Contamination Of Water Supplies Research Articles

Novel fibrous Ag(NP) decorated clay-polymer composite: Implications in water purification contaminated with predominant micro-pollutants and bacteria

Due to the potential harm caused by emerging micro-pollutants to living organisms, contaminating water supplies by micro-pollutants like EDCs, pharmaceuticals, and microorganisms has become a concern in many countries. Considering both microbiological and micro-pollutant exposure risks associated with water use for agricultural/or household purposes, it is imperative to create a strategy for improving pollutant removal from treated wastewater that is both effective and affordable. Natural clay minerals efficiently remove contaminants from wastewater, though the pristine clay has less affinity to several organic pollutants. Hydrophilic polymers, viz., poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), improve the dispersion of particles, flocculation processes, and surface properties. In this study, PEG grafted with attapulgite, thereby providing a high-specific surface-area, mesoporous materials for the adsorption of micro-pollutants like ciprofloxacin (CIP) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) at high rates. A gentle washing process regenerates the clay-polymer material several times with no performance loss, and the natural water implications show fair applicability of solid in decontaminating the CIP and EE2 in an aqueous medium. Further, greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles in situ disperse with the clay polymer efficiently remove the gram-positive and gram-negative bacterium viz., Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are commonly persistent in aquatic environments. The clay polymer outperformed a modified clay composite to eliminate microorganisms and organic micro-pollutants in significant quantities quickly. These results clearly show the importance of fibrous clay-polymer composite for water purification technologies.

Petroleum Exploration in the Niger Delta Region and Implications for the Environment: A Review

Petroleum exploration and production in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, has been a significant source of revenue and foreign exchange for the country. Nevertheless, this industry has also been blamed for serious environmental pollution in the region. This review aims to shed light on the implications of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta region and the resultant environmental damage it has caused. One of the most severe consequences of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta is the frequent occurrence of oil spills. Due to aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and criminal activities such as oil theft, pipeline spills have become a recurrent problem. Oil spills lead to the destruction of farmland, loss of biodiversity, poisoning of water sources, and widespread contamination of ecosystems. Petroleum exploration and production activities release substantial pollutants into the atmosphere, posing a significant threat to both human health and the environment. The burning of natural gas during oil production, also known as flaring, is particularly prevalent in the Niger Delta. This practice results in the emission of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide, contributing to climate change, respiratory diseases, and acid rain. Petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta has led to significant damage to forests and mangrove ecosystems. The destruction of these vital habitats has serious implications for species survival. Oil exploration activities often release harmful chemicals and wastes into the region's water bodies. These pollutants infiltrate the groundwater and surface water, leading to contamination that poses severe risks to human health and aquatic life. Contaminated water supplies have been linked to increased instances of skin diseases, as well as liver and kidney problems among the local population. The negative environmental implications of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta also have severe socioeconomic consequences. Displaced fishermen and farmers face declining livelihoods, while sporadic employment opportunities generated by the oil industry do not compensate for the long-term damage inflicted on the region.

Comparison of negatively and positively charged thin‐film nanocomposite membranes for boron removal

AbstractThe increasing demand for boron has resulted in its contamination of water supplies. Nanofiltration membranes, particularly thin‐film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, have shown promise in removing contaminants. This study evaluated the boron removal capabilities of negatively and positively charged TFN membranes alongside a control thin‐film composite (TFC) membrane without nanoparticles. Piperazine (PIP, for negatively charged membrane) or polyethyleneimine (PEI, for positively charged membrane) aqueous monomer was reacted with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in n‐hexane solution via interfacial polymerization (IP) on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane substrate to form the TFC membrane. During the TFN membrane preparation, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and sulfocalix[4]arene (SCA4) were introduced as active nanoparticles to the aqueous monomer. Boron removal performance was evaluated using a 10 ppm aqueous boron solution. The PES substrate gave the highest water flux, which was 307.80 LMH. For the TFC membrane, TFC–PIP had a higher water flux at 113.71 LMH than TFC–PEI. Furthermore, the TFN membranes containing the PEI monomer had a lower water flux than those containing the PIP monomer. These findings highlight the potential of TFN membranes, particularly those incorporating nanoparticles, for effective boron removal. Further research and optimization of TFN membranes can contribute to addressing the challenge of boron contamination in water supplies.

Incidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in private drinking water supplies in Southwest Virginia, USA

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made contaminants of human health concern due to their resistance to degradation, widespread environmental occurrence, bioaccumulation in living organisms, and potential negative health impacts. Private drinking water supplies may be uniquely vulnerable to PFAS contamination in impacted areas, as these systems are not protected under federal regulations and often include limited treatment or remediation, if contaminated, prior to use. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of PFAS contamination in private drinking water supplies in two counties in Southwest Virginia, USA (Floyd and Roanoke) that share similar bedrock geologies, are representative of different state Department of Health risk categories, and to examine the potential for reliance on citizen-science based strategies for sample collection in subsequent efforts. Samples for inorganic ions, bacteria, and PFAS analysis were collected on separate occasions by participants and experts at the home drinking water point of use (POU) for comparison. Experts also collected outside tap samples for analysis of 30 PFAS compounds. At least one PFAS was detectable in 95 % of POU samples collected (n = 60), with a mean total PFAS concentration of 23.5 ± 30.8 ppt. PFOA and PFOS, two PFAS compounds which presently have EPA health advisories, were detectable in 13 % and 22 % of POU samples, respectively. On average, each POU sample contained >3 PFAS compounds, and one sample contained as many as 8 compounds, indicating that exposure to a mixture of PFAS in drinking water may be occurring. Although there were significant differences in total PFAS concentrations between expert and participant collected samples (Wilcoxon, alpha = 0.05), collector bias was inconsistent, and may be due to the time of day of sampling (i.e. morning, afternoon) or specific attributes of a given home. Further research is required to resolve sources of intra-sample variability.

Isolation and Characterization of Heavy Metal-Tolerant Bacterial Isolates from Industrial Effluents in Uttar Pradesh, India

Industrial activities over the past century have significantly increased human exposure to pollutants such as heavy metals. Industrial emissions of heavy metals, which are carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic, contaminate natural water supplies and the agricultural environment. Due to the high concentration of heavy metals in industrial effluents, the bacteria present there naturally develop resistance to heavy metals. The aim of this study is to isolate and characterize bacteria resistant to heavy metal, lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) from sites contaminated by industrial effluents in Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 58 bacterial isolates were isolated from 9 samples according to their various morphological parameters and 32 isolates were found positive for all heavy metals, which revealed that samples contained metal-resistant bacterial diversity. Two isolates were identified up to species level based on their physiological, biochemical and molecular characterization as Comamonas testosteroni (S4C1) and Bacillus cereus (S5C3). Both isolates are highly resistant to lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) and they show different MICs against the above heavy metals at different levels. A growth experiment showed that the presence of heavy metals concentration had no discernible impact on the growth rate among the isolates. Gel analysis showed interesting patterns of protein expression were observed in the presence of various heavy metals. MALDI-TOF analysis found that specific proteins (S layer protein, F0F1ATP synthase subunit b, Flagellin, 50S ribosomal protein L4, Molecular chaperone) were overexpressed in the presence of heavy metals. As a result, identifying the heavy metal resistance bacteria and their proteins study could be useful as a preliminary investigation for the development of prospective bioremediation agents of potentially hazardous waste treatment technology.

The role of vulnerability assessments in USA agricultural animal operations

Major disaster events such as hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes and tornadoes pose significant challenges to agricultural production every year. Commercial livestock and poultry operations are highly dependent on favourable environment, weather conditions and infrastructure to thrive. Adverse conditions during extreme weather events and other emergencies can result in significant loss of animals and commodities due to disruptions in utilities and critical services, facility damage, contamination of feed and water supplies, environmental extremes and biosecurity lapses. The effects on production can be long lasting and cumulative. Being able to identify, assess and mitigate potential vulnerabilities that lower risk helps organisations to prepare for and recover from these events. This paper provides an overview of the vulnerability assessment process in the United States that focuses on general and better practices that should be considered when applying these principles to commercial livestock and poultry operations. This approach has broad advantages for all countries where livestock and agriculture are exposed to these risks.

Health Issues Caused by Water Pollution to Predict Using Logistic Regression Model By IJISRT

Water pollution is the entry of substances into streams that make water unsafe for human use and disrupt marine natural frameworks. The mockery of water can be achieved by many different poisons, as well as harmful substances, oil, but also disease-causing microorganisms. Damaged current and additionally deplorable sanitation are associated with the transmission of contaminations eg cholera, dehiscence, loose bowels, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio. Missing, insufficient, or improperly supervised water and disinfectant administration open people up to the preventable well- being of gambling. Cholera micro-organisms are unlikely to cause disease in all individuals exposed to them, but they actually shed the microbes in their stools, which can contaminate food and water supplies. Contaminated water supplies are a major source of cholera. Bacteria can be viewed as: Surface or well water. Using artificial intelligence technology, we predict cholera disease.

Avian architects: Technology, domestication, and animal minds in urban America.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was introduced to the United States, quickly spreading across the country. For a brief period in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the observation of sparrow behavior was something of an urban pastime. Traits such as intelligence, reason, persistence, and craftsmanship were conferred onto sparrows by American urbanites. This paper argues that sparrow intelligence was often conflated with domestication: the ability of the birds to adapt to living alongside humans. Praise for the ingenuity of sparrows generally revolved around their nest building, particularly when such structures overcame the challenges posed by urban infrastructure and technology. Sparrows were far less praiseworthy when they caused electricity outages or contaminated water supplies. The sparrow in the United States demonstrates how the relationship between these anecdotes and their implications for animal minds was mediated by the technology and infrastructure of cities. Admirers of sparrows were not measuring the birds' mental capacity, but rather their ability to adapt to human habitations. Sparrows were only granted intelligence once they had demonstrated their ability to become domesticated.

Novel electrochemical sensing platform for accurate detection of benzylpenicillin based on a graphene oxide-manganese ferrite modified carbon paste electrode

Antibiotic overuse and environmental disregard result in water supply contamination, caused antibiotic resistance. Given the global health concern, developing a sensitive, simple, and low-cost antibiotic sensor is critical. In this study, graphene oxide was incorporated with MnFe2O4 to modify the carbon paste electrode (CPE) as a new electrochemical platform for detecting benzylpenicillin, the widely used antibiotic. A comparative chemical and structural characterization of the synthesized MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and GO/MnFe2O4 nanocomposites (NCs) verified that the successful integration of spherical particles of MnFe2O4 NPs onto GO nanosheets produces a rough surface. Furthermore, the structure and electrochemical characterization of the developed GO/MnFe2O4/CPE were conducted via field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The proposed electrode presented enhanced active surface area and electrocatalytic performed due to the superior features of the used modifiers, which work synergistically. The GO/MnFe2O4/CPE demonstrated a high-performance benzylpenicillin sensing platform, giving a detection limit of 145 nM and sensitivity of 15.16 μAμM-1cm−1 as measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) within two dynamic ranges of 1–100 μM and 100–1000 μM. The created sensor was applied as a practical apparatus for the electrochemical determination of benzylpenicillin in water samples.

Spatio-temporal variability of public water supply characteristics and associated health hazards for children and adults in selected locations of Ambala, India.

The contamination of public water supply and groundwater resources is a major concern in many parts of developing nations. Polluted water poses serious health risks to humans and the environment. This research was conducted to investigate the seasonal variations of the water quality parameters in the public water supply. To assess the supply water quality in different blocks of Ambala District, hydro-chemical analysis was conducted after a series of systematic sampling in various locations. The statistical tools for water quality indexing including water quality indexing (WQI), heavy metal pollution indexing (HMPI), pollution indexing (PI), overall pollution indexing (OPI), metal indexing (MI), and hazard indexing (HI) were used for data as well as the health hazard analysis through water pathway. Overall, 40 water samples were taken from the public water supply systems covering winter and summer seasons, and the levels of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), EC, F- , Cl- , NO3 - , SO4 2- , HCO3 - , As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, Cr, Fe, and Mn were investigated. The weight arithmetic index method was used for WQI, and water pollution indices such as HMPI, PI, OPI, and MI were calculated using different models to check the severity of contamination. The mean hazard quotient and hazard index values calculated using the concentration levels of As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, F- , and NO3 - reveal that supply water may pose a significant health risk to both adults and children that further varies with temporal and spatial changes. During both seasons, a high carcinogenic risk for both adults and children was observed in the studied area because of high levels of As, Pb, Cd, and NO3 - . PRACTITIONER POINTS: The quality of public supply water was assessed at the selected sites of Ambala, India. High levels of NO3 - , As, Cd, and Pb were observed posing a health risk to adults and children via water pathway. 95% of the samples qualified for the excellent water quality category with respect to the levels of F- , Cl- , NO3 - , SO4 2- , HCO3 - , pH, EC, and TDS. Statistical analysis (HMPI, PI, MI, OPI, HI) using different models revealed water contamination with reference to the levels of NO3 - , As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd. Immediate measures are needed to uphold the safety and health of the natives.

Real-time karst groundwater monitoring and bacterial analysis as early warning strategies for drinking water supply contamination

Karst aquifers have been globally exploited as a reliable source of drinking water but their intrinsic characteristics (concentrated recharge, high groundwater flow velocities, etc.) and the increase of anthropogenic pressures makes them highly vulnerable to pollution. Continuous monitoring of karst springs constitutes an effective approach for identifying episodic groundwater contamination and assuring safety conditions in drinking water supply systems. This study aims to improve groundwater protection insights through an integrated methodological approach based on real-time measurements of continuous water parameters coupled to bacterial analysis for the characterization of contamination events in a carbonate karst aquifer of a mountainous and rural area in S Spain. For this purpose, environmental, hydrodynamic and physico-chemical data in addition to bacterial activity (Escherichia coli) analysis were gathered from the analysis of eight flooding events at the two main outlets. In these karst springs, partially captured for drinking water supply, the recurrent turbid groundwater episodes suppose an important limitation for groundwater exploitation during several days, but also a concerning human health risk. The results revealed the different flow and sediment dynamics and mixing processes which determine the impact of faecal contamination derived from human activities on the karst groundwater drained by each spring. The described processes control the variable influence of allogenic recharge, which provokes notable differences regarding response times and maximum values of turbidity and associated bacterial activity in the investigated outlets. The outcomes of this work highlight the usefulness of the applied methodological framework to set the bases for an efficient implementation of early-warning strategies to prevent public health issues worldwide.

Isolation and identification of bacteria from solid waste deposit sites for the degradation of heavy metals

Heavy metals from solid waste deposits that are toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic contaminate natural water supplies and agricultural environments. The purpose of this project is to separate and characterize naturally occurring bacteria that can reduce and detoxify heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, chromium, and mercury) from solid waste dumping sites. Ten strains in total were isolated from the samples; the two best-performing isolates, Shewanella oneidensis strain AGB 4 (Isolate 5) and Bacillus pumilus strain AGB 11 (Isolate 6) were recognized up to the genus level based on their 16S rRNA identification studies. These isolates demonstrated resistance to every heavy metal that was examined in the solid waste. The MICs for the two isolates varied in relation to the amounts of the heavy metals listed above. The solid waste isolates grew best at pH 7.0, 30°C and an incubation period of 24 hours. Utilizing an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to measure degradation potential, Shewanella oneidensis demonstrated the most removable capability for copper (60%) and the lowest removable capability for lead, arsenic and mercury (45%) and Bacillus pumilus demonstrated a reduction of 48% in mercury and arsenic and 65% in copper. Bacillus pumilus and Shewanella oneidensis may be able to break down heavy metals through plasmids, which could be used to change plasmids so they can carry the ability to accumulate heavy metals. Thus, determining the resistance to heavy metals and biodegradation potential of two bacteria could serve as a foundational investigation for the development of viable local biological remediation agents in solid waste deposit sites.

Incidence of Microbial Pattern Pre and Post Infection Control Training at Newly Established Teaching Centre; Experience from Pakistan

Abstract Introduction Healthcare associated infection (HAI) is global health problem and main reasons behind these infections are suboptimal infection control practices along with excessive antibiotics consumption [1]. On the other hand, environmental factors including inadequate ventilation, bed spacing, contaminated water supply, environmental surfaces and improper disposal of waste are other concerns. The HAI risk can be minimized by implementation of infection prevention and control program, which is comprised of activities directed to dig out problems and applying various techniques to bring about a change in healthcare workers attitude in order to improve infection control practices [2].In the last decade infection prevention and control at hospital has been significantly improved globally. Measures such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, culture based screening are implemented in order to minimize hospital stay, morbidity and mortality. Objective The study was conducted to compare the difference in infection control at our hospital before and after taking measurement at our newly established centre. Material and Method It was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out at our new campus. The study was conducted from February 2018 to January 2019.Ethical approval was taken from research committee prior to the study and informed consent was taken from the patients and staff. The study was fabricated in two phases i.e. initial and later six months of hospital establishment. Based on the results obtained in the initial six months, we assigned an infection control team, along with facilitation of training sessions for our staff. Culture samples were taken from patients, patient’s rooms, patient’s wards, accessories inside the patient’s room, from counters and corridors. Blood cultures were performed using the BACTEC blood culture system. Organisms were identified according to routine bacteriological procedures and disc diffusion method was used for interpreting antibiotic susceptibility. Data were included cultures reports taken from the laboratory. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 23.0 was used. Descriptive statistics was applied for categorical variables and Chi square test was used to observe the association with significance level as p=<0.05. Results A total of 1151 cultures were sent including patients, staff and environmental cultures. Out of which 681 (59%) were sent in initial phase and 470 (41%) were sent in later phase. The number of samples sent in initial and later phase and its distribution is depicted in Table 1. The growth of organisms was observed in initial and later phase from the samples and it was found out that there was increased rate of fungal growth in environment cultures in initial and later phase. In majority of the patient’s samples, no bacterial growth was reported in initial and later phase. (Table 2)Overall, absence of any organisms was found to be statistically same in both phases. However, bacterial and fungal growth reduced in later than the initial phase and the reduction in fungal growth was statistically significant as shown in Table 3 The samples taken from the patients and environment in initial and later phase were compared and are depicted in table 4. The growth of organism from the environment, accessories inside the patient’s room, nursing counter, and patients was found statistically non-significant. Conclusion Our study revealed that the number of organisms isolated in initial phase was greater than the later phase but the reduction was not significant. Bringing about a change in healthcare workers attitude is always a big challenge. Constant reinforcement is impending for compliance of healthcare professionals towards infection control and prevention. Referernces 1) Shelanah A. Fernando GT, Thomas G. Healthcare-acquired infections: prevention strategies. Int J Gen Med 2017; 47:1341-51. 2) Lee MH, Lee GA, Lee SH, Park YH. Effectiveness and core components of infection prevention and control programmes in long-term care facilities: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect 2019; 102: 377-393

Identification of interferon-stimulated genes with modulated expression during hepatitis E virus infection in pig liver tissues and human HepaRG cells.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis worldwide. The virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route via the consumption of contaminated water supplies and is also a zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Swine are the main reservoir of zoonotic HEV. In humans, HEV infection is usually asymptomatic or causes acute hepatitis that is self-limited. However, fulminant hepatic failure and chronic cases of HEV infection can occur in some patients. In contrast, HEV infection in pigs remains asymptomatic, although the virus replicates efficiently, suggesting that swine are able to control the virus pathogenesis. Upon viral infection, IFN is secreted and activates cellular pathways leading to the expression of many IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). ISGs can restrict the replication of specific viruses and establish an antiviral state within infected and neighboring cells. In this study, we used PCR arrays to determine the expression level of up to 168 ISGs and other IFN-related genes in the liver tissues of pigs infected with zoonotic HEV-3c and HEV-3f and in human bipotent liver HepaRG cells persistently infected with HEV-3f. The expression of 12 and 25 ISGs was found to be up-regulated in infected swine livers and HepaRG cells, respectively. The expression of CXCL10, IFIT2, MX2, OASL and OAS2 was up-regulated in both species. Increased expression of IFI16 mRNA was also found in swine liver tissues. This study contributes to the identification of potential ISGs that could play a role in the control or persistence of HEV infection.

J-Aggregate-Triggering BODIPYs: an Ultrasensitive Chromogenic and Fluorogenic Sensing Platform for Perfluorooctanesulfonate.

Contamination of water supplies by polyfluoroalkyl substances, notably perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has serious health and environmental consequences. Therefore, the development of straightforward and effective means of monitoring and removing PFASs is urgently required. In this study, we report a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of PFOS and PFOA in water that rely on the J-aggregate formation of meso-ester-BODIPY dyes. The dye C10-mim, which contains a hydrophilic methylimidazolium group and a hydrophobic alkylated BODIPY, self-assembles in water into weakly green-emissive micellar assemblies. Upon binding to PFOS or PFOA, a spontaneous disassembly and reorganization forms orange-emissive J-aggregates. The rapid formation (≤5 s) of J-aggregates and the accompanying spectral shifts provide a superior sensing performance, with excellent sensitivity (limit of detection=0.18 ppb for PFOS) and distinct chromogenic and fluorogenic "turn-on" responses.

Water Pollution and Cancer: An Updated Review

Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and groundwater with harmful substances, leading to serious health hazards. One major concern linked to water pollution is its association with cancer. Numerous studies have substantiated that exposure to contaminants in polluted water sources can significantly increase the risk of developing various types of cancers. Chemicals like heavy metals (e.g., arsenic, lead), industrial pollutants (e.g., benzene, vinyl chloride), and pesticides have been detected in contaminated water supplies worldwide. These carcinogens not only contaminate the water but also accumulate in aquatic organisms consumed by humans, ultimately entering our food chain. Certain chemicals act as mutagens or tumor promoters, damaging DNA and causing genetic mutations that can lead to cancer development. Additionally, long-term exposure to these pollutants can weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off cancer cells effectively. Consequently, preventive actions must be undertaken swiftly at domestic, industrial, and governmental levels to reduce this pervasive threat through regulated waste disposal practices and advanced purification technologies.

Porous block polymer composite membranes for uranium uptake

Adsorptive membranes are an effective solution to capture uranium from seawater and contaminated water supplies. Current fibrous membrane-based sorbents suffer from a low density of binding ligands at the solid–liquid interface and broad pore size distributions. These issues lead to problems such as low binding capacity and gradual breakthrough curves during flow-through adsorption. We sought to address these challenges by developing highly permeable (i.e., ∼3.5×104 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) amidoxime-functionalized polysulfone(Psf)/polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-PAA) composite membranes. A surface-segregation and vapor-induced phase separation (SVIPS) method was used to fabricate membranes that have an interconnected pore structure with PAA-lined pore walls. The PAA brushes offer a high density of reactive carboxyl sites that enable the surface chemistry to be modified with nitrile groups and then converted to amidoxime (AO) ligands for high-capacity uranium adsorption. The functionalized Psf/PS-PAO membrane removes uranium from dilute solution with a capacity of 150 mg g−1. Flow-through experiments demonstrate rapid mass transfer of the membranes, which adsorb over 90% of the uranyl ions from flowing solutions at feed concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg L−1. Batch sorption–desorption experiments also indicate reusability of membranes over several cycles. Therefore, this membrane-based sorbents offers a chemically tailored platform for high-efficient uranium capture under trace concentrations.

The Rise of Non-typhoidal Salmonella Infections in India: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections (NTS) are a growing concern in India, posing a significant health risk to the population. These infections are becoming more common at worrisome rates, primarily because of inadequate surveillance. Salmonella non-typhoidal causes severe gastroenteritis andcan even cause invasive infections, such as bacteremia, and focal infections, such as meningitis and septic arthritis, and is acquired through contaminated food and water sources. From moderate to severe, the symptoms might vary. Certain serovars exhibit a stronger propensity for specific syndromes, with serious infections more commonly observed in vulnerable populations. Consuming contaminated food, using inadequate sanitationprocedures while handling meat from animals slaughtered, and contaminated water supplies are some of the causes of these diseases. Proper food and water treatment, better sanitary facilities, public awareness campaigns, and adherence to food safety laws are all part of prevention measures. The issue of antimicrobial resistance further emphasizes the necessity for prudent antibiotic usage. The Indian government has put in place programsincluding public awareness campaigns, better sanitary facilities, and stricter food safety laws. In the future, efforts should, however, concentrate on improving laws, boosting hygienic practices, and funding the development of new medicines and vaccines. These actions will lessen the burden of NTS infections in India by assisting in their prevention and management. This review aims to understand the reasons for this growing tendency, which is essential for creating efficient control and prevention strategies.

ANCIENT PRACTICE TO MODERN TECHNOLOGY: RIVERBANK FILTRATION (RBF) FOR DRINKING WATER

ABSTRACT This study focuses on applying riverbank filtration (RBF) in Malaysia, aiming to address water quality challenges caused by river water pollution, particularly the presence of harmful pathogens that can lead to waterborne diseases. Malaysia heavily relies on surface water as its primary source of potable water, making it crucial to explore practical and sustainable technologies for water treatment. Riverbank filtration is a promising low-cost, environmentally friendly technology that has shown significant potential in reducing the concentration of harmful bacteria and contaminants in water supplies. However, research into RBF's effectiveness in Malaysia has been limited, warranting further investigation and understanding of its application. The study emphasizes the importance of protecting surface water from contamination and conducting risk assessments of microorganisms in groundwater, particularly in the context of RBF implementation. A thorough understanding of the movement and retention of pathogenic bacteria in the aquifer is vital for optimizing RBF's efficiency and ensuring drinking water safety. Moreover, the study highlights the significance of considering soil properties and characteristics to determine suitable sites for RBF application. By providing valuable insights into RBF's potential benefits and capacity to address water quality issues, this research contributes to the advancement of sustainable water resource management in Malaysia, offering a promising solution for safeguarding public health and water security in the country. KEYWORDS: Riverbank filtration (RBF), drinking water, pathogenic pollutants

Single-molecule lipopolysaccharides identification and the interplay with biomolecules via nanopore readout

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the major constituent on the cell envelope of all gram-negative bacteria. They are ubiquitous in air, and are toxic inflammatory stimulators for urinary disorders and sepsis. The reported optical, thermal, and electrochemical sensors via the intermolecular interplay of LPS with proteins and aptamers are generally complicated methods. We demonstrate the single-molecule nanopore approach for LPS identification in distinct bacteria as well as the serotypes discrimination. With a 4 nm nanopore, we achieve a detection limit of 10 ng/mL. Both the antibiotic polymyxin B (PMB) and DNA aptamer display specific binding to LPS. The identification of LPS in both human serum and tap water show good performance with nanopore platforms. Our work shows a highly-sensitive and easy-to-handle scheme for clinical and environmental biomarkers determination and provides a promising screening tool for early warning of contamination in water and medical supplies.