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Wong CS, Coffin S, Rochman CM, Weisberg SB. Informing methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics through the lens of a global intercalibration exercise: An editorial overview of the special issue and beyond. Chemosphere 2024; 356:141662. [PMID: 38460847 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Scott Coffin
- Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
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2
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Wong CS, Weisberg SB. Development of an accreditation process for analytical methods to measure microplastics in drinking water for regulatory monitoring. Chemosphere 2024; 353:141568. [PMID: 38417487 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Development of a laboratory accreditation program to ensure competency of laboratories performing analytical measurements is a key step in adopting new analytical measurement methods for regulatory decision-making. Here, we describe California's three-part accreditation process for spectroscopically measuring microplastics in drinking water, and show how data from a multi-laboratory method comparison study informed development of accreditation programs for the resulting methods, which can inform analogous future work for other analytes. The first part is periodic performance evaluation (PE) samples, in which laboratories are provided blind samples of known composition to quantify within acceptable performance limits. The second is inspection, or audit, assessing whether the laboratory has the proper equipment to conduct the work and whether it is correctly employing proper procedures. The third is implementation of a quality management system providing documentation that protocols demonstrated during inspection are continuously maintained. These fell into three broad categories: instrument maintenance; laboratory cleanliness, especially important for microplastics and one that must be accompanied by a blanks measurement and correction process; and training so samples are being processed by qualified analysts. An intercomparison exercise among 22 laboratories was necessary to determine what parameter permutations were important for PE samples, and expected accuracy from competent laboratories. The recommended PE sample composition was two size categories (20-50um and 500um-1mm), two polymer types, and two morphologies (fibers and non-fibers). Discussions among intercomparison exercise participants were key in determining the factors that most contributed to laboratory variability, and the focus for both on-site inspections and quality management systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
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3
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Thornton Hampton LM, De Frond H, Gesulga K, Kotar S, Lao W, Matuch C, Weisberg SB, Wong CS, Brander S, Christansen S, Cook CR, Du F, Ghosal S, Gray AB, Hankett J, Helm PA, Ho KT, Kefela T, Lattin G, Lusher A, Mai L, McNeish RE, Mina O, Minor EC, Primpke S, Rickabaugh K, Renick VC, Singh S, van Bavel B, Vollnhals F, Rochman CM. The influence of complex matrices on method performance in extracting and monitoring for microplastics. Chemosphere 2023; 334:138875. [PMID: 37187379 PMCID: PMC10441247 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have evaluated method performance for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in clean water, but little is known about the efficacy of procedures used to extract microplastics from complex matrices. Here we provided 15 laboratories with samples representing four matrices (i.e., drinking water, fish tissue, sediment, and surface water) each spiked with a known number of microplastic particles spanning a variety of polymers, morphologies, colors, and sizes. Percent recovery (i.e., accuracy) in complex matrices was particle size dependent, with ∼60-70% recovery for particles >212 μm, but as little as 2% recovery for particles <20 μm. Extraction from sediment was most problematic, with recoveries reduced by at least one-third relative to drinking water. Though accuracy was low, the extraction procedures had no observed effect on precision or chemical identification using spectroscopy. Extraction procedures greatly increased sample processing times for all matrices with the extraction of sediment, tissue, and surface water taking approximately 16, 9, and 4 times longer than drinking water, respectively. Overall, our findings indicate that increasing accuracy and reducing sample processing times present the greatest opportunities for method improvement rather than particle identification and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Kristine Gesulga
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Syd Kotar
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Cindy Matuch
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Susanne Brander
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, And Conservation Sciences, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, 97365, USA
| | - Silke Christansen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramics Technology and Systems (IKTS), Äußere Nürnberger Str. 62, 91301, Forchheim, Germany; Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy (INAM), Äußere Nürnberger Str. 62, 91301, Forchheim, Germany
| | - Cayla R Cook
- Hazen and Sawyer, 1400 East Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85282, USA; Carollo Engineers, 4600 E Washington St Ste 500, Phoenix, AZ, 85034, USA
| | - Fangni Du
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Sutapa Ghosal
- Environmental Health Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, 94804, USA
| | - Andrew B Gray
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jeanne Hankett
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, USA
| | - Paul A Helm
- Environmental Monitoring & Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M9P 3V6
| | - Kay T Ho
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Timnit Kefela
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California Santa Barbara, 2400 Bren Hall, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Lattin
- The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, 90803, USA
| | - Amy Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lei Mai
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Rachel E McNeish
- Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield, 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Odette Mina
- The Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories, The Pennsylvania State University, 123 Land and Water Research Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Minor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2205 East 5th St, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, D-27498, Helgoland, Germany
| | | | - Violet C Renick
- Orange County Sanitation District, 10844 Ellis Ave, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708, USA
| | - Samiksha Singh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | | | - Florian Vollnhals
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy (INAM), Äußere Nürnberger Str. 62, 91301, Forchheim, Germany
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
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4
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Zimmer-Faust AG, Griffith JF, Steele JA, Santos B, Cao Y, Asato L, Chiem T, Choi S, Diaz A, Guzman J, Laak D, Padilla M, Quach-Cu J, Ruiz V, Woo M, Weisberg SB. Relationship between coliphage and Enterococcus at southern California beaches and implications for beach water quality management. Water Res 2023; 230:119383. [PMID: 36630853 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Coliphage have been suggested as an alternative to fecal indicator bacteria for assessing recreational beach water quality, but it is unclear how frequently and at what types of beaches coliphage produces a different management outcome. Here we conducted side-by-side sampling of male-specific and somatic coliphage by the new EPA dead-end hollow fiber ultrafiltration (D-HFUF-SAL) method and Enterococcus at southern California beaches over two years. When samples were combined for all beach sites, somatic and male-specific coliphage both correlated with Enterococcus. When examined categorically, Enterococcus would have resulted in approximately two times the number of health advisories as somatic coliphage and four times that of male-specific coliphage,using recently proposed thresholds of 60 PFU/100 mL for somatic and 30 PFU/100 mL for male-specific coliphage. Overall, only 12% of total exceedances would have been for coliphage alone. Somatic coliphage exceedances that occurred in the absence of an Enterococcus exceedance were limited to a single site during south swell events, when this beach is known to be affected by nearby minimally treated sewage. Thus, somatic coliphage provided additional valuable health protection information, but may be more appropriate as a supplement to FIB measurements rather than as replacement because: (a) EPA-approved PCR methods for Enterococcus allow a more rapid response, (b) coliphage is more challenging owing to its greater sampling volume and laboratory time requirements, and (c) Enterococcus' long data history has yielded predictive management models that would need to be recreated for coliphage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amity G Zimmer-Faust
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States.
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Joshua A Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Bryan Santos
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services, United States
| | - Yiping Cao
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Laralyn Asato
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services, United States
| | - Tania Chiem
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, United States
| | - Samuel Choi
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Arturo Diaz
- Orange County Sanitation District, United States
| | - Joe Guzman
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, United States
| | - David Laak
- Ventura County Public Works Agency, United States
| | | | | | - Victor Ruiz
- Los Angeles City Sanitation Department, United States
| | - Mary Woo
- California State University Channel Islands, Ventura, CA, United States
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
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5
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Kotar S, McNeish R, Murphy-Hagan C, Renick V, Lee CFT, Steele C, Lusher A, Moore C, Minor E, Schroeder J, Helm P, Rickabaugh K, De Frond H, Gesulga K, Lao W, Munno K, Thornton Hampton LM, Weisberg SB, Wong CS, Amarpuri G, Andrews RC, Barnett SM, Christiansen S, Cowger W, Crampond K, Du F, Gray AB, Hankett J, Ho K, Jaeger J, Lilley C, Mai L, Mina O, Lee E, Primpke S, Singh S, Skovly J, Slifko T, Sukumaran S, van Bavel B, Van Brocklin J, Vollnhals F, Wu C, Rochman CM. Quantitative assessment of visual microscopy as a tool for microplastic research: Recommendations for improving methods and reporting. Chemosphere 2022; 308:136449. [PMID: 36115477 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microscopy is often the first step in microplastic analysis and is generally followed by spectroscopy to confirm material type. The value of microscopy lies in its ability to provide count, size, color, and morphological information to inform toxicity and source apportionment. To assess the accuracy and precision of microscopy, we conducted a method evaluation study. Twenty-two laboratories from six countries were provided three blind spiked clean water samples and asked to follow a standard operating procedure. The samples contained a known number of microplastics with different morphologies (fiber, fragment, sphere), colors (clear, white, green, blue, red, and orange), polymer types (PE, PS, PVC, and PET), and sizes (ranging from roughly 3-2000 μm), and natural materials (natural hair, fibers, and shells; 100-7000 μm) that could be mistaken for microplastics (i.e., false positives). Particle recovery was poor for the smallest size fraction (3-20 μm). Average recovery (±StDev) for all reported particles >50 μm was 94.5 ± 56.3%. After quality checks, recovery for >50 μm spiked particles was 51.3 ± 21.7%. Recovery varied based on morphology and color, with poorest recovery for fibers and the largest deviations for clear and white particles. Experience mattered; less experienced laboratories tended to report higher concentration and had a higher variance among replicates. Participants identified opportunity for increased accuracy and precision through training, improved color and morphology keys, and method alterations relevant to size fractionation. The resulting data informs future work, constraining and highlighting the value of microscopy for microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syd Kotar
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Rae McNeish
- Department of Biology, California State University, 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, USA
| | - Clare Murphy-Hagan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California-Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Violet Renick
- Orange County Sanitation District, 10844 Ellis Ave, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708, USA
| | - Chih-Fen T Lee
- Water Quality Laboratory, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, La Verne, CA, 91750, USA
| | - Clare Steele
- Environmental Science and Resource Management, California State University, Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Camarillo, CA, 93012, USA
| | - Amy Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Charles Moore
- The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, 90803, USA
| | - Elizabeth Minor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2205 East 5th St, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Joseph Schroeder
- NatureWorks LLC, 17400 Medina Rd, Ste 800, Plymouth, MN, 55447, USA
| | - Paul Helm
- Environmental Monitoring & Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario, M9P 3V6, Canada
| | | | - Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Kristine Gesulga
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Keenan Munno
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Leah M Thornton Hampton
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92656, USA
| | - Gaurav Amarpuri
- Eastman Chemical Company, 100 N. Eastman Rd, Kingsport, TN, 37660, USA
| | - Robert C Andrews
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, 35 St. George St., Toronto, ON, M5S 1A4, Canada
| | - Steven M Barnett
- Barnett Technical Services, 5050 Laguna Blvd Suite 112-620, Elk Grove, CA, 95758, USA
| | - Silke Christiansen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramics Technology and Systems (IKTS), Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany; Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy (INAM), Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany
| | - Win Cowger
- The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, Long Beach, CA, 90803, USA
| | - Kévin Crampond
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Fangni Du
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Andrew B Gray
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California-Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jeanne Hankett
- BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, USA
| | - Kay Ho
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Julia Jaeger
- Eurofins Environment Testing Australia, Dandenong South, 3175, Australia
| | - Claire Lilley
- Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories, Inc., New Berlin, WI, 53151, USA
| | - Lei Mai
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Odette Mina
- The Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories, The Pennsylvania State University, 123 Land and Water Research Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Eunah Lee
- Horiba Instruments, Inc., Piscataway Township, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Sebastian Primpke
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
| | - Samiksha Singh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California-Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Joakim Skovly
- Eurofins Environmental Testing Norway AS, Bergen, Norway
| | - Theresa Slifko
- Water Quality Laboratory, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, La Verne, CA, 91750, USA
| | | | | | - Jennifer Van Brocklin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Florian Vollnhals
- Institute for Nanotechnology and Correlative Microscopy (INAM), Äußere Nürnbergerstr. 62, 91301 Forchheim, Germany
| | - Chenxi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada.
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De Frond H, Thornton Hampton L, Kotar S, Gesulga K, Matuch C, Lao W, Weisberg SB, Wong CS, Rochman CM. Monitoring microplastics in drinking water: An interlaboratory study to inform effective methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics. Chemosphere 2022; 298:134282. [PMID: 35283150 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
California Senate Bill 1422 requires the development of State-approved standardized methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in drinking water. Accordingly, we led an interlaboratory microplastic method evaluation study, with 22 participating laboratories from six countries, to evaluate the performance of widely used methods: sample extraction via filtering/sieving, optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Three spiked samples of simulated clean water and a laboratory blank were sent to each laboratory with a prescribed standard operating procedure for particle extraction, quantification, and characterization. The samples contained known amounts of microparticles within four size fractions (1-20 μm, 20-212 μm, 212-500 μm, >500 μm), four polymer types (PE, PS, PVC, and PET), and six colors (clear, white, green, blue, red, and orange). They also included false positives (natural hair, fibers, and shells) that may be mistaken for microplastics. Among laboratories, mean particle recovery using stereomicroscopy was 76% ± 10% (SE). For particles in the three largest size fractions, mean recovery was 92% ± 12% SD. On average, laboratory contamination from blank samples was 91 particles (± 141 SD). FTIR and Raman spectroscopy accurately identified microplastics by polymer type for 95% and 91% of particles analyzed, respectively. Per particle, FTIR spectroscopy required the longest time for analysis (12 min ± 9 SD). Participants demonstrated excellent recovery and chemical identification for particles greater than 50 μm in size, with opportunity for increased accuracy and precision through training and further method refinement. This work has informed methods and QA/QC for microplastics monitoring in drinking water in the State of California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah De Frond
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada.
| | - Leah Thornton Hampton
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Syd Kotar
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Kristine Gesulga
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Cindy Matuch
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Charles S Wong
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Room 3055, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada.
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7
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Zimmer‐Faust AG, Griffith J, Steele J, Asato L, Chiem T, Choi S, Diaz A, Guzman J, Padilla M, Quach‐Cu J, Ruiz V, Santos B, Woo M, Weisberg SB. Assessing cross‐laboratory performance for quantifying coliphage using
EPA
Method 1642. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:340-348. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.15523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority
| | - Joshua Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority
| | - Laralyn Asato
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bryan Santos
- City of San Diego, Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services
| | - Mary Woo
- California State University – Channel Islands
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8
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Coffin S, Bouwmeester H, Brander S, Damdimopoulou P, Gouin T, Hermabessiere L, Khan E, Koelmans AA, Lemieux CL, Teerds K, Wagner M, Weisberg SB, Wright S. Development and application of a health-based framework for informing regulatory action in relation to exposure of microplastic particles in California drinking water. Microplast nanoplast 2022; 2:12. [PMID: 35634037 PMCID: PMC9132802 DOI: 10.1186/s43591-022-00030-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Microplastics have been documented in drinking water, but their effects on human health from ingestion, or the concentrations at which those effects begin to manifest, are not established. Here, we report on the outcome of a virtual expert workshop conducted between October 2020 and October 2021 in which a comprehensive review of mammalian hazard studies was conducted. A key objective of this assessment was to evaluate the feasibility and confidence in deriving a human health-based threshold value to inform development of the State of California's monitoring and management strategy for microplastics in drinking water. A tiered approach was adopted to evaluate the quality and reliability of studies identified from a review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature. A total of 41 in vitro and 31 in vivo studies using mammals were identified and subjected to a Tier 1 screening and prioritization exercise, which was based on an evaluation of how each of the studies addressed various quality criteria. Prioritized studies were identified largely based on their application and reporting of dose-response relationships. Given that methods for extrapolating between in vitro and in vivo systems are currently lacking, only oral exposure in vivo studies were identified as fit-for-purpose within the context of this workshop. Twelve mammalian toxicity studies were prioritized and subjected to a Tier 2 qualitative evaluation by external experts. Of the 12 studies, 7 report adverse effects on male and female reproductive systems, while 5 reported effects on various other physiological endpoints. It is notable that the majority of studies (83%) subjected to Tier 2 evaluation report results from exposure to a single polymer type (polystyrene spheres), representing a size range of 0.040 to 20 µm. No single study met all desired quality criteria, but collectively toxicological effects with respect to biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress represented a consistent trend. While it was possible to derive a conservative screening level to inform monitoring activities, it was not possible to extrapolate a human-health-based threshold value for microplastics, which is largely due to concerns regarding the relative quality and reliability of current data, but also due to the inability to extrapolate data from studies using monodisperse plastic particles, such as polystyrene spheres to an environmentally relevant exposure of microplastics. Nevertheless, a conservative screening level value was used to estimate a volume of drinking water (1000 L) that could be used to support monitoring activities and improve our overall understanding of exposure in California's drinking water. In order to increase confidence in our ability to derive a human-health-based threshold value in the future, several research recommendations are provided, with an emphasis towards strengthening how toxicity studies should be conducted in the future and an improved understanding of human exposure to microplastics, insights critically important to better inform future risk assessments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43591-022-00030-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Coffin
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Hans Bouwmeester
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Susanne Brander
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Dept, Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Oregon State University, Newport, OR USA
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Todd Gouin
- TG Environmental Research, Sharnbrook, MK44 1PL UK
| | - Ludovic Hermabessiere
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Elaine Khan
- California Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Albert A. Koelmans
- Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Christine L. Lemieux
- Safe Environments Directorate, Health Canada, Water and Air Quality Bureau, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Katja Teerds
- Department of Animal Sciences, Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin Wagner
- Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Stephanie Wright
- Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Sir Michael Uren Hub, 86 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ UK
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9
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Kessouri F, McWilliams JC, Bianchi D, Sutula M, Renault L, Deutsch C, Feely RA, McLaughlin K, Ho M, Howard EM, Bednaršek N, Damien P, Molemaker J, Weisberg SB. Coastal eutrophication drives acidification, oxygen loss, and ecosystem change in a major oceanic upwelling system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2018856118. [PMID: 34001604 PMCID: PMC8166049 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018856118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change is leading to warming, acidification, and oxygen loss in the ocean. In the Southern California Bight, an eastern boundary upwelling system, these stressors are exacerbated by the localized discharge of anthropogenically enhanced nutrients from a coastal population of 23 million people. Here, we use simulations with a high-resolution, physical-biogeochemical model to quantify the link between terrestrial and atmospheric nutrients, organic matter, and carbon inputs and biogeochemical change in the coastal waters of the Southern California Bight. The model is forced by large-scale climatic drivers and a reconstruction of local inputs via rivers, wastewater outfalls, and atmospheric deposition; it captures the fine scales of ocean circulation along the shelf; and it is validated against a large collection of physical and biogeochemical observations. Local land-based and atmospheric inputs, enhanced by anthropogenic sources, drive a 79% increase in phytoplankton biomass, a 23% increase in primary production, and a nearly 44% increase in subsurface respiration rates along the coast in summer, reshaping the biogeochemistry of the Southern California Bight. Seasonal reductions in subsurface oxygen, pH, and aragonite saturation state, by up to 50 mmol m-3, 0.09, and 0.47, respectively, rival or exceed the global open-ocean oxygen loss and acidification since the preindustrial period. The biological effects of these changes on local fisheries, proliferation of harmful algal blooms, water clarity, and submerged aquatic vegetation have yet to be fully explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faycal Kessouri
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626;
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - James C McWilliams
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095;
| | - Daniele Bianchi
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Martha Sutula
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
| | - Lionel Renault
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Laboratoire d'Études en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiale, Institut de Recherche et de Developpement, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 31400, France
| | - Curtis Deutsch
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Richard A Feely
- Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA 98115
| | - Karen McLaughlin
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
| | - Minna Ho
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
| | - Evan M Howard
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Nina Bednaršek
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biological Station Piran, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
| | - Pierre Damien
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Jeroen Molemaker
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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10
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Wyer H, Polhemus D, Moore S, Weisberg SB, Coffin S, Rochman CM. Steps Scientists Can Take to Inform Aquatic Microplastics Management: A Perspective Informed by the California Experience. Appl Spectrosc 2020; 74:971-975. [PMID: 32662278 DOI: 10.1177/0003702820946033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that microplastic particles are pervasive and potentially of great risk to both animal and human health. The California legislature has responded to this information by enacting two new bills that require quantification of microplastics in various media and development of new management strategies to address microplastic pollution. However, there are several scientific gaps that impede the development and implementation of necessary management strategies to address microplastic pollution. In this paper, we use the California experience as a case study to provide perspective on those science gaps, the current barriers to science affecting management, and the actions scientists can take to best ensure their efforts are of greatest value to policymakers and the management community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Wyer
- California Ocean Protection Council, Sacramento, USA
| | - Darrin Polhemus
- California State Water Resources Control Board-Division of Drinking Water, Sacramento, USA
| | - Shelly Moore
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, USA
| | - Scott Coffin
- California State Water Resources Control Board-Division of Drinking Water, Sacramento, USA
| | - Chelsea M Rochman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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11
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DeFlorio-Barker S, Holman D, Landolfi R, Arnold BF, Colford JM, Weisberg SB, Schiff KC, Sams EA, Wade TJ. Incidence and public health burden of sunburn among beachgoers in the United States. Prev Med 2020; 134:106047. [PMID: 32142856 PMCID: PMC7271251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The beach environment creates many barriers to effective sun protection, putting beachgoers at risk for sunburn, a well-established risk factor for skin cancer. Our objective was to estimate incidence of sunburn among beachgoers and evaluate the relationship between sunburn incidence and sun-protective behaviors. A secondary analysis, of prospective cohorts at 12 locations within the U.S. from 2003 to 2009 (n = 75,614), were pooled to evaluate sunburn incidence 10-12 days after the beach visit. Behavioral and environmental conditions were cross-tabulated with sunburn incidence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between new sunburn and sun-protective behaviors. Overall, 13.1% of beachgoers reported sunburn. Those aged 13-18 years (16.5%), whites (16.0%), and those at beach locations along the Eastern Seaboard (16.1%), had the highest incidence of sunburn. For those spending ≥5 h in the sun, the use of multiple types of sun protection reduced odds of sunburn by 55% relative to those who used no sun protection (Odds Ratio = 0.45 (95% Confidence Interval:0.27-0.77)) after adjusting for skin type, age, and race. Acute health effects of sunburn tend to be mild and self-limiting, but potential long-term health consequences are more serious and costly. Efforts to encourage and support proper sun-protective behaviors, and increase access to shade, protective clothing, and sunscreen, can help prevent sunburn and reduce skin cancer risk among beachgoers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie DeFlorio-Barker
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive M/D B243-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Dawn Holman
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Robert Landolfi
- Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - John M Colford
- Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
| | - Kenneth C Schiff
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Sams
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive M/D B243-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Timothy J Wade
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive M/D B243-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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12
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Saarman ET, Owens B, Murray SN, Weisberg SB, Ambrose RF, Field JC, Nielsen KJ, Carr MH. An ecological framework for informing permitting decisions on scientific activities in protected areas. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199126. [PMID: 29920527 PMCID: PMC6007909 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There are numerous reasons to conduct scientific research within protected areas, but research activities may also negatively impact organisms and habitats, and thus conflict with a protected area’s conservation goals. We developed a quantitative ecological decision-support framework that estimates these potential impacts so managers can weigh costs and benefits of proposed research projects and make informed permitting decisions. The framework generates quantitative estimates of the ecological impacts of the project and the cumulative impacts of the proposed project and all other projects in the protected area, and then compares the estimated cumulative impacts of all projects with policy-based acceptable impact thresholds. We use a series of simplified equations (models) to assess the impacts of proposed research to: a) the population of any targeted species, b) the major ecological assemblages that make up the community, and c) the physical habitat that supports protected area biota. These models consider both targeted and incidental impacts to the ecosystem and include consideration of the vulnerability of targeted species, assemblages, and habitats, based on their recovery time and ecological role. We parameterized the models for a wide variety of potential research activities that regularly occur in the study area using a combination of literature review and expert judgment with a precautionary approach to uncertainty. We also conducted sensitivity analyses to examine the relationships between model input parameters and estimated impacts to understand the dominant drivers of the ecological impact estimates. Although the decision-support framework was designed for and adopted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for permitting scientific studies in the state-wide network of marine protected areas (MPAs), the framework can readily be adapted for terrestrial and freshwater protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily T. Saarman
- University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Brian Owens
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Belmont, California, United States of America
| | - Steven N. Murray
- California State University, Fullerton, California, United States of America
| | - Stephen B. Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, United States of America
| | - Richard F. Ambrose
- University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - John C. Field
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Karina J. Nielsen
- San Francisco State University, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, Tiburon, California, United States of America
| | - Mark H. Carr
- University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Cao Y, Sivaganesan M, Kelty CA, Wang D, Boehm AB, Griffith JF, Weisberg SB, Shanks OC. A human fecal contamination score for ranking recreational sites using the HF183/BacR287 quantitative real-time PCR method. Water Res 2018; 128:148-156. [PMID: 29101858 PMCID: PMC7228037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.10.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Human fecal pollution of recreational waters remains a public health concern worldwide. As a result, there is a growing interest in the application of human-associated fecal source identification quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technologies for water quality research and management. However, there are currently no standardized approaches for field implementation and interpretation of qPCR data. In this study, a standardized HF183/BacR287 qPCR method was combined with a water sampling strategy and a novel Bayesian weighted average approach to establish a human fecal contamination score (HFS) that can be used to prioritize sampling sites for remediation based on measured human waste levels. The HFS was then used to investigate 975 study design scenarios utilizing different combinations of sites with varying sampling intensities (daily to once per week) and number of qPCR replicates per sample (2-14 replicates). Findings demonstrate that site prioritization with HFS is feasible and that both sampling intensity and number of qPCR replicates influence reliability of HFS estimates. The novel data analysis strategy presented here provides a prescribed approach for the implementation and interpretation of human-associated HF183/BacR287 qPCR data with the goal of site prioritization based on human fecal pollution levels. In addition, information is provided for future users to customize study designs for optimal HFS performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Mano Sivaganesan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Catherine A Kelty
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexandria B Boehm
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Orin C Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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14
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Arnold BF, Schiff KC, Ercumen A, Benjamin-Chung J, Steele JA, Griffith JF, Steinberg SJ, Smith P, McGee CD, Wilson R, Nelsen C, Weisberg SB, Colford JM. Acute Illness Among Surfers After Exposure to Seawater in Dry- and Wet-Weather Conditions. Am J Epidemiol 2017; 186:866-875. [PMID: 28498895 PMCID: PMC5860265 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rainstorms increase levels of fecal indicator bacteria in urban coastal waters, but it is unknown whether exposure to seawater after rainstorms increases rates of acute illness. Our objective was to provide the first estimates of rates of acute illness after seawater exposure during both dry- and wet-weather periods and to determine the relationship between levels of indicator bacteria and illness among surfers, a population with a high potential for exposure after rain. We enrolled 654 surfers in San Diego, California, and followed them longitudinally during the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 winters (33,377 days of observation, 10,081 surf sessions). We measured daily surf activities and illness symptoms (gastrointestinal illness, sinus infections, ear infections, infected wounds). Compared with no exposure, exposure to seawater during dry weather increased incidence rates of all outcomes (e.g., for earache or infection, adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27, 2.71; for infected wounds, IRR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.54, 5.98); exposure during wet weather further increased rates (e.g., for earache or infection, IRR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.95, 5.51; for infected wounds, IRR = 4.96, 95% CI: 2.18, 11.29). Fecal indicator bacteria measured in seawater (Enterococcus species, fecal coliforms, total coliforms) were strongly associated with incident illness only during wet weather. Urban coastal seawater exposure increases the incidence rates of many acute illnesses among surfers, with higher incidence rates after rainstorms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin F. Arnold
- Correspondence to Dr. Benjamin F. Arnold, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 101 Haviland Hall, MC #7358, Berkeley, CA 94720-7358 (e-mail: )
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15
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Arnold BF, Benjamin-Chung J, Schiff KC, Griffith JF, Weisberg SB, Colford JM. Arnold et al. Respond. Am J Public Health 2016; 107:e10-e11. [PMID: 27925809 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin F Arnold
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
| | - Jade Benjamin-Chung
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
| | - Kenneth C Schiff
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
| | - John F Griffith
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
| | - John M Colford
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa
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16
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Arnold BF, Wade TJ, Benjamin-Chung J, Schiff KC, Griffith JF, Dufour AP, Weisberg SB, Colford JM. Acute Gastroenteritis and Recreational Water: Highest Burden Among Young US Children. Am J Public Health 2016; 106:1690-7. [PMID: 27459461 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2016.303279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To provide summary estimates of gastroenteritis risks and illness burden associated with recreational water exposure and determine whether children have higher risks and burden. METHODS We combined individual participant data from 13 prospective cohorts at marine and freshwater beaches throughout the United States (n = 84 411). We measured incident outcomes within 10 days of exposure: diarrhea, gastrointestinal illness, missed daily activity (work, school, vacation), and medical visits. We estimated the relationship between outcomes and 2 exposures: body immersion swimming and Enterococcus spp. fecal indicator bacteria levels in the water. We also estimated the population-attributable risk associated with these exposures. RESULTS Water exposure accounted for 21% of diarrhea episodes and 9% of missed daily activities but was unassociated with gastroenteritis leading to medical consultation. Children aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 10 years had the most water exposure, exhibited stronger associations between levels of water quality and illness, and accounted for the largest attributable illness burden. CONCLUSIONS The higher gastroenteritis risk and associated burden in young children presents important new information to inform future recreational water quality guidelines designed to protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin F Arnold
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Timothy J Wade
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Jade Benjamin-Chung
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Kenneth C Schiff
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - John F Griffith
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Alfred P Dufour
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
| | - John M Colford
- Benjamin F. Arnold, Jade Benjamin-Chung, and John M. Colford Jr are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley. Timothy J. Wade is with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC. Kenneth C. Schiff, John F. Griffith, and Stephen B. Weisberg are with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA. Alfred P. Dufour is with the US EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH
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17
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Maruya KA, Dodder NG, Mehinto AC, Denslow ND, Schlenk D, Snyder SA, Weisberg SB. A tiered, integrated biological and chemical monitoring framework for contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic ecosystems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016; 12:540-7. [PMID: 26426153 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The chemical-specific risk-based paradigm that informs monitoring and assessment of environmental contaminants does not apply well to the many thousands of new chemicals that are being introduced into ambient receiving waters. We propose a tiered framework that incorporates bioanalytical screening tools and diagnostic nontargeted chemical analysis to more effectively monitor for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The framework is based on a comprehensive battery of in vitro bioassays to first screen for a broad spectrum of CECs and nontargeted analytical methods to identify bioactive contaminants missed by the currently favored targeted analyses. Water quality managers in California have embraced this strategy with plans to further develop and test this framework in regional and statewide pilot studies on waterbodies that receive discharge from municipal wastewater treatment plants and stormwater runoff. In addition to directly informing decisions, the data obtained using this framework can be used to construct and validate models that better predict CEC occurrence and toxicity. The adaptive interplay among screening results, diagnostic assessment and predictive modeling will allow managers to make decisions based on the most current and relevant information, instead of extrapolating from parameters with questionable linkage to CEC impacts. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:540-547. © 2015 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Maruya
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Alvine C Mehinto
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Nancy D Denslow
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shane A Snyder
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, California, USA
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Griffith JF, Weisberg SB, Arnold BF, Cao Y, Schiff KC, Colford JM. Epidemiologic evaluation of multiple alternate microbial water quality monitoring indicators at three California beaches. Water Res 2016; 94:371-381. [PMID: 27040577 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Advances in molecular methods provide new opportunities for directly measuring pathogens or host-associated markers of fecal pollution instead of relying on fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) alone for beach water quality monitoring. Adoption of new indicators depends on identifying relationships between either the presence or concentration of the indicators and illness among swimmers. Here we present results from three epidemiologic studies in which a broad range of bacterial and viral indicators of fecal contamination were measured simultaneously by either culture or molecular methods along with Enterococcus to assess whether they provide better health risk prediction than current microbial indicators of recreational water quality. METHODS We conducted prospective cohort studies at three California beaches -- Avalon Bay (Avalon), Doheny State Beach (Doheny), Surfrider State Beach (Malibu) -- during the summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009. The studies enrolled 10,785 swimmers across the beaches and recorded each swimmer's water exposure. Water and sand samples were collected several times per day at multiple locations at each beach and analyzed for up to 41 target indicators using 67 different methodologies. Interviewers contacted participants by phone 10-14 days later and recorded symptoms of gastrointestinal illness occurring after their beach visit. Regression models were used to evaluate the association between water quality indicators and gastrointestinal illness among swimmers at each beach. RESULTS F+ coliphage (measured using EPA Method 1602) exhibited a stronger association with GI illness than did EPA Method 1600 at the two beaches where it was measured, while a molecular method, F+ RNA Coliphage Genotype II, was the only indicator significantly associated with GI illness at Malibu. MRSA, a known pathogen, had the strongest association with GI illness of any microbe measured at Avalon. There were two methods targeting human-associated fecal anaerobic bacteria that were more strongly associated with GI illness than EPA Method 1600, but only at Avalon. No indicator combinations consistently had a higher odds ratio than EPA Method 1600, but one composite indicator, based on the number of pathogens detected at a beach, was significantly associated with gastrointestinal illness at both Avalon and Doheny when freshwater flow was high. DISCUSSION While EPA Method1600 performed adequately at two beaches based on its consistency of association with gastrointestinal illness and the precision of its estimated associations, F+ coliphage measured by EPA Method 1602 had a stronger association with GI illness under high risk conditions at the two beaches where it was measured. One indicator, F+ Coliphage Genotype II was the only indicator significantly associated with GI illness at Malibu. Several indicators, particularly those targeting human associated bacteria, exhibited relationships with GI illness that were equal to or greater than that of EPA Method 1600 at Avalon, which has a focused human fecal source. Our results suggest that site-specific conditions at each beach determine which indicator or indicators best predict GI illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Griffith
- Department of Microbiology, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd. Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth C Schiff
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
| | - John M Colford
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Ferguson DM, Weisberg SB, Hagedorn C, De Leon K, Mofidi V, Wolfe J, Zimmerman M, Jay JA. Enterococcus growth on eelgrass (Zostera marina); implications for water quality. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw047. [PMID: 26976844 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are fecal indicator bacteria used to monitor fecal pollution of recreational waters. When enterococci levels exceed health standards, fecal pollution is assumed as the cause. Enterococci growing on plants limit their usefulness as fecal indicator bacteria. Here we examined enterococcal growth on eelgrass in Mission Bay, CA where enterococci levels have exceeded water quality thresholds. A total of 69 eelgrass samples were collected from six sites, shaken to remove enterococci attached to plant surfaces and the eluant filtered onto culture media. Isolates were then identified to species using biochemical methods, and DNA typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was done to assess clonality of strains. Enterococci concentrations among eelgrass ranged from 8 to 14 000 CFU g(-1) dry weight. The most predominant enterococcal species found were Enterococcus casseliflavus and E. hirae followed by E. faecalis. Cluster analysis indicated a high level of clonality among isolates across all species, with clonal isolates consistently associated with individual eelgrass samples. Finding high densities of E. casseliflavus, E. hirae and E. faecalis on eelgrass that included clonal strains indicates the capability of enterococcal growth on eelgrass. Amplification of enterococci on eelgrass presents challenges for regulatory agencies that interpret elevated levels of these bacteria as an indication of fecal pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Ferguson
- Environmental Health Sciences Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Suite 110, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Charles Hagedorn
- Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, RB 1880, Suite 1129, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Kristine De Leon
- Department of Biology, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
| | - Vida Mofidi
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, 1729 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92706, USA
| | - Julia Wolfe
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, 1729 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92706, USA
| | - May Zimmerman
- Department of Biology, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
| | - Jennifer A Jay
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Abstract
Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is increasingly being used for ambient water monitoring, but development of digital polymerase chain reaction (digital PCR) has the potential to further advance the use of molecular techniques in such applications. Digital PCR refines qPCR by partitioning the sample into thousands to millions of miniature reactions that are examined individually for binary endpoint results, with DNA density calculated from the fraction of positives using Poisson statistics. This direct quantification removes the need for standard curves, eliminating the labor and materials associated with creating and running standards with each batch, and removing biases associated with standard variability and mismatching amplification efficiency between standards and samples. Confining reactions and binary endpoint measurements to small partitions also leads to other performance advantages, including reduced susceptibility to inhibition, increased repeatability and reproducibility, and increased capacity to measure multiple targets in one analysis. As such, digital PCR is well suited for ambient water monitoring applications and is particularly advantageous as molecular methods move toward autonomous field application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, USA.
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21
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Yau VM, Schiff KC, Arnold BF, Griffith JF, Gruber JS, Wright CC, Wade TJ, Burns S, Hayes JM, McGee C, Gold M, Cao Y, Boehm AB, Weisberg SB, Colford JM. Effect of submarine groundwater discharge on bacterial indicators and swimmer health at Avalon Beach, CA, USA. Water Res 2014; 59:23-36. [PMID: 24776951 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Use of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) for monitoring beach water quality is based on their co-occurrence with human pathogens, a relationship that can be dramatically altered by fate and transport processes after leaving the human intestine. We conducted a prospective cohort study at Avalon Beach, California (USA), where the indicator relationship is potentially affected by the discharge of sewage-contaminated groundwater and by solar radiation levels at this shallow, relatively quiescent beach. The goals of this study were to determine: 1) if swimmers exposed to marine water were at higher risk of illness than non-swimmers; 2) if FIB measured in marine water were associated with swimmer illness, and; 3) if the associations between FIB and swimmer health were modified by either submarine groundwater discharge or solar radiation levels. There were 7317 individuals recruited during the summers of 2007-08, 6165 (84%) of whom completed follow-up within two weeks of the beach visit. A total of 703 water quality samples were collected across multiple sites and time periods during recruitment days and analyzed for FIB using both culture-based and molecular methods. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) indicated that swimmers who swallowed water were more likely to experience Gastrointestinal Illness (GI Illness) within three days of their beach visit than non-swimmers, and that this risk was significantly elevated when either submarine groundwater discharge was high (AOR [95% CI]:2.18 [1.22-3.89]) or solar radiation was low (2.45 [1.25-4.79]). The risk of GI Illness was not significantly elevated for swimmers who swallowed water when groundwater discharge was low or solar radiation was high. Associations between GI Illness incidence and FIB levels (Enterococcus EPA Method 1600) among swimmers who swallowed water were not significant when we did not account for groundwater discharge, but were strongly associated when groundwater discharge was high (1.85 [1.06, 3.23]) compared to when it was low (0.77 [0.42, 1.42]; test of interaction: P = 0.03). These results demonstrate the need to account for local environmental conditions when monitoring for, and making decisions about, public health at recreational beaches. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent M Yau
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley and Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, United States
| | - Kenneth C Schiff
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, United States
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, United States
| | - Joshua S Gruber
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Catherine C Wright
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Timothy J Wade
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Health Effects Research Laboratory, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Susan Burns
- University of California, Berkeley, Survey Research Center, United States
| | - Jacqueline M Hayes
- University of California, Berkeley, Survey Research Center, United States
| | | | - Mark Gold
- Institute of Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, United States
| | - Alexandria B Boehm
- Environmental and Water Studies, Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | | | - John M Colford
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, United States.
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Maruya KA, Dodder NG, Weisberg SB, Gregorio D, Bishop JS, Klosterhaus S, Alvarez DA, Furlong ET, Bricker S, Kimbrough KL, Lauenstein GG. The Mussel Watch California pilot study on contaminants of emerging concern (CECs): synthesis and next steps. Mar Pollut Bull 2014; 81:355-363. [PMID: 23731723 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A multiagency pilot study on mussels (Mytilus spp.) collected at 68 stations in California revealed that 98% of targeted contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) were infrequently detectable at concentrations ≤ 1 ng/g. Selected chemicals found in commercial and consumer products were more frequently detected at mean concentrations up to 470 ng/g dry wt. The number of CECs detected and their concentrations were greatest for stations categorized as urban or influenced by storm water discharge. Exposure to a broader suite of CECs was also characterized by passive sampling devices (PSDs), with estimated water concentrations of hydrophobic compounds correlated with Mytilus concentrations. The results underscore the need for focused CEC monitoring in coastal ecosystems and suggest that PSDs are complementary to bivalves in assessing water quality. Moreover, the partnership established among participating agencies led to increased spatial coverage, an expanded list of analytes and a more efficient use of available resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Maruya
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Dominic Gregorio
- California State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
| | - Jonathan S Bishop
- California State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
| | - Susan Klosterhaus
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - David A Alvarez
- US Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Edward T Furlong
- US Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA
| | - Suzanne Bricker
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Kimani L Kimbrough
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Gunnar G Lauenstein
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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23
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Maruya KA, Dodder NG, Schaffner RA, Weisberg SB, Gregorio D, Klosterhaus S, Alvarez DA, Furlong ET, Kimbrough KL, Lauenstein GG, Christensen JD. Refocusing Mussel Watch on contaminants of emerging concern (CECs): the California pilot study (2009-10). Mar Pollut Bull 2014; 81:334-339. [PMID: 23886247 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
To expand the utility of the Mussel Watch Program, local, regional and state agencies in California partnered with NOAA to design a pilot study that targeted contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Native mussels (Mytilus spp.) from 68 stations, stratified by land use and discharge scenario, were collected in 2009-10 and analyzed for 167 individual pharmaceuticals, industrial and commercial chemicals and current use pesticides. Passive sampling devices (PSDs) and caged Mytilus were co-deployed to expand the list of CECs, and to assess the ability of PSDs to mimic bioaccumulation by Mytilus. A performance-based quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) approach was developed to ensure a high degree of data quality, consistency and comparability. Data management and analysis were streamlined and standardized using automated software tools. This pioneering study will help shape future monitoring efforts in California's coastal ecosystems, while serving as a model for monitoring CECs within the region and across the nation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Maruya
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Rebecca A Schaffner
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, 3535 Harbor Boulevard Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Dominic Gregorio
- California State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
| | - Susan Klosterhaus
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
| | - David A Alvarez
- U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Edward T Furlong
- U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA
| | - Kimani L Kimbrough
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Gunnar G Lauenstein
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | - John D Christensen
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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24
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Riedel TE, Zimmer-Faust AG, Thulsiraj V, Madi T, Hanley KT, Ebentier DL, Byappanahalli M, Layton B, Raith M, Boehm AB, Griffith JF, Holden PA, Shanks OC, Weisberg SB, Jay JA. Detection limits and cost comparisons of human- and gull-associated conventional and quantitative PCR assays in artificial and environmental waters. J Environ Manage 2014; 136:112-20. [PMID: 24583609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Some molecular methods for tracking fecal pollution in environmental waters have both PCR and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays available for use. To assist managers in deciding whether to implement newer qPCR techniques in routine monitoring programs, we compared detection limits (LODs) and costs of PCR and qPCR assays with identical targets that are relevant to beach water quality assessment. For human-associated assays targeting Bacteroidales HF183 genetic marker, qPCR LODs were 70 times lower and there was no effect of target matrix (artificial freshwater, environmental creek water, and environmental marine water) on PCR or qPCR LODs. The PCR startup and annual costs were the lowest, while the per reaction cost was 62% lower than the Taqman based qPCR and 180% higher than the SYBR based qPCR. For gull-associated assays, there was no significant difference between PCR and qPCR LODs, target matrix did not effect PCR or qPCR LODs, and PCR startup, annual, and per reaction costs were lower. Upgrading to qPCR involves greater startup and annual costs, but this increase may be justified in the case of the human-associated assays with lower detection limits and reduced cost per sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Riedel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Amity G Zimmer-Faust
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Vanessa Thulsiraj
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tania Madi
- Source Molecular Corporation, Miami, FL 33155, USA
| | - Kaitlyn T Hanley
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Darcy L Ebentier
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Muruleedhara Byappanahalli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, Porter, IN 46304, USA
| | - Blythe Layton
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Meredith Raith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Alexandria B Boehm
- Environmental and Water Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental, Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Patricia A Holden
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, and Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Orin C Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Stephen B Weisberg
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Jennifer A Jay
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Los, Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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25
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Ervin JS, Russell TL, Layton BA, Yamahara KM, Wang D, Sassoubre LM, Cao Y, Kelty CA, Sivaganesan M, Boehm AB, Holden PA, Weisberg SB, Shanks OC. Characterization of fecal concentrations in human and other animal sources by physical, culture-based, and quantitative real-time PCR methods. Water Res 2013; 47:6873-6882. [PMID: 23871252 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.02.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The characteristics of fecal sources, and the ways in which they are measured, can profoundly influence the interpretation of which sources are contaminating a body of water. Although feces from various hosts are known to differ in mass and composition, it is not well understood how those differences compare across fecal sources and how differences depend on characterization methods. This study investigated how nine different fecal characterization methods provide different measures of fecal concentration in water, and how results varied across twelve different fecal pollution sources. Sources investigated included chicken, cow, deer, dog, goose, gull, horse, human, pig, pigeon, septage and sewage. A composite fecal slurry was prepared for each source by mixing feces from 6 to 22 individual samples with artificial freshwater. Fecal concentrations were estimated by physical (wet fecal mass added and total DNA mass extracted), culture-based (Escherichia coli and enterococci by membrane filtration and defined substrate), and quantitative real-time PCR (Bacteroidales, E. coli, and enterococci) characterization methods. The characteristics of each composite fecal slurry and the relationships between physical, culture-based and qPCR-based characteristics varied within and among different fecal sources. An in silico exercise was performed to assess how different characterization methods can impact identification of the dominant fecal pollution source in a mixed source sample. A comparison of simulated 10:90 mixtures based on enterococci by defined substrate predicted a source reversal in 27% of all possible combinations, while mixtures based on E. coli membrane filtration resulted in a reversal 29% of the time. This potential for disagreement in minor or dominant source identification based on different methods of measurement represents an important challenge for water quality managers and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared S Ervin
- Earth Research Institute and Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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26
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Stewart JR, Boehm AB, Dubinsky EA, Fong TT, Goodwin KD, Griffith JF, Noble RT, Shanks OC, Vijayavel K, Weisberg SB. Recommendations following a multi-laboratory comparison of microbial source tracking methods. Water Res 2013; 47:6829-6838. [PMID: 23891204 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.04.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) methods were evaluated in the Source Identification Protocol Project (SIPP), in which 27 laboratories compared methods to identify host sources of fecal pollution from blinded water samples containing either one or two different fecal types collected from California. This paper details lessons learned from the SIPP study and makes recommendations to further advance the field of MST. Overall, results from the SIPP study demonstrated that methods are available that can correctly identify whether particular host sources including humans, cows and birds have contributed to contamination in a body of water. However, differences between laboratory protocols and data processing affected results and complicated interpretation of MST method performance in some cases. This was an issue particularly for samples that tested positive (non-zero Ct values) but below the limits of quantification or detection of a PCR assay. Although false positives were observed, such samples in the SIPP study often contained the fecal pollution source that was being targeted, i.e., the samples were true positives. Given these results, and the fact that MST often requires detection of targets present in low concentrations, we propose that such samples be reported and identified in a unique category to facilitate data analysis and method comparisons. Important data can be lost when such samples are simply reported as positive or negative. Actionable thresholds were not derived in the SIPP study due to limitations that included geographic scope, age of samples, and difficulties interpreting low concentrations of target in environmental samples. Nevertheless, the results of the study support the use of MST for water management, especially to prioritize impaired waters in need of remediation. Future integration of MST data into quantitative microbial risk assessments and other models could allow managers to more efficiently protect public health based on site conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill R Stewart
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 1301 Michael Hooker Research Center, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box #7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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27
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Boehm AB, Van De Werfhorst LC, Griffith JF, Holden PA, Jay JA, Shanks OC, Wang D, Weisberg SB. Performance of forty-one microbial source tracking methods: a twenty-seven lab evaluation study. Water Res 2013. [PMID: 23880218 DOI: 10.1016/j/waters.2012.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has seen development of numerous new microbial source tracking (MST) methodologies, but many of these have been tested in just a few laboratories with a limited number of fecal samples. This method evaluation study examined the specificity and sensitivity of 41 MST methodologies by analyzing data generated in 27 laboratories. MST methodologies that targeted human, cow, ruminant, dog, gull, pig, horse, and sheep were tested against sewage, septage, human, cow, dog, deer, pig, chicken, pigeon, gull, horse, and goose fecal samples. Each laboratory received 64 blind samples containing a single source (singletons) or two sources (doubletons), as well as diluted singleton samples to assess method sensitivity. Laboratories utilized their own protocols when performing the methods and data were deposited in a central database before samples were unblinded. Between one and seven laboratories tested each method. The most sensitive and specific assays, based on an analysis of presence/absence of each marker in target and non-target fecal samples, were HF183 endpoint and HF183SYBR (human), CF193 and Rum2Bac (ruminant), CowM2 and CowM3 (cow), BacCan (dog), Gull2SYBR and LeeSeaGull (gull), PF163 and pigmtDNA (pig), HoF597 (horse), PhyloChip (pig, horse, chicken, deer), Universal 16S TRFLP (deer), and Bacteroidales 16S TRFLP (pig, horse, chicken, deer); all had sensitivity and specificity higher than 80% in all or the majority of laboratories. When the abundance of MST markers in target and non-target fecal samples was examined, some assays that performed well in the binary analysis were found to not be sensitive enough as median concentrations fell below a minimum abundance criterion (set at 50 copies per colony forming units of enterococci) in target fecal samples. Similarly, some assays that cross-reacted with non-target fecal sources in the binary analysis were found to perform well in a quantitative analysis because the cross-reaction occurred at very low levels. Based on a quantitative analysis, the best performing methods were HF183Taqman and BacH (human), Rum2Bac and BacR (ruminant), LeeSeaGull (gull), and Pig2Bac (pig); no cow or dog-specific assay met the quantitative specificity and sensitivity criteria. Some of the best performing assays in the study were run by just one laboratory so further testing of assay portability is needed. While this study evaluated the marker performance in defined samples, further field testing as well as development of frameworks for fecal source allocation and risk assessment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria B Boehm
- Environmental and Water Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Boehm AB, Van De Werfhorst LC, Griffith JF, Holden PA, Jay JA, Shanks OC, Wang D, Weisberg SB. Performance of forty-one microbial source tracking methods: a twenty-seven lab evaluation study. Water Res 2013; 47:6812-28. [PMID: 23880218 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/01/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has seen development of numerous new microbial source tracking (MST) methodologies, but many of these have been tested in just a few laboratories with a limited number of fecal samples. This method evaluation study examined the specificity and sensitivity of 41 MST methodologies by analyzing data generated in 27 laboratories. MST methodologies that targeted human, cow, ruminant, dog, gull, pig, horse, and sheep were tested against sewage, septage, human, cow, dog, deer, pig, chicken, pigeon, gull, horse, and goose fecal samples. Each laboratory received 64 blind samples containing a single source (singletons) or two sources (doubletons), as well as diluted singleton samples to assess method sensitivity. Laboratories utilized their own protocols when performing the methods and data were deposited in a central database before samples were unblinded. Between one and seven laboratories tested each method. The most sensitive and specific assays, based on an analysis of presence/absence of each marker in target and non-target fecal samples, were HF183 endpoint and HF183SYBR (human), CF193 and Rum2Bac (ruminant), CowM2 and CowM3 (cow), BacCan (dog), Gull2SYBR and LeeSeaGull (gull), PF163 and pigmtDNA (pig), HoF597 (horse), PhyloChip (pig, horse, chicken, deer), Universal 16S TRFLP (deer), and Bacteroidales 16S TRFLP (pig, horse, chicken, deer); all had sensitivity and specificity higher than 80% in all or the majority of laboratories. When the abundance of MST markers in target and non-target fecal samples was examined, some assays that performed well in the binary analysis were found to not be sensitive enough as median concentrations fell below a minimum abundance criterion (set at 50 copies per colony forming units of enterococci) in target fecal samples. Similarly, some assays that cross-reacted with non-target fecal sources in the binary analysis were found to perform well in a quantitative analysis because the cross-reaction occurred at very low levels. Based on a quantitative analysis, the best performing methods were HF183Taqman and BacH (human), Rum2Bac and BacR (ruminant), LeeSeaGull (gull), and Pig2Bac (pig); no cow or dog-specific assay met the quantitative specificity and sensitivity criteria. Some of the best performing assays in the study were run by just one laboratory so further testing of assay portability is needed. While this study evaluated the marker performance in defined samples, further field testing as well as development of frameworks for fecal source allocation and risk assessment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria B Boehm
- Environmental and Water Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Bourlat SJ, Borja A, Gilbert J, Taylor MI, Davies N, Weisberg SB, Griffith JF, Lettieri T, Field D, Benzie J, Glöckner FO, Rodríguez-Ezpeleta N, Faith DP, Bean TP, Obst M. Genomics in marine monitoring: new opportunities for assessing marine health status. Mar Pollut Bull 2013; 74:19-31. [PMID: 23806673 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
This viewpoint paper explores the potential of genomics technology to provide accurate, rapid, and cost efficient observations of the marine environment. The use of such approaches in next generation marine monitoring programs will help achieve the goals of marine legislation implemented world-wide. Genomic methods can yield faster results from monitoring, easier and more reliable taxonomic identification, as well as quicker and better assessment of the environmental status of marine waters. A summary of genomic methods that are ready or show high potential for integration into existing monitoring programs is provided (e.g. qPCR, SNP based methods, DNA barcoding, microarrays, metagenetics, metagenomics, transcriptomics). These approaches are mapped to existing indicators and descriptors and a series of case studies is presented to assess the cost and added value of these molecular techniques in comparison with traditional monitoring systems. Finally, guidelines and recommendations are suggested for how such methods can enter marine monitoring programs in a standardized manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Bourlat
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Thompson B, Ranasinghe JA, Lowe S, Melwani A, Weisberg SB. Benthic macrofaunal assemblages of the San Francisco Estuary and Delta, USA. Environ Monit Assess 2013; 185:2281-2295. [PMID: 22684808 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-2708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The spatial and temporal distribution of macrobenthic assemblages in the San Francisco Estuary and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis of 501 samples collected between 1994 and 2008. Five benthic assemblages were identified that were distributed primarily along the salinity gradient: (1) a polyhaline assemblage that inhabits the Central Bay, (2) a mesohaline assemblage that inhabits South Bay and San Pablo Bay, (3) a low-diversity oligohaline assemblage primarily in Suisun Bay, (4) a low-diversity sand assemblage that occurs at various locations throughout the Estuary, and (5) a tidal freshwater assemblage in the Delta. Most sites were classified within the same assemblage in different seasons and years, but a few sites switched assemblage designations in response to seasonal changes in salinity from freshwater inflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Thompson
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804, USA.
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31
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Cao Y, Sivaganesan M, Kinzelman J, Blackwood AD, Noble RT, Haugland RA, Griffith JF, Weisberg SB. Effect of platform, reference material, and quantification model on enumeration of Enterococcus by quantitative PCR methods. Water Res 2013; 47:233-241. [PMID: 23123048 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2012] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/28/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is increasingly being used for the quantitative detection of fecal indicator bacteria in beach water. QPCR allows for same-day health warnings, and its application is being considered as an option for recreational water quality testing in the United States (USEPA, 2011. EPA-OW-2011-0466, FRL-9609-3, Notice of Availability of Draft Recreational Water Quality Criteria and Request for Scientific Views). However, transition of qPCR from a research tool to routine water quality testing requires information on how various method variations affect target enumeration. Here we compared qPCR performance and enumeration of enterococci in spiked and environmental water samples using three qPCR platforms (Applied Biosystem StepOnePlus™, the BioRad iQ™5 and the Cepheid SmartCycler(®) II), two reference materials (lyophilized cells and frozen cells on filters) and two comparative CT quantification models (ΔCT and ΔΔCT). Reference materials exerted the biggest influence, consistently affecting results by approximately 0.5 log(10) unit. Platform had the smallest effect, generally exerting <0.1 log(10) unit difference in final results. Quantification model led to small differences (0.04-0.2 log(10) unit) in this study with relatively uninhibited samples, but has the potential to cause as much as 8-fold (0.9 log(10) unit) difference in potentially inhibitory samples. Our findings indicate the need for a certified and centralized source of reference materials and additional studies to assess applicability of the quantification models in analyses of PCR inhibitory samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Bay SM, Weisberg SB. Framework for interpreting sediment quality triad data. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012; 8:589-596. [PMID: 20886640 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2009] [Revised: 04/01/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Integration of multiple lines of evidence (MLOE) data in a sediment quality triad assessment can be accomplished by means of numerous approaches, with most relying on some form of expert best professional judgment. Best professional judgment (BPJ) can be problematic in application to large data sets or in a regulatory setting where the assessment protocol needs to be transparent and consistently reproducible. We present a quantitative, objective framework for integrating the results of triad-based assessments and test its efficacy by applying it to 25 California sites and comparing the resulting classifications with those of 6 experts who were provided the same data. The framework is based on integrating the answers to 2 questions: 1) is there biological degradation, and 2) is chemical exposure high enough to potentially result in a biological response? The framework produced results that matched the median classifications of the experts better than did 5 of the 6 experts. Moreover, the framework was unbiased, with samples that differed from the median expert response evenly divided between those classified as more or less impacted. The framework was also evaluated by application to a set of sites from known degraded and reference areas, which the framework distinguished well. Although any framework needs to be flexible to supplemental data when they are available, the framework presented provides an objective means for using a triad-based approach in large-scale assessments for which relying on expert input for every sample is impractical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Bay
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Ranasinghe JA, Welch KI, Slattery PN, Montagne DE, Huff DD, Lee H, Hyland JL, Thompson B, Weisberg SB, Oakden JM, Cadien DB, Velarde RG. Habitat-related benthic macrofaunal assemblages of bays and estuaries of the western United States. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012; 8:638-648. [PMID: 22987518 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Data from 7 coastwide and regional benthic surveys were combined and used to assess the number and distribution of estuarine benthic macrofaunal assemblages of the western United States. Q-mode cluster analysis was applied to 714 samples and site groupings were tested for differences in 4 habitat factors (latitude, salinity, sediment grain size, and depth). Eight macrofaunal assemblages, structured primarily by latitude, salinity, and sediment grain size, were identified: (A) Puget Sound fine sediment, (B) Puget Sound coarse sediment, (C) southern California marine bays, (D) polyhaline central San Francisco Bay, (E) shallow estuaries and wetlands, (F) saline very coarse sediment, (G) mesohaline San Francisco Bay, and (H) limnetic and oligohaline. The Puget Sound, southern California, and San Francisco Bay assemblages were geographically distinct, while Assemblages E, F and H were distributed widely along the entire coast. A second Q-mode cluster analysis was conducted after adding replicate samples that were available from some of the sites and temporal replicates that were available for sites that were sampled in successive years. Variabilities due to small spatial scale habitat heterogeneity and temporal change were both low in Puget Sound, but temporal variability was high in the San Francisco estuary where large fluctuations in freshwater inputs and salinity among years leads to spatial relocation of the assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ananda Ranasinghe
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110, Costa Mesa, California 92626, USA.
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Hammerstrom KK, Ranasinghe JA, Weisberg SB, Oliver JS, Fairey WR, Slattery PN, Oakden JM. Effect of sample area and sieve size on benthic macrofaunal community condition assessments in California enclosed bays and estuaries. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012; 8:649-658. [PMID: 20938972 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2009] [Revised: 03/07/2010] [Accepted: 03/25/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Benthic macrofauna are used extensively for environmental assessment, but the area sampled and sieve sizes used to capture animals often differ among studies. Here, we sampled 80 sites using 3 different sized sampling areas (0.1, 0.05, 0.0071 m(2)) and sieved those sediments through each of 2 screen sizes (0.5, 1 mm) to evaluate their effect on number of individuals, number of species, dominance, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination, and benthic community condition indices that are used to assess sediment quality in California. Sample area had little effect on abundance but substantially affected numbers of species, which are not easily scaled to a standard area. Sieve size had a substantial effect on both measures, with the 1-mm screen capturing only 74% of the species and 68% of the individuals collected in the 0.5-mm screen. These differences, though, had little effect on the ability to differentiate samples along gradients in ordination space. Benthic indices generally ranked sample condition in the same order regardless of gear, although the absolute scoring of condition was affected by gear type. The largest differences in condition assessment were observed for the 0.0071-m(2) gear. Benthic indices based on numbers of species were more affected than those based on relative abundance, primarily because we were unable to scale species number to a common area as we did for abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamille K Hammerstrom
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA.
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Ranasinghe JA, Stein ED, Miller PE, Weisberg SB. Performance of two Southern California benthic community condition indices using species abundance and presence-only data: relevance to DNA barcoding. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40875. [PMID: 22879881 PMCID: PMC3413687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA barcoding, as it is currently employed, enhances use of marine benthic macrofauna as environmental condition indicators by improving the speed and accuracy of the underlying taxonomic identifications. The next generation of barcoding applications, processing bulk environmental samples, will likely only provide presence information. However, macrofauna indices presently used to interpret these data are based on species abundances. To assess the importance of this difference, we evaluated the performance of the Southern California Benthic Response Index (BRI) and the AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) when species abundance data were removed from their calculation. Presence only versions of these two indices were created by eliminating abundance weighting while preserving species identity. Associations between the presence and abundance BRI, and the presence and abundance AMBI were highly significant, with correlation coefficients of 0.99 and 0.81, respectively. The presence versions validated almost equally to the abundance-based indices when applied to the spatial and the temporal monitoring data used to validate the original indices. Simulations in which taxa were systematically removed from calculation of the indices were also conducted to assess how large the barcode library must be for the indices to be effective. Correlation between the BRI-P and BRI remained above 0.9 with only 370 species in the library and reducing the number of species to 450 had almost no effect on correlation between the presence and abundance versions of the AMBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ananda Ranasinghe
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, United States of America.
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36
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Cao Y, Griffith JF, Dorevitch S, Weisberg SB. Effectiveness of qPCR permutations, internal controls and dilution as means for minimizing the impact of inhibition while measuring Enterococcus in environmental waters. J Appl Microbiol 2012; 113:66-75. [PMID: 22497995 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05305.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Draft criteria for the optional use of qPCR for recreational water quality monitoring have been published in the United States. One concern is that inhibition of the qPCR assay can lead to false-negative results and potentially inadequate public health protection. We evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for minimizing the impact of inhibition. METHODS AND RESULTS Five qPCR method permutations for measuring Enterococcus were challenged with 133 potentially inhibitory fresh and marine water samples. Serial dilutions were conducted to assess Enterococcus target assay inhibition, to which inhibition identified using four internal controls (IC) was compared. The frequency and magnitude of inhibition varied considerably among qPCR methods, with the permutation using an environmental master mix performing substantially better. Fivefold dilution was also effective at reducing inhibition in most samples (>78%). ICs were variable and somewhat ineffective, with 54-85% agreement between ICs and serial dilution. CONCLUSIONS The current IC methods appear to not accurately predict Enterococcus inhibition and should be used with caution; fivefold dilution and the use of reagents designed for environmental sample analysis (i.e. more robust qPCR chemistry) may be preferable. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Suitable approaches for defining, detecting and reducing inhibition will improve implementation of qPCR for water monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Colford JM, Schiff KC, Griffith JF, Yau V, Arnold BF, Wright CC, Gruber JS, Wade TJ, Burns S, Hayes J, McGee C, Gold M, Cao Y, Noble RT, Haugland R, Weisberg SB. Using rapid indicators for Enterococcus to assess the risk of illness after exposure to urban runoff contaminated marine water. Water Res 2012; 46:2176-86. [PMID: 22356828 PMCID: PMC3354759 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2011] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) measurement is too slow (>18 h) for timely swimmer warnings. OBJECTIVES Assess relationship of rapid indicator methods (qPCR) to illness at a marine beach impacted by urban runoff. METHODS We measured baseline and two-week health in 9525 individuals visiting Doheny Beach 2007-08. Illness rates were compared (swimmers vs. non-swimmers). FIB measured by traditional (Enterococcus spp. by EPA Method 1600 or Enterolert™, fecal coliforms, total coliforms) and three rapid qPCR assays for Enterococcus spp. (Taqman, Scorpion-1, Scorpion-2) were compared to health. Primary bacterial source was a creek flowing untreated into ocean; the creek did not reach the ocean when a sand berm formed. This provided a natural experiment for examining FIB-health relationships under varying conditions. RESULTS We observed significant increases in diarrhea (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.29-2.80 for swallowing water) and other outcomes in swimmers compared to non-swimmers. Exposure (body immersion, head immersion, swallowed water) was associated with increasing risk of gastrointestinal illness (GI). Daily GI incidence patterns were different: swimmers (2-day peak) and non-swimmers (no peak). With berm-open, we observed associations between GI and traditional and rapid methods for Enterococcus; fewer associations occurred when berm status was not considered. CONCLUSIONS We found increased risk of GI at this urban runoff beach. When FIB source flowed freely (berm-open), several traditional and rapid indicators were related to illness. When FIB source was weak (berm-closed) fewer illness associations were seen. These different relationships under different conditions at a single beach demonstrate the difficulties using these indicators to predict health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Colford
- University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, 101 Haviland, MC# 7358, Berkeley, CA 94720-7358, USA.
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Gillett DJ, Pondella DJ, Freiwald J, Schiff KC, Caselle JE, Shuman C, Weisberg SB. Comparing volunteer and professionally collected monitoring data from the rocky subtidal reefs of Southern California, USA. Environ Monit Assess 2012; 184:3239-3257. [PMID: 21739280 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2185-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2010] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Volunteer-based citizen monitoring has increasingly become part of the natural resources monitoring framework, but it is often unclear whether the data quality from these programs is sufficient for integration with traditional efforts conducted by professional scientists. At present, the biological and physical characteristics of California's rocky reef kelp forests are concurrently monitored by two such groups, using similar methodologies--underwater visual census (UVC) of fish, benthic invertebrates, and reef habitat, though the volunteer group limits their sampling to transects close to the reef surface and they use a more constrained list of species for enumeration and measurement. Here, we compared the data collected from 13 reefs that were sampled by both programs in 2008. These groups described relatively similar fish communities, total fish abundance and abundance of the dominant fish species but there were some differences in the measured size distributions of the dominant fish species. Descriptions of the benthic invertebrate community were also similar, though there were some differences in relative abundance that may have resulted from the less detailed subsampling protocols used by the volunteers. The biggest difference was in characterization of the physical habitat of the reefs, which appeared to result from selection bias of transect path by the volunteer program towards more complex structured sections of a reef. Changes to address these differences are relatively simple to implement and if so, offer the promise of better integration of the trained volunteer monitoring with that of professional monitoring groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Gillett
- Southern California Coastal Water Resource Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Teixeira H, Borja A, Weisberg SB, Ranasinghe JA, Cadien DB, Dauer DM, Dauvin JC, Degraer S, Diaz RJ, Grémare A, Karakassis I, Llansó RJ, Lovell LL, Marques JC, Montagne DE, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A, Rosenberg R, Sardá R, Schaffner LC, Velarde RG. Assessing coastal benthic macrofauna community condition using best professional judgement--developing consensus across North America and Europe. Mar Pollut Bull 2010; 60:589-600. [PMID: 19969316 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2009] [Revised: 11/04/2009] [Accepted: 11/07/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Benthic indices are typically developed independently by habitat, making their incorporation into large geographic scale assessments potentially problematic because of scaling inequities. A potential solution is to establish common scaling using expert best professional judgment (BPJ). To test if experts from different geographies agree on condition assessment, sixteen experts from four regions in USA and Europe were provided species-abundance data for twelve sites per region. They ranked samples from best to worst condition and classified samples into four condition (quality) categories. Site rankings were highly correlated among experts, regardless of whether they were assessing samples from their home region. There was also good agreement on condition category, though agreement was better for samples at extremes of the disturbance gradient. The absence of regional bias suggests that expert judgment is a viable means for establishing a uniform scale to calibrate indices consistently across geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heliana Teixeira
- IMAR, Institute of Marine Research, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Griffith JF, Cao Y, McGee CD, Weisberg SB. Evaluation of rapid methods and novel indicators for assessing microbiological beach water quality. Water Res 2009; 43:4900-7. [PMID: 19800095 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2009.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2009] [Revised: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 09/07/2009] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A broad suite of new measurement methods and indicators based on molecular measurement technology have been developed to assess beach water quality, but they have generally been subjected to limited testing outside of the laboratory in which they were developed. Here we evaluated 29 assays targeting a variety of bacterial, viral, and chemical analytes by providing the method developers with twelve blind samples consisting of samples spiked with known concentration of sewage or gull guano and negative controls. Each method was evaluated with respect to its ability to detect the target organism, absence of signal in the negative controls and repeatability among replicates. Only six of the 30 methods detected their targets in at least 75% of the samples while consistently determining the absence of the target in the negative controls. Among quantitative methods, QPCR for Bacteroides thetaiotamicron and Enterococcus detected by Luminex reliably identified all but one sample containing human fecal material and produced no false positive results. Among non-quantitative methods, the Enterococcus esp gene, the Bacteroidales human specific marker and culture-based coliphage were the most reliable for identifying human fecal material. We also found that investigator-specific variations of methods targeting the same organism often produced different results.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States.
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Boehm AB, Griffith J, McGee C, Edge TA, Solo-Gabriele HM, Whitman R, Cao Y, Getrich M, Jay JA, Ferguson D, Goodwin KD, Lee CM, Madison M, Weisberg SB. Faecal indicator bacteria enumeration in beach sand: a comparison study of extraction methods in medium to coarse sands. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 107:1740-50. [PMID: 19659700 PMCID: PMC2810257 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04440.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The absence of standardized methods for quantifying faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in sand hinders comparison of results across studies. The purpose of the study was to compare methods for extraction of faecal bacteria from sands and recommend a standardized extraction technique. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-two methods of extracting enterococci and Escherichia coli from sand were evaluated, including multiple permutations of hand shaking, mechanical shaking, blending, sonication, number of rinses, settling time, eluant-to-sand ratio, eluant composition, prefiltration and type of decantation. Tests were performed on sands from California, Florida and Lake Michigan. Most extraction parameters did not significantly affect bacterial enumeration. anova revealed significant effects of eluant composition and blending; with both sodium metaphosphate buffer and blending producing reduced counts. CONCLUSIONS The simplest extraction method that produced the highest FIB recoveries consisted of 2 min of hand shaking in phosphate-buffered saline or deionized water, a 30-s settling time, one-rinse step and a 10 : 1 eluant volume to sand weight ratio. This result was consistent across the sand compositions tested in this study but could vary for other sand types. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Method standardization will improve the understanding of how sands affect surface water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Boehm
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Cao Y, Griffith JF, Weisberg SB. Evaluation of optical brightener photodecay characteristics for detection of human fecal contamination. Water Res 2009; 43:2273-9. [PMID: 19285334 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2009.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Revised: 02/11/2009] [Accepted: 02/15/2009] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Detection of optical brighteners by fluorometry combined with ultraviolet light (UV) exposure has been proposed as an inexpensive method for detection of human fecal contamination, but has received limited testing. This study evaluated the approach in southern California by applying it to a variety of detergents, sewage and septage samples from the region, as well as to natural stream water as a negative control. The concept of using UV exposure to differentiate fluorescence from natural organic matter proved valid, as the method produced no false positives. However, the method failed to detect half of the detergents tested in natural stream water at 5 microL/L, due to its conservative thresholds. This study identified a method modification that provides greater sensitivity by taking advantage of differences in the shape of photodecay curves between optical brighteners and natural organic matter. This method modification resulted in detection of all detergents, sewage at 1:10 dilution and septage at 1:100 dilution. Several caveats for its use remain, including our observation that the optical brightener signal degraded rapidly in strong sunlight. Additionally, there was low sensitivity for some environmentally friendly detergents, which does not present a problem on a community basis where a mix of detergents are used, but could be of concern for assessing septic inputs from individual homes. Still, the method is simple to employ in the field, yields rapid results and is useful as a low-cost initial screening tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Cao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Boehm AB, Ashbolt NJ, Colford JM, Dunbar LE, Fleming LE, Gold MA, Hansel JA, Hunter PR, Ichida AM, McGee CD, Soller JA, Weisberg SB. A sea change ahead for recreational water quality criteria. J Water Health 2009; 7:9-20. [PMID: 18957771 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2009.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is committed to developing new recreational water quality criteria for coastal waters by 2012 to provide increased protection to swimmers. We review the uncertainties and shortcomings of the current recreational water quality criteria, describe critical research needs for the development of new criteria, as well as recommend a path forward for new criteria development. We believe that among the most needed research needs are the completion of epidemiology studies in tropical waters and in waters adversely impacted by urban runoff and animal feces, as well as studies aimed to validate the use of models for indicator and pathogen concentration and health risk predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria B Boehm
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Ranasinghe JA, Weisberg SB, Smith RW, Montagne DE, Thompson B, Oakden JM, Huff DD, Cadien DB, Velarde RG, Ritter KJ. Calibration and evaluation of five indicators of benthic community condition in two California bay and estuary habitats. Mar Pollut Bull 2009; 59:5-13. [PMID: 19136123 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Many types of indices have been developed to assess benthic invertebrate community condition, but there have been few studies evaluating the relative performance of different index approaches. Here we calibrate and compare the performance of five indices: the Benthic Response Index (BRI), Benthic Quality Index (BQI), Relative Benthic Index (RBI), River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS), and the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI). We also examine whether index performance improves when the different indices, which rely on measurement of different properties, are used in combination. The five indices were calibrated for two geographies using 238 samples from southern California marine bays and 125 samples from polyhaline San Francisco Bay. Index performance was evaluated by comparing index assessments of 35 sites to the best professional judgment of nine benthic experts. None of the individual indices performed as well as the average expert in ranking sample condition or evaluating whether benthic assemblages exhibited evidence of disturbance. However, several index combinations outperformed the average expert. When results from both habitats were combined, two four-index combinations and a three-index combination performed best. However, performance differences among several combinations were small enough that factors such as logistics can also become a consideration in index selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ananda Ranasinghe
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA.
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Borja A, Ranasinghe A, Weisberg SB. Assessing ecological integrity in marine waters, using multiple indices and ecosystem components: challenges for the future. Mar Pollut Bull 2008; 59:1-4. [PMID: 19084876 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
During the last decade, there have been substantial scientific advances in the development of indices that measure the condition of biological ecosystem elements in coastal and estuarine waters. Though successful, these advances were only the initial steps and a special session on use of indices in ecological integrity assessments was held at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation meeting to focus the field on the most appropriate directions for the next decade. The session identified four primary scientific challenges: (i) reduce the array of indices by identifying the index approaches that are most widely successful; (ii) establish minimum criteria for index validation; (iii) intercalibrate methods to achieve uniform assessment scales across geographies and habitats; and (iv) integrate indices across ecosystem elements. Where an explosion of indices characterized the last decade, the next decade needs to be characterized by consolidation. With increased knowledge and understanding about the strengths and weaknesses of competing index approaches, the field needs to unify approaches that provide managers with the simple answers they need to use ecological condition information effectively and efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Borja
- AZTI-Tecnalia (Technological Institute for Fisheries and Food), Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea s/n, 20110 Pasaia, Spain.
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46
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Bay S, Berry W, Chapman PM, Fairey R, Gries T, Long E, MacDonald D, Weisberg SB. Evaluating consistency of best professional judgment in the application of a multiple lines of evidence sediment quality triad. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2007; 3:491-497. [PMID: 18046798 DOI: 10.1897/ieam_2007-002.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The bioavailability of sediment-associated contaminants is poorly understood. Often, a triad of chemical concentration measurements, laboratory sediment toxicity tests, and benthic infaunal community condition is used to assess whether contaminants are present at levels of ecological concern. Integration of these 3 lines of evidence is typically based on best professional judgment by experts; however, the level of consistency among expert approach and interpretation has not been determined. In this study, we compared the assessments of 6 experts who were independently provided data from 25 California embayment sites and asked to rank the relative condition of each site from best to worst. The experts were also asked to place each site into 1 of 6 predetermined categories of absolute condition. We provided no guidance regarding assessment approach or interpretation of supplied data. The relative ranking of the sites was highly correlated among the experts, with an average correlation coefficient of 0.92. Although the experts' relative rankings were highly correlated, the categorical assessments were much less consistent, with only 1 site out of 25 assigned to the same absolute condition category by all 6 experts. Most of the observed categorical differences were small in magnitude and involved the weighing of different lines of evidence in individual assessment approaches, rather than interpretation of signals within a line of evidence. We attribute categorical differences to the experts' use of individual best professional judgment and consider these differences to be indicative of potential uncertainty in the evaluation of sediment quality. The results of our study suggest that specifying key aspects of the assessment approach a priori and aligning the approach to the study objectives can reduce this uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bay
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, California 92626, USA.
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Colford JM, Wade TJ, Schiff KC, Wright CC, Griffith JF, Sandhu SK, Burns S, Sobsey M, Lovelace G, Weisberg SB. Water quality indicators and the risk of illness at beaches with nonpoint sources of fecal contamination. Epidemiology 2007; 18:27-35. [PMID: 17149140 DOI: 10.1097/01.ede.0000249425.32990.b9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indicator bacteria are a good predictor of illness at marine beaches that have point sources of pollution with human fecal content. Few studies have addressed the utility of indicator bacteria where nonpoint sources are the dominant fecal input. Extrapolating current water-quality thresholds to such locations is uncertain. METHODS In a cohort of 8797 beachgoers at Mission Bay, California, we measured baseline health at the time of exposure and 2 weeks later. Water samples were analyzed for bacterial indicators (enterococcus, fecal coliforms, total coliforms) using both traditional and nontraditional methods, ie, chromogenic substrate or quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A novel bacterial indicator (Bacteroides) and viruses (coliphage, adenovirus, norovirus) also were measured. Associations of 14 health outcomes with both water exposure and water quality indicators were assessed. RESULTS Diarrhea and skin rash incidence were the only symptoms that were increased in swimmers compared with nonswimmers. The incidence of illness was not associated with any of the indicators that traditionally are used to monitor beaches. Among nontraditional water quality indicators, associations with illness were observed only for male-specific coliphage, although a low number of participants were exposed to water at times when coliphage was detected. CONCLUSIONS Traditional fecal indicators currently used to monitor these beaches were not associated with health risks. These results suggest a need for alternative indicators of water quality where nonpoint sources are dominant fecal contributors.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Colford
- University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA.
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Orozco-Borbón MV, Rico-Mora R, Weisberg SB, Noble RT, Dorsey JH, Leecaster MK, McGee CD. Bacteriological water quality along the Tijuana-Ensenada, Baja California, México shoreline. Mar Pollut Bull 2006; 52:1190-6. [PMID: 16678215 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This survey was part of a Binational Program (Mexico-United States) in microbiological water quality, with a goal to assess the shoreline bacteriological water quality from Tijuana to Ensenada, Mexico. Samples were collected at 29 sites (19 beaches and 10 outfalls), from the United States border to Punta Banda, Baja California, during summer (1998) and winter (1999). Total coliforms, fecal coliforms and enterococci were used as bacterial indicators. Standard methods were used for total and fecal coliforms, while the Enterolert quick method (IDEXX) was used for the enterococci. Compared with outfalls, the beaches exceeded water quality standards by a small percent, 25.3% in summer and 17% in winter. For outfalls, the percentage of shoreline that exceeded bacterial indicator thresholds had a minor value in summer (32.7%) than in winter (50%). Sites near wastewater discharges had the lowest quality and did not meet the microbiological water quality criteria for recreational use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma Victoria Orozco-Borbón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Km. 103 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, Ensenada, BC, Mexico.
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49
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Griffith JF, Aumand LA, Lee IM, McGee CD, Othman LL, Ritter KJ, Walker KO, Weisberg SB. Comparison and verification of bacterial water quality indicator measurement methods using ambient coastal water samples. Environ Monit Assess 2006; 116:335-44. [PMID: 16779600 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-006-7571-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2004] [Accepted: 05/18/2005] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
More than 30 laboratories routinely monitor water along southern California's beaches for bacterial indicators of fecal contamination. Data from these efforts frequently are combined and compared even though three different methods (membrane filtration (MF), multiple tube fermentation (MTF), and chromogenic substrate (CS) methods) are used. To assess data comparability and quantify variability within method and across laboratories, 26 laboratories participated in an intercalibration exercise. Each laboratory processed three replicates from eight ambient water samples employing the method or methods they routinely use for water quality monitoring. Verification analyses also were conducted on a subset of wells from the CS analysis to confirm or exclude the presence of the target organism. Enterococci results were generally comparable across methods. Confirmation revealed a 9% false positive rate and a 4% false negative rate in the CS method for enterococci, though these errors were small in the context of within- and among-laboratory variability. Fecal coliforms also were comparable across all methods, though CS underestimated the other methods by about 10%, probably because it measures only E. coli, rather than the larger fecal coliform group measured by MF and MTF. CS overestimated total coliforms relative to the other methods by several fold and was found to have a 40% false positive rate in verification. Across-laboratory variability was small relative to within- and among-method variability, but only after data entry errors were corrected. One fifth of the laboratories committed data entry errors that were much larger than any method-related errors. These errors are particularly significant because these data were submitted in a test situation where laboratories were aware they would be under increased scrutiny. Under normal circumstances, it is unlikely that these errors would have been detected and managers would have been obliged to issue beach water quality warnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA 92683, USA.
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50
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Abstract
Monitoring of recreational beaches for fecal indicator bacteria is currently performed using culture-based technology that can require more than a day for laboratory analysis, during which time swimmers are at risk. Here we review new methods that have the potential to reduce the measurement period to less than an hour. These methods generally involve two steps. The first is target capture, in which the microbial group of interest (or some molecular/chemical/or biochemical signature of the group) is removed, tagged or amplified to differentiate it from the remaining material in the sample. We discuss three classes of capture methods: 1) Surface and whole-cell recognition methods, including immunoassay techniques and molecule-specific probes; 2) Nucleic acid methods, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) and microarrays; and 3) Enzyme/substrate methods utilizing chromogenic or fluorogenic substrates. The second step is detection, in which optical, electrochemical or piezoelectric technologies are used to quantify the captured, tagged or amplified material. The biggest technological hurdle for all of these methods is sensitivity, as EPA's recommended bathing water standard is less than one cell per ml and most detection technologies measure sample volumes less than 1 ml. This challenge is being overcome through addition of preconcentration or enrichment steps, which have the potential to boost sensitivity without the need to develop new detector technology. The second hurdle is demonstrating a relationship to health risk, since most new methods are based on measuring cell structure without assessing viability and may not relate to current water quality standards that were developed in epidemiology studies using culture-based methods. Enzyme/substrate methods may be the first rapid methods adopted because they are based on the same capture technology as currently-approved EPA methods and their relationship to health risk can be established by demonstrating equivalency to existing procedures. Demonstration of equivalency may also be possible for some surface and whole-cell recognition methods that capture bacteria in a potentially viable state. Nucleic acid technologies are the most versatile, but measure nonviable structure and will require inclusion in epidemiological studies to link their measurement with health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T Noble
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, 3431 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA.
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