality improvements and restoration projects, the decelerating trajectory in the 2010s suggests that the current measures offer diminishing returns. Given new and persistent pressures on freshwater ecosystems, including emerging pollutants, climate change and the spread of invasive species, we call for additional mitigation to revive the recovery of freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Department of Ecosystem Services, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nathan J Baker
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology of Hydrobionts, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Núria Bonada
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sami Domisch
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jaime R Garcia Marquez
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Daniel Hering
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Mario Álvarez-Cabria
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | | | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Brain Capital Alliance, San Francisco, CA, USA
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Gaït Archambaud-Suard
- INRAE, UMR RECOVER Aix Marseille Univ, Centre d'Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | | | | | | | - Iñaki Bañares
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Obras Hidráulicas, Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - José Barquín Ortiz
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Christian L Bodin
- LFI-The Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
| | - Luca Bonacina
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences-DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Bottarin
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- FEHM-Lab, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoltán Csabai
- Department of Hydrobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Thibault Datry
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Elvira de Eyto
- Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Newport, Ireland
| | - Alain Dohet
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Gerald Dörflinger
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Emma Drohan
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Ireland
| | - Knut A Eikland
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Tor E Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vesela Evtimova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria J Feio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Martial Ferréol
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathieu Floury
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | | | - Riccardo Fornaroli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences-DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nikolai Friberg
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
- Freshwater Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Galia Georgieva
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Manuel A S Graça
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Wolfram Graf
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Thomas C Jensen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Richard K Johnson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Iwan Jones
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jens Kiesel
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lenka Kuglerová
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Aitor Larrañaga
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Patrick Leitner
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lionel L'Hoste
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Marie-Helène Lizée
- INRAE, UMR RECOVER Aix Marseille Univ, Centre d'Aix-en-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Armin W Lorenz
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Anthony Maire
- Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, EDF Recherche et Développement, Chatou, France
| | | | - Brendan G McKie
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andrés Millán
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Don Monteith
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, UK
| | - Timo Muotka
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - John F Murphy
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Davis Ozolins
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Riku Paavola
- Oulanka Research Station, University of Oulu Infrastructure Platform, Kuusamo, Finland
| | - Petr Paril
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Francisco J Peñas
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | | | - Marek Polášek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Manu Rubio
- Ekolur Asesoría Ambiental SLL, Oiartzun, Spain
| | | | - Leonard Sandin
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- Institute for Environmental Science, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Alberto Scotti
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- APEM, Stockport, UK
| | - Longzhu Q Shen
- Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Green Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Agnija Skuja
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Stefan Stoll
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Environmental Planning / Environmental Technology, University of Applied Sciences Trier, Birkenfeld, Germany
| | - Michal Straka
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Henn Timm
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Centre for Limnology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Elva vald, Estonia
| | - Violeta G Tyufekchieva
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Iakovos Tziortzis
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Yordan Uzunov
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Gea H van der Lee
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rudy Vannevel
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Flanders Environment Agency, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Emilia Varadinova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Geography, Ecology and Environment Protection, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, South-West University 'Neofit Rilski', Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Gábor Várbíró
- Department of Tisza River Research, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gaute Velle
- LFI-The Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Piet F M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralf C M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yanka Vidinova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Ellen A R Welti
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
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14
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Gwenzi W, Marumure J, Makuvara Z, Simbanegavi TT, Njomou-Ngounou EL, Nya EL, Kaetzl K, Noubactep C, Rzymski P. The pit latrine paradox in low-income settings: A sanitation technology of choice or a pollution hotspot? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163179. [PMID: 37003330 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Pit latrines are widely promoted to improve sanitation in low-income settings, but their pollution and health risks receive cursory attention. The present narrative review presents the pit latrine paradox; (1) the pit latrine is considered a sanitation technology of choice to safeguard human health, and (2) conversely, pit latrines are pollution and health risk hotspots. Evidence shows that the pit latrine is a 'catch-all' receptacle for household disposal of hazardous waste, including; (1) medical wastes (COVID-19 PPE, pharmaceuticals, placenta, used condoms), (2) pesticides and pesticide containers, (3) menstrual hygiene wastes (e.g., sanitary pads), and (4) electronic wastes (batteries). Pit latrines serve as hotspot reservoirs that receive, harbour, and then transmit the following into the environment; (1) conventional contaminants (nitrates, phosphates, pesticides), (2) emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and personal care products, antibiotic resistance), and (3) indicator organisms, and human bacterial and viral pathogens, and disease vectors (rodents, houseflies, bats). As greenhouse gas emission hotspots, pit latrines contribute 3.3 to 9.4 Tg/year of methane, but this could be an under-estimation. Contaminants in pit latrines may migrate into surface water, and groundwater systems serving as drinking water sources and pose human health risks. In turn, this culminates into the pit latrine-groundwater-human continuum or connectivity, mediated via water and contaminant migration. Human health risks of pit latrines, a critique of current evidence, and current and emerging mitigation measures are presented, including isolation distance, hydraulic liners/ barriers, ecological sanitation, and the concept of a circular bioeconomy. Finally, future research directions on the epidemiology and fate of contaminants in pit latrines are presented. The pit latrine paradox is not meant to downplay pit latrines' role or promote open defaecation. Rather, it seeks to stimulate discussion and research to refine the technology to enhance its functionality while mitigating pollution and health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willis Gwenzi
- Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Universität Kassel, Steinstraße 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany; Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Jerikias Marumure
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Off Old Great Zimbabwe Road, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - Zakio Makuvara
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Off Old Great Zimbabwe Road, P.O. Box 1235, Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - Tinoziva T Simbanegavi
- Department of Soil Science and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment, and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare P.O. Box MP 167, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Esther Laurentine Nya
- Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 644, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - Korbinian Kaetzl
- Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Universität Kassel, Steinstraße 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany.
| | - Chicgoua Noubactep
- Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), University of Göttingen, Waldweg 26, 37073 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Applied Geology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany; School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Fo Cheng Xi Road 8, 211100 Nanjing, PR China.
| | - Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland.
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15
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Pharaoh E, Diamond M, Ormerod SJ, Rutt G, Vaughan IP. Evidence of biological recovery from gross pollution in English and Welsh rivers over three decades. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163107. [PMID: 36972879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Uncertainty around the changing ecological status of European rivers reflects an evolving array of anthropogenic stressors, including climate change. Although previous studies have revealed some recovery from historical pollution in the 1990s and early-2000s, there are contrasting trends among pollutants across Europe and recovery may have stalled or been reversed. To provide more contemporary evidence on trends and status, here we investigate changes in English and Welsh river macroinvertebrate communities over almost 30 years (1991-2019) using a network of nearly 4000 survey locations. Analysis comprised: i) trends in taxonomic and functional richness, community composition and ecological traits, ii) gains, losses and turnover of taxa, and the overall homogeneity of macroinvertebrate communities nationally, and iii) an exploration of how temporal trends varied with catchment characteristics. Taxonomic richness increased, primarily in the 1990s, whilst a shift towards pollution-sensitive taxa continued throughout the study period, accompanied by a growing prevalence in traits such as preferences for fast-flowing conditions, coarser substrata, and 'shredding' or 'scraping' feeding strategies. Changes consistent with improvement occurred in both urbanised and agricultural catchments, but were more pronounced in urban rivers as they gained pollution sensitive taxa that were otherwise more prevalent in rural rivers. Overall, these results indicate continuing biological recovery from organic pollution, consistent with national scale trends in water quality. Results reemphasise the importance of looking at multiple facets of diversity, with periods of near-constant richness disguising changes in taxonomic and functional composition. Whilst this national-scale picture is broadly positive, we highlight the need to investigate more local variations or pollutants that depart from this aggregate picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Pharaoh
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Mark Diamond
- Environment Agency, PO Box 12, Warrington WA4 1HG, UK
| | - Steve J Ormerod
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Graham Rutt
- Natural Resources Wales, Southwest Area Environmental Assessment & Advice Team, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Ian P Vaughan
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
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16
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Ormsby MJ, White HL, Metcalf R, Oliver DM, Quilliam RS. Clinically important E. coli strains can persist, and retain their pathogenicity, on environmental plastic and fabric waste. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121466. [PMID: 36958655 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plastic waste is ubiquitous in the environment and there are increasing reports of such waste being colonised by human pathogens. However, the ability of pathogens to persist on plastics for long periods, and the risk that they pose to human health, is unknown. Here, under simulated environmental conditions, we aimed to determine if pathogenic bacteria can retain their virulence following a prolonged period on plastic. Using antibiotic selection and luciferase expression for quantification, we show that clinically important strains of E. coli can survive on plastic for at least 28-days. Importantly, these pathogens also retained their virulence (determined by using a Galleria mellonella model as a surrogate for human infection) and in some cases, had enhanced virulence following their recovery from the plastisphere. This indicates that plastics in the environment can act as reservoirs for human pathogens and could facilitate their persistence for extended periods of time. Most importantly human pathogens in the plastisphere are capable of retaining their pathogenicity. Pathogens colonising environmental plastic waste therefore pose a heightened public health risk, particularly in areas where people are exposed to pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Ormsby
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
| | - Hannah L White
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Rebecca Metcalf
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - David M Oliver
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Richard S Quilliam
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
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17
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Cooper RJ, Hiscock KM. Two decades of the EU Water Framework Directive: Evidence of success and failure from a lowland arable catchment (River Wensum, UK). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161837. [PMID: 36709887 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is widely regarded as a seminal piece of environmental legislation. However, two decades since its inception, many European waterbodies are failing to meet its ambitious goal to ensure 'good' quantitative and qualitative status. Here, we investigate the impact of the WFD upon the environmentally sensitive yet heavily impacted River Wensum, a lowland arable catchment in eastern England. Compiling a dataset of 10,950 water quality samples collected from 57 sites across the catchment at approximately monthly intervals during 2000-2022, we assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of 12 priority pollutants, identify the major drivers of water quality change, and evaluate current and future compliance with WFD goals. Our analysis reveals improvements in wastewater treatment initiated significant declines (11-50 %) in the concentration of key sewage pollution indicators (phosphorus, ammonium, biological oxygen demand (BOD)) during the early 2000s. Conversely, agricultural pollution indicators (nitrogen, suspended solids, pesticides) displayed either limited change or a deterioration in water quality, with oxidised nitrogen concentrations in particular having increased 23 % during 2015-2022. Concentration spikes of organic chemical contaminants in recent years (propyzamide, tetrachloroethylene) raise concerns about increased riverine pollution from hazardous substances. Similarly, changes in winter (+13 %) and summer (-7 %) discharge over the past two decades have increased the risk of diffuse pollution mobilisation and reduced the dilution of point source pollutants, respectively. By 2022, 'good' or 'high' water quality status for organic matter pollution indicators (dissolved oxygen, BOD, ammonium) was achieved for >98 % of samples, however WFD compliance fell to just 46 % for phosphorus and 1.8 % for nitrogen. Projections to the end of the third River Basin Management Plan cycle (2027) reveal that whilst phosphorus compliance is likely to improve, nitrogen compliance failure will persist due to the existence of catchment legacy stores and climate change induced impacts on nitrogen mobilisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Cooper
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Kevin M Hiscock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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18
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Afolabi EO, Quilliam RS, Oliver DM. Persistence of E. coli in Streambed Sediment Contaminated with Faeces from Dairy Cows, Geese, and Deer: Legacy Risks to Environment and Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5375. [PMID: 37047990 PMCID: PMC10094563 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Legacy stores of faecal pollution in streambed sediments can result in delayed impacts on environmental quality and human health if resuspended into the overlying water column. Different catchment sources of faecal pollution can contribute to a legacy store of microbial pollutants, with size of stores influenced by microbial die-off and faecal accrual rates in the streambed. The aim of this study was to use a mesocosm experiment to characterise the persistence of E. coli derived from faeces of dairy cows, deer, and geese once introduced to streambed sediment under different temperature regimes. The settling rate of solid constituents of faecal material into streambed sediment once delivered into an aquatic environment was also quantified. The persistence patterns of E. coli in streambed sediment were found to vary as a function of faecal source and temperature; die-off of E. coli in sediment contaminated with goose faeces was more rapid than in sediments contaminated with dairy cow or deer faeces. Goose faeces also recorded a more rapid settling rate of faecal particles through the water column relative to dairy cow and deer faeces, suggesting a more efficient delivery of E. coli to streambed sediments associated with this faecal source. Our findings provide new evidence to improve understanding of the potential longer-term risks to both the environment and public health posed by sediments when contaminated with livestock, wildlife, and wildfowl faeces.
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19
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Powell KE, Oliver TH, Johns T, González‐Suárez M, England J, Roy DB. Abundance trends for river macroinvertebrates vary across taxa, trophic group and river typology. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1282-1295. [PMID: 36462155 PMCID: PMC10107317 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
There is mounting evidence that terrestrial arthropods are declining rapidly in many areas of the world. It is unclear whether freshwater invertebrates, which are key providers of ecosystem services, are also declining. We addressed this question by analysing a long-term dataset of macroinvertebrate abundance collected from 2002 to 2019 across 5009 sampling sites in English rivers. Patterns varied markedly across taxonomic groups. Within trophic groups we detected increases in the abundance of carnivores by 19% and herbivores by 14.8%, while we estimated decomposers have declined by 21.7% in abundance since 2002. We also found heterogeneity in trends across rivers belonging to different typologies based on geological dominance and catchment altitude, with organic lowland rivers having generally higher rates of increase in abundance across taxa and trophic groups, with siliceous lowland rivers having the most declines. Our results reveal a complex picture of change in freshwater macroinvertebrate abundance between taxonomic groups, trophic levels and river typologies. Our analysis helps with identifying priority regions for action on potential environmental stressors where we discover macroinvertebrate abundance declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E. Powell
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyWallingfordUK
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of ReadingReadingUK
| | - Tom H. Oliver
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of ReadingReadingUK
| | | | | | | | - David B. Roy
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyWallingfordUK
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20
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Fard NJH, Fard MP, Haghighipur S, Fard ES, Jorfi S. Monitoring and risk assessment of exposure to organochlorine pesticides through the water supply system, case of Karkheh River in southwest Iran. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2022; 20:881-888. [PMID: 36406590 PMCID: PMC9672218 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-022-00828-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this investigation, the concentration of some organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was monitored in the Karkheh River and the risk assessment of exposure to these pesticides residue through the water supply system was calculated. The mean concentrations of Lindane, Heptachlor, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, DDT were 0.135, 0.123, 0.077, 0.081, 0.076, 0.01 µg/L, respectively. The average risk of Lindane, Heptachlor, Chlordane, Dieldrin, DDT, and Endrin for adults was 1.2 E-6, 1.1E-6, 7E-7, 7.6E-7, 9E-8, 7E-7 or non-carcinogenic risks to adults decreased in Dieldrin > Chlordane > Heptachlor > Endrine > DDT > lindane. The hazard index for all organochlorine pesticides was less than 1. These results did not raise concerns about the health of people exposed to studied pesticides. Total concentrations of all OCPs in the Karkheh River were below guidelines for individual pesticides. The hazard quotient showed that the consumption of treated water from the Susangard drinking water treatment plant has no non-cancerous effects. The HI was less than 1 that indicating the risk of exposure to a mixture of OCPs was not significant. Developing policies to reduce the use of pesticides and the use of suitable management practices could be implemented to lower the pesticide levels in the Karkheh River.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masoud Panahi Fard
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | | | - Sahand Jorfi
- Environmental Technologies Research Center, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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