Survey of water supply and assessment of groundwater quality in the suburban communes of Selembao and Kimbanseke, Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Seasonal Comparison of Microbial Hygiene Indicators in Raw and Pasteurized Milk and Cottage Cheese Collected across Dairy Value Chain in Three Regions of Ethiopia

A longitudinal design with a simple random sampling method was used to collect and compare microbial hygiene levels between the dry season (January to April) and wet season (June to August). A total of 456 milk and cottage cheese samples were collected from each site along the dairy value chain from three regions. Enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (APC), total coliforms (TCC), and Escherichia coli (EC) was performed according to standard methods. Independent t-tests were employed to assess the significant variation at (p < 0.05) between the two seasons. The cumulative result of APC of 7.61 log cfu/mL and g and TCC of 3.50 log cfu/mL in the dry season were significantly higher than the wet season of 7.15 log cfu/mL and 2.49 log cfu/mL, respectively, whereas generic E. coli count (EC) was significantly higher in the wet season (0.70 log cfu/mL and g) than that in the dry season (0.40 log cfu/mL and g). The results of hygienic indicator microbial load significantly varied with season. Hence, hygienic milk production and handling practices that comprehend seasonal influence should be implemented to improve the safety of milk.

Thyroid Carcinoma: A Review for 25 Years of Environmental Risk Factors Studies

Environmental factors are established contributors to thyroid carcinomas. Due to their known ability to cause cancer, exposure to several organic and inorganic chemical toxicants and radiation from nuclear weapons, fallout, or medical radiation poses a threat to global public health. Halogenated substances like organochlorines and pesticides can interfere with thyroid function. Like phthalates and bisphenolates, polychlorinated biphenyls and their metabolites, along with polybrominated diethyl ethers, impact thyroid hormones biosynthesis, transport, binding to target organs, and impair thyroid function. A deeper understanding of environmental exposure is crucial for managing and preventing thyroid cancer. This review aims to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and the development of thyroid cancer.

Apps for Smart Groundwater Monitoring and Assessments: A Case Study of Regideso Catchment in Kimbanseke

There are various groundwater data bases and scanty/sketchy groundwater monitoring and information systems. Groundwater monitoring has been difficult in the Southern African region, particularly, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the water administrative authorities. Water clients do not submit the required compulsory critical data for effective monitoring of water use. This, combined with the absence of limits to boreholes dug by permit holders to the water authorities, has led to challenges in decision-making and groundwater conservation. In this mixed method research, using an Android telephone, well data (water levels) and climatic related information such as precipitation were assembled and sent to a composed store through a sort code/USSD/Instrument free line in texts (SMS). This is proficient through a 3G/GSM/GPRS module that is part of the sensor equipment to be used for this procedure. Once in the store, requests were used to recuperate data in the required design. Additionally, a cloud framework at the point where a long-lasting file was followed up. Although the experimentation is still on-going for the case of the Kimbanseke catchment in DRC, the preliminary findings are that the Kimbanseke catchment has a fluctuating abstraction rate resulting from no clear monitoring mechanism, and that research on the development of an application and/or MS Excel© monitoring spreadsheet, using the scores, and ranking of the factors, is necessary. Therefore, a study was carried out with the aim of creating an analysis application for groundwater sustainability in the Kimbanseke catchment. An application for monitoring and evaluation of the groundwater level should be considered so that the sustainable yield is routinely adjusted for the Kimbanseke catchment.