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Nawab J, Din ZU, Ahmad R, Khan S, Zafar MI, Faisal S, Raziq W, Khan H, Rahman ZU, Ali A, Khan MQ, Ullah S, Rahman A. Occurrence, distribution, and pollution indices of potentially toxic elements within the bed sediments of the riverine system in Pakistan. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:54986-55002. [PMID: 34125388 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14783-9] [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: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are a major source of pollution due to their toxicity, persistence, and bio-accumulating nature in riverine bed sediments. The sediment, as the largest storage and source of PTEs, plays an important role in transformation of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and other toxic PTEs. Several important industrial hubs that contain a large population along the banks of different rivers, such as Kabul, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab in Pakistan, are acting as major sources of PTEs. In this study, 150 bed sediment samples (n=30 from each river) were collected from different sites. Total (acid extracted) PTE (Hg, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Pb) concentrations in bed sediments were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Sediment pollution indices were calculated in the major rivers of Pakistan. The results demonstrated high levels of Hg and Ni concentrations which exceeded the guideline standards of river authorities in the world. The contamination factor (CF) and contamination degree (CD) indices for Hg, Ni, and Pb showed a moderate to high (CF≥6 and CD≥24) contamination level in all the selected rivers. The values of geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were also high (Igeo≥5) for Hg and Pb and heavily polluted for Ni, while Cr, Cu, and Zn showed low to unpolluted (Igeo) values. Similarly, the enrichment factor (EF) values were moderately severe (5≤EF≤10) for Hg, Pb, and Ni in Sutlej, Ravi, and Jhelum, and severe (10≤EF≤25) in Kabul and Jhelum. Moreover, Hg and Ni showed severe to very severe enrichment in all the sampling sites. The ecological risk index (ERI) values represented considerable, moderate, and low risks, respectively, for Hg (The ERI value should not be bold. Please unbold the ERI in the whole paper. It should be same like RI, CD and EF. [Formula: see text]≥160), Pb and Ni (40≤[Formula: see text]≤80), and Cr, Cu, and Zn ([Formula: see text]≤40). Similarly, potential ecological risk index (PERI) values posed considerable (300≤RI≤600) risk in Ravi and moderate (150≤RI≤300) in Kabul and Jhelum, but low (RI≤150) risk in Ravi and Chenab. On the basis of the abovementioned results, it is concluded that bed sediment pollution can be dangerous for both ecological resources and human beings. Therefore, PTE contamination should be regularly monitored and a cost-effective and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment plant should be installed to ensure removal of PTEs before the discharge of effluents into the freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed Nawab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan.
| | - Zia Ud Din
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Ahmad
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Sardar Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
| | - Mazhar Iqbal Zafar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Shah Faisal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Waleed Raziq
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Hamza Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Zia Ur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | | | - Sajid Ullah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Abdur Rahman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
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Leifels M, Sirikanchana K, Mongkolsuk S. Letter to the Editor RE: High levels of faecal contamination in drinking groundwater and recreational water due to poor sanitation, in the sub-rural neighbourhoods of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo by Kayembe et al. 2018. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018; 222:260-261. [PMID: 29929927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mats Leifels
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405 - 87 Av., Edmonton, ABT6G 1C9, Canada; Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141, Essen, Germany.
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kampangpetch 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand.
| | - Skorn Mongkolsuk
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kampangpetch 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
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Kilunga PI, Sivalingam P, Laffite A, Grandjean D, Mulaji CK, de Alencastro LF, Mpiana PT, Poté J. Accumulation of toxic metals and organic micro-pollutants in sediments from tropical urban rivers, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 179:37-48. [PMID: 28363093 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The increasing contamination of fresh water resource by toxic metals and Persistence Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a major environmental concern globally. In the present investigation, surface sediments collected from three main rivers named, Makelele, Kalamu and Nsanga, draining through the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, were characterized for grain size, organic matter, toxic metals, POPs (including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Furthermore, enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were performed to determine metal source and pollution status. The results highlighted high concentration of toxic metals in all sediment samples, reaching the values (mg kg-1) of 325 (Cu), 549 (Zn), 165 (Pb) and 1.5 (Cd). High values of PCBs and OCPs were detected in sediment samples, e.g. in Makelele river, PCB values ranged from 0.9 to 10.9 with total PCBs (∑7 PCBs × 4.3): 169.3 μg kg-1; OCPs from 21.6 to 146.8 with ∑OCPs: 270.6 μg kg-1. The PBDEs concentrations were higher in investigated rivers comparatively with values detected in many rivers from Sub-Saharan Africa. The ΣPAHs value ranged from 22.6 to 1011.9 μg kg-1. River contamination may be explained by local intense domestic activities, urban and agricultural runoff, industrial and hospital wastewaters discharge into the rivers without prior treatment. This research provides not only a first baseline information on the extent of contamination in this tropical ecosystem but also represents useful tools incorporated to evaluate sediment quality in the river receiving systems which can be applied to similar aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pitchouna I Kilunga
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Periyasamy Sivalingam
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amandine Laffite
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Grandjean
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Central Environmental Laboratory (GR-CEL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Crispin K Mulaji
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Luiz Felippe de Alencastro
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Central Environmental Laboratory (GR-CEL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pius T Mpiana
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John Poté
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo; University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Panthi J, Li F, Wang H, Aryal S, Dahal P, Ghimire S, Kabenge M. Evaluating climatic and non-climatic stresses for declining surface water quality in Bagmati River of Nepal. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2017; 189:292. [PMID: 28540457 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-6000-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Both climatic and non-climatic factors affect surface water quality. Similar to its effect across various sectors and areas, climate change has potential to affect surface water quality directly and indirectly. On the one hand, the rise in temperature enhances the microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter in the river system and changes in rainfall alter discharge and water flow in the river ultimately affecting pollution dilution level. On the other hand, the disposal of organic waste and channelizing municipal sewage into the rivers seriously worsen water quality. This study attempts to relate hydro-climatology, water quality, and impact of climatic and non-climatic stresses in affecting river water quality in the upper Bagmati basin in Central Nepal. The results showed that the key water quality indicators such as dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand are getting worse in recent years. No significant relationships were found between the key water quality indicators and changes in key climatic variables. However, the water quality indicators correlated with the increase in urban population and per capita waste production in the city. The findings of this study indicate that dealing with non-climatic stressors such as reducing direct disposal of sewerage and other wastes in the river rather than emphasizing on working with the effects from climate change would largely help to improve water quality in the river flowing from highly populated urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeban Panthi
- The Small Earth Nepal, PO Box#20533, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Fengting Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongtao Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suman Aryal
- International Centre for Applied Climate Science (ICACS) and Institute of Agriculture and Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - Piyush Dahal
- The Small Earth Nepal, PO Box#20533, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Martin Kabenge
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNEP TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Nienie AB, Sivalingam P, Laffite A, Ngelinkoto P, Otamonga JP, Matand A, Mulaji CK, Biey EM, Mpiana PT, Poté J. Microbiological quality of water in a city with persistent and recurrent waterborne diseases under tropical sub-rural conditions: The case of Kikwit City, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220:820-828. [PMID: 28416464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The availability of safe drinking water in sub-Saharan countries remains a major challenge because poor sanitation has been the cause of various outbreaks of waterborne disease due to the poor microbiological quality of water used for domestic purposes. The faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) used in the present study included Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus (ENT). FIB and aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) were quantified during July 2015 (dry season) and November 2015 (rainy season) in order to assess the quality of drinking water from wells (n=3; P1-P3), and two rivers, the River Lukemi (RLK, n=3) and River Luini (RLN, n=2) in the city of Kikwit, which is located in the province of Kwilu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kikwit is well known for its outbreaks of persistent and recurrent waterborne diseases including Entamoeba, Shigella, typhoid fever, cholera, and Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever. Consequently, E. coli, ENT, and AMB were quantified in water samples according to the standard international methods for water quality determination using the membrane filtration method. The FIB characterization was performed for human-specific Bacteroides by PCR using specific primers. The results obtained revealed high FIB concentrations in river samples collected during both seasons. For example, E. coli respectively reached 4.3×104 and 9.2×104 CFU 100mL-1 in the dry season and the wet season. ENT reached 5.3×103 CFU 100mL-1 during the dry season and 9.8×103 CFU 100mL-1 in the wet season. The pollution was significantly worse in the wet season compared to the dry season. Surprisingly, no faecal contamination was observed in well water samples collected in the dry season while E. coli and ENT were detected in all wells in the wet season with values of 6, 7, and 11CFUmL-1 for E. coli in wells P1-P3, respectively and 3, 5, 9 CFU mL-1for ENT in the same wells. Interestingly, the PCR assays for human-specific Bacteroides HF183/HF134 indicated that 97-100% captured in all analyses of isolated FIB were of human origin. The results indicate that contamination of E. coli, ENT, and AMB in the studied water resources increases during the wet season. This study improves understanding of the microbiological pollution of rivers and wells under tropical conditions and will guide future municipal/local government decisions on improving water quality in this region which is characterised by persistent and recurrent waterborne diseases. Although the epidemiology can be geographically localised, the effects of cross border transmission can be global. Therefore, the research results presented in this article form recommendations to municipalities/local authorities and the approach and procedures can be carried out in a similar environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis B Nienie
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815 Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Periyasamy Sivalingam
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amandine Laffite
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patience Ngelinkoto
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815 Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Jean-Paul Otamonga
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815 Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Alphonse Matand
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815 Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo
| | - Crispin K Mulaji
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Emmanuel M Biey
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Pius T Mpiana
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John Poté
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815 Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo; University of Geneva, Faculty of Science, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, and Institute of Environmental Sciences, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1205, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Kilunga PI, Kayembe JM, Laffite A, Thevenon F, Devarajan N, Mulaji CK, Mubedi JI, Yav ZG, Otamonga JP, Mpiana PT, Poté J. The impact of hospital and urban wastewaters on the bacteriological contamination of the water resources in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2016; 51:1034-1042. [PMID: 27389829 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2016.1198619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Although the United Nations General Assembly recognized in 2010 the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the contamination of water supplies with faecal pathogens is still a major and unsolved problem in many parts of the world. In this study, faecal indicator bacteria (FIB), including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus (ENT), were quantified over the period of June/July 2014 and June/July 2015 to assess the quality of hospital effluents (n = 3: H1, H2 and H3) and of rivers receiving wastewaters from the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The water and sediment samples from the river-receiving systems were collected in, upstream and downstream of the hospital outlet pipe (HOP) discharge. The analysis of E. coli and ENT in water and sediment suspension was performed using the cultural membrane filter method. The FIB characterization was performed for general E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis(E. faecalis) and human-specific Bacteroides by PCR using specific primers. The results revealed very high FIB concentration in the hospital effluent waters, with E. coli reaching the values of 4.2 × 10(5), 16.1 × 10(5) and 5.9 × 10(5) CFU 100 mL(-1), for the hospital effluents from H1, H2, and H3, respectively; and Enterococcus reaching the values of 2.3 × 10(4), 10.9 × 10(4) and 4.1 × 10(4) CFU 100 mL(-1), respectively. Interestingly, the FIB levels in the water and sediment samples from river-receiving systems are spatially and temporally highly variable and present in some samples with higher values than the hospital effluents. The PCR assays for human-specific Bacteroides HF183/HF134 further indicate that more than 98% of bacteria were from human origin. The results of this research therefore confirm the hypothesis of our previous studies, indicating that in developing countries (e.g., Democratic Republic of Congo and South India), the hospital effluent waters can be a significant source of the deterioration of the bacteriological quality for urban rivers. The approach used in this investigation can be further used to decipher the pollution of water resources by human faecal contamination. The results of this research will help to better understand the microbiological pollution problems in river-receiving systems and will guide municipality decisions on improving the urban water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pitchouna I Kilunga
- a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science , Department of Chemistry , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - John M Kayembe
- b Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Quartier Binza/UPN , Kinshasa , République Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Amandine Laffite
- c Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva , Switzerland
| | | | - Naresh Devarajan
- c Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Crispin K Mulaji
- a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science , Department of Chemistry , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Josué I Mubedi
- b Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Quartier Binza/UPN , Kinshasa , République Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Zéphirin G Yav
- a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science , Department of Chemistry , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Jean-Paul Otamonga
- b Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Quartier Binza/UPN , Kinshasa , République Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Pius T Mpiana
- a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science , Department of Chemistry , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - John Poté
- a University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science , Department of Chemistry , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
- b Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Quartier Binza/UPN , Kinshasa , République Democratic Republic of Congo
- c Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva , Switzerland
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Mavakala BK, Le Faucheur S, Mulaji CK, Laffite A, Devarajan N, Biey EM, Giuliani G, Otamonga JP, Kabatusuila P, Mpiana PT, Poté J. Leachates draining from controlled municipal solid waste landfill: Detailed geochemical characterization and toxicity tests. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 55:238-248. [PMID: 27177465 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Management of municipal solid wastes in many countries consists of waste disposal into landfill without treatment or selective collection of solid waste fractions including plastics, paper, glass, metals, electronic waste, and organic fraction leading to the unsolved problem of contamination of numerous ecosystems such as air, soil, surface, and ground water. Knowledge of leachate composition is critical in risk assessment of long-term impact of landfills on human health and the environment as well as for prevention of negative outcomes. The research presented in this paper investigates the seasonal variation of draining leachate composition and resulting toxicity as well as the contamination status of soil/sediment from lagoon basins receiving leachates from landfill in Mpasa, a suburb of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, soluble ions, toxic metals, and were then subjected to toxicity tests. Results highlight the significant seasonal difference in leachate physicochemical composition. Affected soil/sediment showed higher values for toxic metals than leachates, indicating the possibility of using lagoon system for the purification of landfill leachates, especially for organic matter and heavy metal sedimentation. However, the ecotoxicity tests demonstrated that leachates are still a significant source of toxicity for terrestrial and benthic organisms. Therefore, landfill leachates should not be discarded into the environment (soil or surface water) without prior treatment. Interest in the use of macrophytes in lagoon system is growing and toxic metal retention in lagoon basin receiving systems needs to be fully investigated in the future. This study presents useful tools for evaluating landfill leachate quality and risk in lagoon systems which can be applied to similar environmental compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bienvenu K Mavakala
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Séverine Le Faucheur
- Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Crispin K Mulaji
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Amandine Laffite
- Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Naresh Devarajan
- Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel M Biey
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Gregory Giuliani
- University of Geneva, Institute for Environmental Sciences, enviroSPACE Lab., Uni Carl-Vogt, 66 Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Paul Otamonga
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Prosper Kabatusuila
- Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Pius T Mpiana
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John Poté
- University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, B.P. 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Faculty of Science, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH - 1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN), Croisement Route de Matadi et Avenue de la Libération, Quartier Binza/UPN, B.P. 8815, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Laffite A, Kilunga PI, Kayembe JM, Devarajan N, Mulaji CK, Giuliani G, Slaveykova VI, Poté J. Hospital Effluents Are One of Several Sources of Metal, Antibiotic Resistance Genes, and Bacterial Markers Disseminated in Sub-Saharan Urban Rivers. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1128. [PMID: 27499749 PMCID: PMC4956658 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Data concerning the occurrence of emerging biological contaminants such as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in aquatic environments in Sub-Saharan African countries is limited. On the other hand, antibiotic resistance remains a worldwide problem which may pose serious potential risks to human and animal health. Consequently, there is a growing number of reports concerning the prevalence and dissemination of these contaminants into various environmental compartments. Sediments provide the opportunity to reconstruct the pollution history and evaluate impacts so this study investigates the abundance and distribution of toxic metals, FIB, and ARGs released from hospital effluent wastewaters and their presence in river sediments receiving systems. ARGs (bla TEM, bla CTX-M, bla SHV, and aadA), total bacterial load, and selected bacterial species FIB [Escherichia coli, Enterococcus (ENT)] and species (Psd) were quantified by targeting species specific genes using quantitative PCR (qPCR) in total DNA extracted from the sediments recovered from 4 hospital outlet pipes (HOP) and their river receiving systems in the City of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The results highlight the great concentration of toxic metals in HOP, reaching the values (in mg kg(-1)) of 47.9 (Cr), 213.6 (Cu), 1434.4 (Zn), 2.6 (Cd), 281.5 (Pb), and 13.6 (Hg). The results also highlight the highest (P < 0.05) values of 16S rRNA, FIB, and ARGs copy numbers in all sampling sites including upstream (control site), discharge point, and downstream of receiving rivers, indicating that the hospital effluent water is not an exclusive source of the biological contaminants entering the urban rivers. Significant correlation were observed between (i) all analyzed ARGs and total bacterial load (16S rRNA) 0.51 to 0.72 (p < 0.001, n = 65); (ii) ARGs (except bla TEM) and FIB and Psd 0.57 < r < 0.82 (p < 0.001, n = 65); and (iii) ARGs (except bla TEM) and toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) 0.44 to 0.72, (p < 0.001, n = 65). These findings demonstrate that several sources including hospital and urban wastewaters contribute to the spread of toxic metals and biological emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Laffite
- Faculty of Science, Earth and Environmental Science Section, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pitchouna I Kilunga
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - John M Kayembe
- Département de Géographie-Science de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Pédagogique Nationale Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Naresh Devarajan
- Faculty of Science, Earth and Environmental Science Section, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Crispin K Mulaji
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Gregory Giuliani
- Faculty of Science, Earth and Environmental Science Section, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of GenevaGeneva, Switzerland; enviroSPACE Lab., Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of GenevaGeneva, Switzerland; United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Early Warning and Assessment, Global Resource Information Database - Geneva, International Environment HouseGeneva, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Faculty of Science, Earth and Environmental Science Section, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| | - John Poté
- Faculty of Science, Earth and Environmental Science Section, F.-A. Forel Institute and Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of GenevaGeneva, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of KinshasaKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Département de Géographie-Science de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Pédagogique NationaleKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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