Evaluation and modeling of environmental stressors affecting enteric microbial survival in soil: Implications for wastewater reuse and risk management.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a small fraction of the solar spectrum, which acts as a key environmental modulator of plant function affecting metabolic regulation and growth. Plant species endemic to the Andes are well adapted to the harsh features of high-altitude climate, including high UV radiation. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers) is a member of Brassicaceae family native to the central Andes of Peru, which grows between 3500 and 4500 m of altitude, where only highland grasses and few hardy bushes can survive. Even though maca has been the focus of recent researches, mainly due to its nutraceutical properties, knowledge regarding its adaptation mechanisms to these particular natural environmental conditions is scarce. In this study, we manipulated solar UV radiation by using UV-transmitting (Control) or blocking (UV-block) filters under field conditions (4138 m above the sea level) in order to understand the impact of UV on morphological and physiological parameters of maca crops over a complete growing season. Compared to the UV-blocking filter, under control condition a significant increase of hypocotyl weight was observed during the vegetative phase together with a marked leaf turnover. Although parameters conferring photosynthetic performance were not altered by UV, carbohydrate allocation between above and underground organs was affected. Control condition did not influence the content of secondary metabolites such as glucosinolates and phenolic compounds in hypocotyls, while some differences were observed in the rosettes. These differences were mainly related to leaf turnover and the protection of new young leaves in control plants. Altogether, the data suggest that maca plants respond to strong UV radiation at high altitudes by a coordinated remobilization and relocation of metabolites between source and sink organs via a possible UV signaling pathway.

Advanced treatment for municipal wastewater reuse in agriculture. UV disinfection: parasite removal and by-product formation

E. coli and enterococci re-growth and decay patterns in cowpats applied to pasturelands were monitored during the spring, summer fall, and winter First-order approximations were used to determine die-off rate coefficients and decimal reduction times (D-values). Higher-order approximations and weather parameters were evaluated by multiple regression analysis to identify environmental parameters impacting in-field E. coli and enterococci decay. First-order kinetics approximated E. coli and enterococci decay rates with regression coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.90. Die-off rate constants were greatest in cowpats applied to pasture during late winter and monitored into summer months for E. coli (k = 0.0995 d(-1)) and applied to the field during the summer and monitored until December for enterococci (k = 0.0978 d(-1)). Decay rates were lowest in cowpats applied to the pasture during the fall and monitored over the winter (k = 0.0581 d(-1) for E. coli, and k = 0.0557 d(-1) for enterococci). Higher-order approximations and the addition of weather variables improved regression coefficients to values ranging from 0.82 to 0.96. Statistically significant variables used in the models for predicting bacterial decay included temperature, solar radiation, rainfall, and relative humidity. Die-off rate coefficients previously reported in the literature are usually the result of laboratory-based studies and are generally higher than the field-based seasonal die-off rate coefficients presented here. To improve predictions of in-field E. coli and enterococci concentrations, this study recommends that higher-order approximations and additional parameters such as weather variables are necessary to better capture re-growth and die-off trends over extended periods of time.

In Mexico, 54 % of the wastewater generated is not treated and it is discharged into the water bodies, soils and irrigation canals, leading to a severe pollution problem. This represents a high risk to human health and aquatic biota. In recent decades, emerging contaminants have been detected in surface water in contact with raw and treated sewage. These compounds and their reactive metabolites cause severe toxicological effects on aquatic organisms and soil microorganisms even at low concentrations. The objective of this work was to analyze the physical and chemical properties: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , boron (B), total phosphorus (P) and trace metals (Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu), and to identify and quantify emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse) in the influent and effluent of Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Morelia, using standardized methodologies, such as infrared spectroscopy FT-IR and mass spectrometry ESI-TOFMS. The values of pH, EC, TDS, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), B, P and trace metals were within the limits set by Mexican standards and international guidelines for wastewater reuse in agriculture. Emerging contaminants identified by ESI-TOF-MS were tetracycline, cefaclor, cefadroxil, ampicillin, clonazepam, lormetazepam, secobarbital, maprotiline, levothyroxine, cis-androsterone, paracetamol, lidocaine, brompheniramine, fexofenadine, amphetamine, morphine, benzoylecgonine, 11-nor-Δ9-THC-9-COOH, dimetilamfetamina, phencyclidine, methadone y polyethyleneglycol. The removal efficiency of these pollutants in the effluent was 25.8 %, with extremes of 0 and 74.5 % for polyethyleneglycol and methadone, respectively.

Natural disinfection of wastewater in marine outfall fields

Occurrence and environmental consequences of microplastics and nanoplastics from agricultural reuse of wastewater and biosolids in the soil ecosystem: A review.

Accurate estimation of reference evapotranspiration is essential for agricultural management and water resources engineering applications. In the present study, the ability and precision of three artificial intelligence (AI) models (i.e., Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost)) were assessed for estimating daily reference evapotranspiration (ET0) using limited weather data from five locations in a warm sub-humid climate in Mexico. The Penman–Monteith FAO-56 equation was used as a reference target for ET0 values. Three different input combinations were investigated, namely: temperature-based (minimum and maximum air temperature), rainfall-based (minimum air temperature, maximum air temperature and rainfall), and relative humidity-based (minimum air temperature, maximum air temperature and relative humidity). Extraterrestrial radiation values were used in all combinations. The temperature-based AI models were compared with the conventional Hargreaves–Samani (HS) model commonly used to estimate ET0 when only temperature records are available. The goodness of fit for all models was assessed in terms of the coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). The results showed that among the AI models evaluated, the SVM models outperformed ANFIS and CatBoost for modeling ET0. Further, the influence of relative humidity and rainfall on the performance of the models was investigated. The analysis indicated that relative humidity significantly improved the accuracy of the models. Finally, the results showed a better response of the temperature-based AI models over the HS method. AI models can be an adequate alternative to conventional models for ET0 modeling.

Heterogeneous reactions of SO2 on ZnO particle surfaces were studied using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The influences of relative humidity (RH) and UV radiation (λ ≈ 365 nm) were investigated. In the absence of UV radiation, sulfite was the prominent product on the particle surfaces, and a negative relationship between RH and sulfite production was observed. In the presence of UV radiation, infrared (IR) absorption of sulfite and sulfate was evident in the spectra. With increasing RH or UV intensity, sulfite was gradually transformed into sulfate. UV intensity and RH exhibited a synergistic effect on the heterogeneous oxidation of SO2 on ZnO. On dry particles and with no UV radiation, the reaction order of SO2 on ZnO particles was 1.6. The initial uptake coefficient for the formation of sulfite, using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) area as the reactive surface area of SO2, was 4.87 × 10−6. At 40% RH and with UV radiation, the reaction order was 0.91, and the initial uptake coefficient was 2.29 × 10−5.

Coliform die-off rate constants in a high rate algal pond and the effect of operational and environmental variables

High rate algal ponds (HRAPs) are an adaptation of waste stabilisation ponds, in which increased treatment efficiency and reduced pond area are achieved by optimising conditions for algal photosynthetic oxygen production. If the treated effluent is subsequently to be reused for irrigation of crops and recreational areas, from a public health viewpoint it is important to reduce the risk of contamination by pathogenic organisms. The microbiological quality of effluents is traditionally assessed by enumerating the coliform group of organisms. Die-off rate constants (Kb) of 0.35 − 2.34 d−1 were measured for E.coli in outdoor ponds operating on synthetic sewage mix with acetate as the carbon source (260 kg COD ha−1 d−1) at a range of depths from 12 to 34 cm. There were significant positive effects of pH, irradiance and pond depth on Kb. Light penetration throughout the pond depth was calculated and shown to be a useful parameter for the prediction of Kb. Multiple regression equations describing the influence of these environmental parameters on die-off rate constant were derived. Dry matter concentration negatively affected light penetration but had a positive influence upon pH. Pond operating conditions to maximise E.coli die-off are discussed.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation and atmospheric ozone are critical determinants of ecosystem dynamics and human health. This study aimed to assess the terrestrial profile of solar UV radiation and its genotoxic risk in the South American subtropical region (29° S 53° W). From 2005 to 2021, ground-based physical sensors showed an increase of approximately 50% in UVB (280-315 nm; +0.28 kJ/m2 per year), but no significant trend in UVA (315-400 nm). Despite the existence of four defined climatic seasons, simultaneous measurements using UVA, UVB, and DNA-based sensors revealed two distinct UV seasons: a high-UV season encompassing spring and summer, and a low-UV season encompassing winter and autumn. Notably, spring sunlight was found to be as genotoxic as summer sunlight, and even winter and autumn sunlight may pose a genotoxic risk on cloudless days, as indicated by measurements of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and oxidized bases. Given the rising UVB levels without an increase in UVA, we investigated satellite-derived ozone data from NASA's ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) and total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) sensors across South America and Antarctica. Overall, analysis from 1979 to 2021 showed negative ozone trends at 2° S 54° W (Santarém), 23° S 46° W (São Paulo), and 29° S 53° W (Santa Maria) even after the onset of the Montreal Protocol, while positive trends were observed at 53° S 70° W (Punta Arenas) and 62° S 58° W (Brazilian Antarctic Station) following the protocol. Strikingly, the UVB and ozone trends observed across seasons suggest that ozone is being transported poleward persistently rather than seasonally, possibly driven by a climate change-induced acceleration of the Brewer-Dobson Circulation. This persistent pattern demonstrates that ozone depletion at low and mid-latitudes is not limited to springtime but persists throughout the year. Our findings indicate that low- and mid-latitudes in South America are experiencing climate changes, stratospheric ozone depletion, and increased UVB incidence, resulting in heightened genotoxic risks, highlighting the urgent need for monitoring and mitigation strategies.

Improved numerical model for steel reinforcement corrosion in concrete considering influences of temperature and relative humidity

Elucidation of fecal inputs into the River Tagus catchment (Portugal) using source-specific mitochondrial DNA, HAdV, and phage markers

This study demonstrates that an activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant with UV disinfection reduces to levels below the detection limit those single-stranded RNA viruses as noroviruses and astroviruses and reach significant lower levels of rotaviruses and adenoviruses after the complete treatment process.

Despite the great development in modeling the I-V characteristics of the PV module, the outdoor conditions variations still the main difficulty to predict its performances. In this work, anew approach proposed to reconstruct the I-V characteristic of a PV module under variousreal conditions of irradiance and temperature. Based on the characterization tests data, carried out on four different PV modules technologies (monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, thin film CIS and amorphous silicon), under semi-arid environment conditions of Ghardaia site, a developed methodology has been presented. It consists of exploiting a set of the five parameters data versus irradiance and temperature obtained via the five parameters model. The assembled data have been reconstructed via analytical and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) models, for each PV module technology. The reconstructed of five parameters model obtained by ANFIS modelgive a good precision for all tested PV module types, in comparison to the analytical model.