Contamination Incidents Research Articles

Impact of joint dispatch of reservoir group on water pollution incident in drinking water source area

To reduce the harm of water contamination incidents in drinking water source areas (DWSAs) and explore feasible approaches, the research developed a hydrodynamic water quality model for DWSAs based on two dimensional water quality and quantity equations, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The Heshangshan Drinking Water Source Area (HDWSA) in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) was selected as the research area, with total phosphorus (TP) as the representative pollutant in the water. The research investigated the changes in TP content during various hydrological phase under pollution incident, compared the duration and trends of TP concentration exceeding standard value before and after joint reservoir group dispatch. The results showed that the migration speed of TP pollutants varied from slowest to fastest in the following order: dry phase, recession phase, storage phase, and flood phase. Under pollution incident condition, the time demanded for TP content to meet standard value in each water phase was 36 min (dry phase), 33 min (recession phase), 30 min (storage phase), and 27 min (flood phase). The joint dispatch group 1–3 shortened the time required to meet standard value by 6–13 min (dry phase), 5–11 min (recession phase), 4–9 min (storage phase), and 3–7 min (flood phase). The trend of TP concentration before and after joint dispatch showed four stages: significant increase, sharp decrease, rapid decrease, and slow decrease. Joint dispatch of reservoir group can effectively reduced the TP concentration in DWSA under pollution incident.

Literature survey and analysis of phytoremediation strategies for Cs-137 decontamination

Phytoremediation has become a sustainable solution for mitigating cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination and has been implemented in areas affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters. Despite the absence of nuclear power plants in Indonesia, incidents of Cs-137 contamination have been reported in Batan Indah Housing Complex, emphasizing the need for effective decontamination techniques. The aim of this study was to analyze the bibliometric characteristics of research works on phytoremediation in addressing Cs-137 contamination during the last ten years (2013–2022) by foreign and Indonesian authors. This research is important both globally and in specific contexts, such as Indonesia, particularly in the context of policy and practical applications. For example, when facing issues like Cs-137 decontamination in the BATAN Indah area, the research can have local relevance and contribute to solving immediate problems. This study utilized the Scopus database and retrieved 2,123 article titles within this topic over the last decade. Several indicators were used to examine the publications: productivity of authors, collaboration between countries, top-cited articles, keywords analysis, and publication trends. The results show that the number of publications fluctuated over previous decade with an average publications age of 5.54 years. Onda Y from the University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan become the most prolific and collaborative author. Japan being the most productive and collaborative country, while Indonesia ranked 42nd with only 9 publications regarding the topics. The bibliometric analysis provides a foundation for understanding the development of science on this topic and uncovers that there is still plenty of space to conduct phytoremediation research in Indonesia, especially for Cs-137 contaminated soils, which have increased over the years.

Exploring the long-term impact of a cadmium pollution accident on microbial communities in river ecosystems

The large leakage accidents of heavy metals from industrial facilities pose a serious environmental problem; however, not enough studies have been conducted to assess the long-term ecological risk associated with such accidents. This study evaluated changes in the bacterial communities within river sediment and identified the key functional microorganisms responding to the 2012 cadmium contamination incident in the Long River, Guangxi Province, China. Results revealed that after a prolonged period of pollution accidents, cadmium pollution still had a discernible effect on the bacterial communities of the river sediment. In comparison to the control site (S1), the bacterial α-diversity in sediments from the accident area (S3) and its downstream (S5) showed a significant increase following the incident. In the control site, Burkholderiaceae was dominant, while in S3 and S5, Pedosphaeraceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, Nitrospiraceae and Geobacteraceae were significantly increased. Sulfur bacteria were found to be more responsive to this cadmium contamination than other bacteria. At site S3, the abundances of Sulfuricurvum, Sulfurifustis, Thioalkalispira, Desulfobacteraceae and Desulfarculaceae were hundreds of times higher than at site S1, indicating an intensification of sulfur cycling processes. The functional prediction implied that cadmium pollution may promote methane oxidation coupled with sulfate reduction reactions and altered the processes of nitrification and denitrification. Environmental factors influencing the microbial community included the levels of metals (cadmium, arsenic, iron) in sediment, as well as other sediment characteristics like temperature and electrical conductivity. These findings contribute to our understanding of the long-term ecological consequences of environmental pollution in river ecosystems.Graphical abstract

Simulated climate change and atrazine contamination can synergistically impair zebrafish testicular function

Elements that interfere with reproductive processes can have profound impacts on population and the equilibrium of ecosystems. Global warming represents the major environmental challenge of the 21st century, as it will affect all forms of life in the coming decades. Another coexisting concern is the persistent pollution by pesticides, particularly the herbicide Atrazine (ATZ), which is responsible for a significant number of contamination incidents in surface waters worldwide. While it is hypothesized that climate changes will significantly enhance the toxic effects of pesticides, the actual impact of these phenomena remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a climate-controlled room experiment to assess the interactive effects of the projected 2100 climate scenario and environmentally realistic ATZ exposures on the reproductive function of male zebrafish. The gonadosomatic index significantly decreased in fish kept in the extreme scenario. Cellular alterations across spermatogenesis phases led to synergic decreased sperm production and increased germ cell sloughing and death. ATZ exposure alone or combined with climate change effects, disrupted the transcription levels of key genes involved in steroidogenesis, hormone signaling and spermatogenesis regulation. An additive modulation with decreased 11-KT production and increased E2 levels was also evidenced, intensifying the effects of androgen/estrogen imbalance. Moreover, climate change and ATZ independently induced oxidative stress, upregulation of proapoptotic gene and DNA damage in post-meiotic germ cell, but the negative effects of ATZ were greater at extreme scenario. Ultimately, exposure to simulated climate changes severely impaired fertilization capacity, due to a drastic reduction in sperm motility and/or viability. These findings indicate that the future climate conditions have the potential to considerably enhance the toxicity of ATZ at low concentrations, leading to significant deleterious consequences for fish reproductive function and fertility. These may provide relevant information to supporting healthcare and environmental managers in decision-making related to climate changes and herbicide regulation.

Prediction of heavy metal lead contamination accident in Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

Water contamination incidents have become a significant ecological and environmental threat, particularly concerning the security of drinking water source areas (DWSAs). This research aimed to address this issue by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) into bidimensional hydrodynamic water quality mathematical model developed using C + + and FORTRAN programming languages. The focus was on the Heshangshan drinking water source area (HDWSA), and the TECPLOT360 software was utilized for visualizing pollutant migration and dispersion processes. The study specifically considered a hypothetical lead (Pb) contamination accident, which is situated in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA). The spatio-temporal variations in Pb concentration throughout the entire DWSA were analyzed, along with a comparison of Pb concentration changes during different water seasons. The results indicate that, during the accident, the Pb concentration at the water intake in the drought season, decline season, flood season, and impounding season reached the standard limits at 76, 58, 44, and 48 min, respectively. Moreover, the entire DWSA achieved standard levels of Pb concentration at 124, 89, 71, and 74 min during the respective seasons. The study also observed an expansion and subsequent contraction of the Pb contamination area in the DWSA, with the transfer rate of Pb concentration ranked as flood season > impounding season > decline season > drought season.

Dose rate conversion coefficients for ocular contamination in nuclear medicine: A Monte Carlo simulation with experimental validation.

Since 2011, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has recommended an annual eye lens dose limit of 20 mSv for radiation workers, averaged over 5 years, with no year exceeding 50 mSv. However, limited research has been conducted on dose rate conversion coefficients (DCCs) for direct contamination of the eye. This study aimed to accurately determine DCCs for the eye lens and cornea for ocular contamination with radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. DCCs for 37 radionuclides used in nuclear medicine were determined using two different methods. Method 1 involved conducting Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of an ICRU cylinder to determine the absorbed dose at a depth of 3mm resulting from a point source. The accuracy of this simulation approach was validated by experimental thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements for 18F, 68Ga, 99mTc, and 177Lu. In method 2, average DCCs were calculated for the eye lens (complete and radiosensitive parts) and the cornea for both a point source and thin surface contamination centered on the cornea using MC simulations on the adult mesh-type reference computational phantom of the eye from the ICRP (MRCP). DCCs determined from TLD measurements showed excellent agreement (deviations: +1.4%, +4.7%, -3.1%, and -2.5% for 18F, 68Ga, 99mTc, and 177Lu, respectively) compared to MC simulations of the experimental set-up. For the 37 radionuclides, DCCs of the complete eye-lens for a point source ranged from 2.53×10-7 to 4.15×10-2 mGy MBq-1 s-1 for the adult MRCPs, being substantially smaller compared to DCCs determined via MC simulations of a ICRU cylinder. In general, point source and surface contamination showed comparable DCCs for the eye lens. Radionuclides emitting low-energy beta radiation or conversion electrons (e.g., 177Lu, 99mTc) showed low DCCs as the radiation does not penetrate to the depth of the eye lens, while radionuclides emitting high-energy beta radiation (e.g., 90Y) showed high DCCs. Overall, DCCs for the radiosensitive part of the eye lens were larger (up to a factor of 3) compared to the complete eye lens. DCCs for the cornea were larger than for the eye lens with a factor that strongly depended on the emitted radiation type. Especially alpha emitters (e.g., 211At, 223Ra) showed high DCCs for the cornea because of the short range of alpha radiation, leading to local maxima in the cornea and not reaching the eye lens. DCCs at a depth of 3mm in an ICRU cylinder and adult MRCP DCCs for both the complete and sensitive parts of the eye lens and cornea were determined for 37 radionuclides having applications in nuclear medicine. These DCCs are highly useful in radiation safety assessments and radiation dose calculations in ocular contamination incidents.

ENSURING GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY: INTEGRATING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY INTO FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS

This concept paper explores the integration of blockchain technology into food supply chains to enhance global food safety. In recent years, food safety has become a critical concern worldwide, with frequent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and contamination incidents. Traditional supply chain systems often lack transparency, traceability, and efficiency, leading to challenges in identifying the source of contamination and preventing its spread. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution to these challenges by providing a decentralized, immutable, and transparent ledger system. By recording each transaction and transfer of food products on a blockchain, stakeholders can trace the journey of food items from farm to fork in real-time. This enables rapid identification of contaminated products, facilitating targeted recalls and reducing the scope and impact of foodborne illness outbreaks. Key benefits of integrating blockchain technology into food supply chains include enhanced transparency, increased trust among consumers, improved efficiency in recalls and audits, and opportunities for process optimization and cost reduction. However, successful implementation requires collaboration among stakeholders, investment in infrastructure, and addressing technical and regulatory challenges. This concept paper outlines a strategic framework for implementing blockchain technology in food supply chains, including stakeholder engagement, pilot testing, scalability considerations, and regulatory compliance. By leveraging blockchain technology, we can ensure greater food safety, protect public health, and strengthen confidence in the global food supply chain.
 Keywords: Food Safety, Blockchain, Technology, Supply.

Thallium's Threat to Aquatic Life: Stage-Specific Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae.

The escalating frequency of thallium (Tl) contamination incidents amplifies its environmental risk. However, the potential risk of Tl to aquatic organisms, especially across varying developmental stages, remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed zebrafish as a representative model organism and exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae at distinct developmental periods (specifically, 6 h postfertilization (hpf) and 72 hpf) to low concentrations of Tl(I) (0.25 and 0.50 mg/L). The exposure was performed for a short duration of 24 h, followed by a 96 h depuration period. Our results revealed that Tl(I) exerted disparate biological effects on zebrafish at different developmental stages. Embryos exhibited negligible uptake of Tl(I), whereas larvae showed a significant accumulation of Tl(I) and struggled with its rapid elimination. Notably, Tl(I) was able to permeate the blood-brain barrier, thereby posing a risk to the nervous system. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that Tl(I) triggered distinct toxicological pathways in embryos and larvae. It mainly interfered with metabolic processes in embryos, while in larvae, it mainly disrupted intracellular ion homeostasis, both consequently provoking neurotoxicity. This emphasizes that the multifaceted nature of Tl(I) toxicity depends on the developmental stages of the organism. This study clearly shows that the bioeffects of Tl are intricately related to the developmental stage of zebrafish, offering a valuable perspective for the pollutant toxicity assessment.

Implementation of Food Safety Management System and its Effects on Business Performance in an Educational Institution Restaurant.

Food safety standard implementation is fundamental to the prevention, detection, and management of foodborne risks as well as the realization of food security, protection of health, and economic sustainability of food manufacturing, processing, and distributing enterprises. The global food safety standard, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is one such instrument deployed to promote food safety in the hospitality industry worldwide. A higher educational institution in Kenya introduced HACCP ten years ago as part of its ongoing quality improvement policy to gain the advantages of implementing the standard in the food business, and as a reaction to incidents of food contamination in its restaurant that raised concerns among the customers and the leadership. Food contaminations were experienced even after the implementation of the HACCP food safety program, which brought to the fore the pitfalls that occur due to deviations from the HACCP plans and loss of control that expose consumers to food hazards. Despite the introduction of HACCP in the institution’s restaurant in 2014, there have been incidents of lapses in food quality among which was a suspected food contamination resulting in undesired customer experiences. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the implementation of HACCP food safety management processes on food and beverage safety and business performance at the institution’s restaurant. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the implementation of the HACCP food safety management system in food production and sales; assess the customer perceptions and confidence levels in the quality and safety of food and beverages served, and to evaluate the effects of the HACCP food safety management programme in the delivery of safe food and the general business performance at the institution restaurant. The study design was exploratory and involved a survey of restaurant customers using a structured questionnaire, and interview of key informants using an interview guide. The researcher also observed food chain processes using a checklist. The study population was primarily the management and staff of the institution restaurant as well as the client population comprising students, instructors, administrative staff, institution managers, and regulatory agency representatives. The data obtained from primary sources was complemented with secondary data. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and results were presented in tables, graphs, and pie-charts while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The key findings of the study were that despite some challenges and complexities in the implementation of HACCP, this food safety management system had significantly reduced the incidence of food contamination in the facility. Further, based on customer perceptions and feedback, the institution had registered high customer satisfaction scores (CSAT) and customer retention rates (CRR). In addition, the institution was able to generate sustained and increasing revenues and profits for the institution. The study therefore concluded that HACCP is an important instrument for promoting and safeguarding food safety in the hospitality industry and an important tool for building customer confidence and generating revenues for food businesses. The key recommendation from this study is that the institution should address identified issues of space, equipment, staff, and supplier knowledge and skills that compromise conformity with HACCP requirements.

Blockchain technology in agriculture: Enhancing supply chain transparency and traceability

Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative force in agriculture, offering significant potential to enhance supply chain transparency and traceability. This paper explores the application of blockchain in agricultural supply chains, emphasizing its role in addressing key challenges such as fraud, inefficiency, and lack of trust among stakeholders. By providing a decentralized and immutable ledger, blockchain ensures that every transaction within the agricultural supply chain is securely recorded, from farm to fork. This transparency helps combat issues like food fraud by verifying the authenticity and origin of products, thereby increasing consumer confidence and safeguarding brand reputation. Furthermore, blockchain enhances traceability, allowing for real-time tracking of agricultural products throughout the supply chain. This capability is particularly valuable in ensuring food safety, as it enables rapid identification and response to contamination incidents, thus reducing the scope of foodborne illness outbreaks. The technology also facilitates more efficient supply chain management by streamlining processes, reducing the need for intermediaries, and minimizing paperwork, leading to cost savings and faster transaction times. Despite its potential, the adoption of blockchain in agriculture faces challenges, including the need for technological infrastructure, the cost of implementation, and the necessity of widespread stakeholder collaboration. Additionally, the integration of blockchain with other technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, is critical to maximizing its benefits and ensuring seamless data flow within the supply chain. In conclusion, blockchain technology holds the promise of revolutionizing agricultural supply chains by enhancing transparency, traceability, and efficiency. As the industry continues to evolve, the adoption of blockchain could lead to more sustainable and trustworthy food systems, benefiting producers, consumers, and the environment. However, overcoming implementation barriers and fostering collaboration across the supply chain are essential for realizing the full potential of blockchain in agriculture. Keywords: Blockchain Technology, Agriculture, supply Chain, Transparency, Traceability.

Multifaceted decision support analysis of risk assessment in the process of transporting feed by rail transport using the FMEA method

The article presents selected aspects regarding transporting goods intended for animal feeding. The transport of this type of cargo must meet trade safety requirements and be monitored at every stage of the transport chain. The safety of transport of this type of goods is given priority because possible contamination of feed could affect the quality of food products and threaten human health. The authors referred to the reasons for creating an international procedure regarding, among others, the transport of this group of goods, limiting the risks mentioned above. The proposed procedure is a response to various incidents of feed contamination. It was introduced as an internal system and then developed internationally. The article points to the multi-threaded nature of topics related to the risk management process during the transport of feed intended for animal feeding by rail. This article presents an approach to this issue that considers a multi-aspect analysis of decision support. Risk assessment in transporting feed by rail is an essential factor influencing safety in trade. The article presents the FMEA method, which enables decision support analysis considering non-compliance risk. The recommended method that enables the examination of transport processes for this group of goods is the analysis of the types and effects of possible errors. The task solved using the FMEA method is fed by historical data, the transport task, and the FMEA methodology. Three elements are analyzed - the significance of non-compliance, the risk of non-compliance, and the possibility of detecting non-compliance. They enable quantification and determination of a risk priority number. If the acceptable risk level is exceeded, changes are made to the transport task. The article broadly refers to aspects of risk analysis, which allows you to manage the transport process.

In-utero exposure to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and menstrual cycle function in adulthood

BackgroundThere is evidence that in-utero exposure to PBBs, and similar chemicals, are associated with several adverse reproductive health outcomes including altered pubertal timing. However, less is known about the effects of in-utero exposure to PBBs on menstrual cycle function and reproductive hormone levels in adulthood. MethodsFor this menstrual cycle study, we recruited reproductive-aged women in the Michigan PBB Registry who were not pregnant, lactating, or taking hormonal medications (2004–2014). A total of 41 women who were born after the PBB contamination incident (1973–1974) and were prenatally exposed to PBBs, were included in this analysis. We estimated in-utero PBB exposure using maternal serum PBB measurements taken after exposure and extrapolated to time of pregnancy using a PBB elimination model. Women were followed for up to 6 months during which they provided daily urine samples and completed daily diaries. The urine samples were assayed for estrone 3-glucuronide (E13G), pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). ResultsWomen in our study were, on average, 27.5 (SD:5.3) years old and contributed 4.9 (SD:1.9) menstrual cycles of follow-up. Compared to women with low in-utero PBB exposure (≤1 ppb), women with medium (>1.0–3.0 ppb) and high (>3.0 ppb) exposure had higher maximum 3-day mean Pd3G levels during the luteal phase. Specifically, the age- and creatinine-adjusted maximum 3-day mean luteal phase Pd3G levels (95% CI) in increasing categories of in-utero PBB exposure were 9.2 (4.6,13.9), 14.8 (11.6,18.0), and 16.1 (12.9,19.3) μg/mg creatinine. There were no meaningful differences in average cycle length, follicular or luteal phase cycle length, bleed length, or creatinine-adjusted E13G or FSH levels by category of in-utero PBB exposure. ConclusionHigher exposure to PBB in-utero was associated with increased progesterone levels across the luteal phase, however, most other menstrual cycle characteristics were largely unassociated with in-utero PBB exposure. Given our modest sample size, our results require cautious interpretation.

Camera footage and identification testimony undermine the availability of exculpatory alibi evidence.

The present field experiment investigated how alibi witnesses react when confronted with camera footage or identification testimony that incriminates an innocent suspect. Under the pretext of a problem-solving study, pairs of participants (N = 109) and confederates worked on an individual task with a dividing wall obstructing their view of each other. When the mobile phone of the experimenter was missing from an adjacent room at the end of the session, all participants confirmed that the confederate had not left the room. After several days, participants returned to the lab for a second session. They were asked to confirm their corroboration, orally and in writing, after learning that the confederate either had been identified from a photograph or was present on camera footage. A control group received no evidence. In this second session, written (but not oral) alibi corroboration was weaker in the incriminating evidence conditions (47%) than the no-evidence condition (81%), as hypothesized. Unexpectedly, corroboration was equally strong in the camera and identification evidence conditions. As expected, alibi corroboration was stronger in session 1 than in session 2 for both camera (89% and 31-46%) and identification evidence conditions (86% and 31-49%). The current findings provide first evidence that camera footage and eyewitness identification testimony can bear on the availability of exculpatory alibi evidence in court and emphasize the need to document incidents of evidence contamination.

Monitoring spore washoff during a biological contamination incident response using automated stormwater samplers and sensors to predict contamination movement

This study examined the washoff of Bacillus globigii (Bg) spores from concrete, asphalt, and grass surfaces by stormwater. Bg is a nonpathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, which is a biological select agent. Areas (2.74 m × 7.62 m) of concrete, grass, and asphalt were inoculated twice at the field site during the study. Spore concentrations were measured in runoff water after seven rainfall events (1.2–65.4 mm) and complimentary watershed data were collected for soil moisture, depth of water in collection troughs, and rainfall using custom-built telemetry units. An average surface loading of 107.79 Bg spores/m2 resulted in peak spore concentrations in runoff water of 102, 260, and 4.1 CFU/mL from asphalt, concrete, and grass surfaces, respectively. Spore concentrations in the stormwater runoff were greatly reduced by the third rain event after both inoculations, but still detectable in some samples. When initial rainfall events occurred longer after the initial inoculation, the spore concentrations (both peak and average) in the runoff were diminished. The study also compared rainfall data from 4 tipping bucket rain gauges and a laser disdrometer and found they performed similarly for values of total rainfall accumulation while the laser disdrometer provided additional information (total storm kinetic energy) useful in comparing the seven different rain events. The soil moisture probes are recommended for assistance in predicting when to sample sites with intermittent runoff. Sampling trough level readings were critical to understanding the dilution factor of the storm event and the age of the sample collected. Collectively the spore and watershed data are useful for emergency responders faced with remediation decisions after a biological agent incident as the results provide insight into what equipment to deploy and that spores may persist in runoff water at quantifiable levels for months. The spore measurements are also a novel dataset for stormwater model parameterization for biological contamination of urban watersheds.

Tracking contaminants in groundwater flowing across a river bottom within a complex karst system: Clues from hydrochemistry, stable isotopes, and tracer tests

Tracking contaminants in karst aquifers is challenging because of the high heterogeneity encountered in carbonate rocks. Multi-tracer tests, combined with chemical and isotopic analyses, were conducted to solve a groundwater contamination incident within a complex karst aquifer in Southwest China. Results showed that: (1) the wastewater from a paper mill, public sewers, and septic tanks were the three main potential contaminant sources identified by chemical and isotopic methods; (2) a direct effect of the paper mill wastewater with high Na+ (up to 2230.5 mg/L) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations on spring water quality was confirmed by multi-tracer tests, which changed the water type from Ca–HCO3 in the 1970s to Ca–Na–HCO3 in the present study and resulted in a depleted carbon isotope value (−16.5‰); and (3) the studied aquifer is a highly complex karst system, due to two conduits crossed each other without mixing, contaminants traveled a long distance (up to 14 km) within the lower conduit, paper mill-contaminated groundwater flowed across a river bottom and discharged to the opposite bank, and an active subsurface divide occurred. After several months of operation, the groundwater restoration measure based on karst hydrogeologic conditions proved that cutting off contaminant sources for karst aquifer self-restore was effective in practice, which contributed to the decline in NH4+ (from 7.81 mg/L to 0.04 mg/L), Na+ (from 50.12 mg/L to 4.78 mg/L), and COD (from 16.42 mg/L to 0.9 mg/L) concentrations coupled with an increase in δ13C-DIC value (from −16.5‰ to −8.4‰) in the earlier contaminated karst spring. This study's integrated method is expected to screen and confirm contaminant sources within complex karst systems rapidly and effectively, thereby contributing to karst groundwater environmental management.

Potential influences of leakage through a high permeability path on shallow aquifers in compressed air energy storage in aquifers

The potential leakage influences of compressed air energy storage in aquifers, especially on the overlying shallow aquifer environment, need more attention, but there is still a lack of relevant studies. In this research, a coupled wellbore-reservoir underground anticline model is simulated using T2Well/EOS3. Two-phase non-Darcy flows, different from the multiphase Darcy flow in porous media, are considered in both the central working wellbore and a highly permeable leakage path. In an anticline, the results show that the leakage rate will decline and reach a relatively steady state as the cycles continue. The final continuous small periodic oscillations of leakage rate occur with a hysteresis effect with respect to cycle injection-production. When air leakage occurs in the initial gas bubble process, it gradually disappears and gets replaced by brine leakage. A decrease in the reservoir permeability can result in a larger initial leakage rate, but a smaller rate and fluctuation during the cycle process. However, in a horizontal reservoir, strong gas fingering increases the risk of air leakage, which, once occurs, can last during the rest of the process. This research can deepen the understanding of the leakage process and help evaluate and prevent incidents of environmental contamination in gas storage in aquifers.

Demonstration and evaluation of commercial and municipal equipment for urban biological decontamination.

Large-scale biological contamination incidents pose unique yet significant challenges to remediation operations. Previous incidents have demonstrated the utility of readily available commercial and municipal equipment for conducting remediation tasks. Preidentification and evaluation of such equipment could reduce lag time for response initiation and enhance overall response effectiveness and efficiency. The current study aimed to identify commercial and municipal equipment that could be beneficial in wide-area biological remediation operations. Equipment were identified by market research, their utility was assessed by a group of subject matter experts, and a subset of those equipment was observed under operational conditions in a realistic urban environment. Observations and feedback from demonstration participants are presented within the article. This information is intended to support rapid decision-making following large-scale biological incidents, broaden the universe of potentially useful equipment to support the response, enhance response operations, and reduce the impact on the public.

Passenger vehicle interior decontamination by low concentration hydrogen peroxide vapor following a wide area biological contamination incident.

To assess low concentration hydrogen peroxide (LCHP) (H2O2) vapor dispersed with a home humidifier for its ability to decontaminate vehicle interiors contaminated with Bacillus anthracis surrogate Bacillus atrophaeus spores. Efficacy of a vaporized 3% H2O2 solution was evaluated for liquid volumes, on/off vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system operations, and temperatures that ranged from 5 to 27°C. Survival of the spores was assessed by quantification of remaining viable spores with efficacy quantified in terms of mean log10 reduction. Decontamination efficacy after the 6-day dwell time increased when the 3% H2O2 liquid volume was doubled, increasing from 4-of-10 to 10-of-10 nondetects (zero colonies counted using standard dilution and filter plating) inside the vehicle cabin. Recirculating cabin air through the HVAC system during decontamination decreased efficacy to 6-of-10 non-detects. While no 6-log10 reduction in viable spores was observed on the cabin filter with the cabin filter kept in place, a 6-log10 reduction was achieved after its removal and placement in the cabin during treatment. Results from this study allow for informed decisions on the use of LCHP vapor as an effective decontamination approach for vehicle interiors.

A digitalized framework for responding to radiological accidents in a public major event

In crowded areas, several potential risks and accident scenarios should be evaluated, followed by proper emergency plans preparation. These plans include radiation emergencies in which population monitoring emphasizes the identification, screening, measurement, and monitoring of populations for exposure to radiation or contamination from potential radioactive sources. The risk monitoring includes decontamination process for people evacuated due to a large-scale radiation accident. This paper proposed a framework that enables digital monitoring for a potential radiological accident in a crowded area and tracks the involved individuals’ movement. This proposed system aims to mitigate the hazards arising from the spread of radiation contamination during potential accident scenarios. The suggested framework of digital monitoring of radiological risks (DMRR) consists of four subsystems: mobile radiation detectors, radiological impact assessment, navigation and tracking systems, and emergency procedures application. It is proposed that a mobile application could be supplied with a feature that can track potential risks due to radiation contamination incidents. This system will help to identify the affected group of people in a potential radiological accident and eases the activation of the emergency plans in the contaminated area.

Impact of filter material and holding time on spore sampling efficiency in water.

Bacillus anthracis and other environmentally persistent pathogens pose a significant threat to human and environmental health. If contamination is spread over a wide area (e.g. resulting from a bioterrorism or biowarfare incident), readily deployable and scalable sample collection methods will be necessary for rapidly developing and implementing effective remediation strategies. A recent surge in environmental (eDNA) sampling technologies could prove useful for quantifying the extent and levels of contamination from biological agents in environmental and drinking water. In this study, three commonly used membrane filtration materials (cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, and nylon) were evaluated for spore filtration efficiency, yielding recoveries from 17%-68% to 25%-117% for high and low titer samples, respectively, where cellulose nitrate filters generated the highest recoveries. A holding time test revealed no statistically significant differences between spore recoveries when analyzed at the specified timepoints, suggesting that eDNA filter sampling techniques can yield and maintain a relatively high recovery of spores for an extended period of time between filtration and analysis without a detrimental impact on spore recoveries. The results shown here indicate that emerging eDNA technologies could be leveraged for sampling following a wide-area contamination incident and for other microbiological water sampling applications.