Contamination Of Surface Water Bodies Research Articles

Evaluating The Potential of Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis in Floating Wetland for The Remediation of Water Bodies Polluted with Domestic Sewage

The inadequate infrastructure for wastewater treatment in many regions has led to the contamination of surface water bodies and groundwater degradation. To address this issue, floating wetland treatment systems have emerged as a viable alternative for effective wastewater remediation. This study focuses exclusively on utilizing Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, a tropical ornamental plant, within the context of floating wetland treatment techniques for the remediation of domestic wastewater. The primary objective is to assess the nutrient and pollutant removal efficiency of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in a laboratory-scale floating wetland system. Healthy Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plants were cultivated on identical floating rafts and placed in plastic tanks filled with domestic sewage for experimental investigation. Water quality analyses were conducted regularly, spanning 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days HRT. The results of this experimental investigation revealed that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, when used in floating wetland treatment, exhibited significant removal efficiencies for various parameters, including turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia, and dissolved oxygen (DO).These findings highlight the potential of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plants as a practical component of floating wetland systems for removing nutrients and pollutants from domestic wastewater. This research underscores the viability of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to address water pollution challenges, particularly in the context of floating wetland treatment.

HYDRODYNAMIC AND WATER QUALITY MODELING OF GENOVA HARBOR

A contaminant is a chemical or biological substance in a concentration that can potentially cause adverse effects on the physical, chemical, or biological properties of a water body. Contamination of surface water bodies poses serious risks to both aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this respect, hydrodynamic modeling is an essential method to study scenarios for hydroenvironmental problems, such as the impact of marine pollutants in coastal areas. In the framework of the Interreg Italy-France Maritime Cooperation Project Wastewater Management for the improvement of the harbor water quality, GEREMIA, this study numerically implements such a concept on Genova (Italy) harbor using a world-leading 3D modeling suite, Delft3D to investigate the hydrodynamics and transport process within these ports.

An exploratory study into ash mobilization using lysimeters

Abstract Wildfires burn vegetation and leave the resultant organic and inorganic ash into the soil surface. Depending on the temperatures and burn durations, the quantity and type of ash can vary widely. Ash mobilization following wildfire is a topic of major concern, since it may result in contamination of surface water bodies within and downstream of the burnt areas. The present study aims to analyse the influence of black and white ash on surface runoff, leachate and total erosion and erosion of organic matter by running a field experiment along 6 weeks, using three replicate lysimeters with control soil, soil with addition of black ash and soil with addition of white ash. There was some suggestion but no statistical evidence that black ash reduced overland flow generation during the initial rainfall events, while black ash was found to increase sediment and organic matter losses by overland flow in a statistically significant manner. This was not during the initial rainfall events and, therefore, not directly related to the presence of a homogenous cover of a well-defined ash layer on the soil surface.

A Mathematical Model Development for Simulating Nitrate Pollutant Transport along a River

Contamination of surface water bodies by a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants has been a serious problem in the recent time, these have an effect on human and aquatic animals. The water quality deterioration calls for regular monitoring of the water quality in order to maintain the health and sustainability of the aquatic ecosystems. Accurate monitoring of discharged pollutants into the rivers may be time taking and labour intensive. Water quality models are significant tools for simulating water quality and controlling the surface water pollution. The purpose of this study is to develop a simplified mathematical model which is hybrid cells in series model (HCIS) to simulate the spatial and temporal variation of nitrate concentration in natural rivers. The HCIS model was formulated to serve as an alternative method to the Fickian based models. Analytical solutions for the first order reaction kinetics of nitrate with the advection and dispersion process were derived using Laplace transformation technique. The model considered the effect of nitrate concentration at several points along the river downstream by considering the transformation of nitrite to nitrate through nitrification process. In addition, the uptake of nitrate by algae for its growth and conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas due to denitrification process were considered. The HCIS-NO3 model was applied to uMgeni River, South Africa to investigate the nitrate concentration along the river. Furthermore, the quantitative measures based on the coefficient of determination (R2) and standard errors (SE) were used to evaluate the performance of the model. The result shows that the simulated values agreed with the measured values of nitrate concentration in the river which resulted in a R2 value of 0.72 and a low standard error. Analytical solutions of HCIS - NO3 model were compared with the numerical solutions of the Fickian based ADE model for hypothetical problems. Comparison of the responses indicates that the HCIS - NO3 and ADE- NO3 models were in good agreement. The study shows that the hybrid model is a simple and effective tool for simulating pollutant transport in natural rivers.

Heterogeneity by antibiotic sensitivity and genotype of Vibrio Cholerae El Tor strains isolated from environmental objects in Russia

BACKGROUND: Waterborne diseases kill 3.4 million people worldwide each year. Cholera is one such disease. Up to 4 million cases of this infection occur in the world every year, leading to more than 100,000 deaths. The plasticity of the genome of the causative agent of cholera, the mobility of genetic elements carrying factors of pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance, contribute to the variability and unpredictability of the spectrum of resistance, the formation of new pheno- and genotypes. A single Vibrio cholerae isolate can contain up to 40 different genes that can confer resistance to 22 antibiotics, representing nine different classes of antimicrobial drugs. The ability of Vibrio cholerae to long-term survival in aquatic ecosystems in which there is an active exchange of genetic information and new ecological lines may arise that have potential advantages in the adaptation of microorganisms to adverse conditions, emphasizes the complexity of the ways of transmission of this infection and the need for studies at the environmental level. Periodic deliveries of cholera to the territory of the Russian Federation with (without) the spread of the infectious agent, V. cholerae contamination of surface water bodies used as sources of water supply and for recreational water use, the possibility of implementing the main route for cholera (water) the pathway for the spread of the pathogen of the infection indicate the need for conducting annual monitoring of antimicrobial resistance as part of the epidemiological surveillance of cholera in order to obtain information on the distribution, nature and dynamics of resistance in a specific period of time in a given territory.
 AIM: Analysis of the spectrum of antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae O1 serogroup strains isolated from environmental objects in various territories of the Russian Federation in 2020.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 strains V. cholerae О1 El Tor, isolated from environmental objects in the Russian Federation in 2020. The sensitivity / resistance of the studied strains to 13 antibacterial drugs was determined by the method of serial dilutions on a solid nutrient medium in accordance with guidelines. PCR-genotyping of strains V. cholerae El Tor was performed for 14 target genes, followed by cluster analysis.
 RESULTS: The strains showed resistance markers to furazolidone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone, which formed 5 phenotypes. PCR-genotyping genotyping of 14 target genes divided the strains into five genotypes (A1A5), corresponding to certain territories. The antibiotic resistance profiles within the same genotype in V. cholerae О1 El Tor belonging to different territories were both the same and different.
 CONCLUSION: The genotypic diversity of isolated strains was revealed, the variability of resistance markers even in one region, which indicates both changes in the V. cholerae population and the possibility of circulation of various geno- and phenotypes, which emphasizes the importance of constant monitoring of these pathogens.

Photocatalytic Decolorization and Biocidal Applications of Nonmetal Doped TiO2: Isotherm, Kinetic Modeling and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies.

Textile dyes and microbial contamination of surface water bodies have been recognized as emerging quality concerns around the globe. The simultaneous resolve of such impurities can pave the route for an amicable technological solution. This study reports the photocatalytic performance and the biocidal potential of nitrogen-doped TiO2 against reactive black 5 (RB5), a double azo dye and E. coli. Molecular docking was performed to identify and quantify the interactions of the TiO2 with β-lactamase enzyme and to predict the biocidal mechanism. The sol-gel technique was employed for the synthesis of different mol% nitrogen-doped TiO2. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The effects of different synthesis and reaction parameters were studied. RB5 dye degradation was monitored by tracking shifts in the absorption spectrum and percent chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The best nanomaterial depicted 5.57 nm crystallite size, 49.54 m2 g−1 specific surface area, 11–40 nm particle size with spherical morphologies, and uniform distribution. The RB5 decolorization data fits well with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and the maximum monolayer coverage capacity for the Langmuir adsorption model was found to be 40 mg g−1 with Kads of 0.113 mg−1. The LH model yielded a higher coefficient KC (1.15 mg L−1 h−1) compared to the adsorption constant KLH (0.3084 L mg−1). 90% COD removal was achieved in 60 min of irradiation, confirmed by the disappearance of spectral peaks. The best-optimized photocatalysts showed a noticeable biocidal potential against human pathogenic strain E. coli in 150 min. The biocidal mechanism of best-optimized photocatalyst was predicted by molecular docking simulation against E. coli β-lactamase enzyme. The docking score (−7.6 kcal mol−1) and the binding interaction with the active site residues (Lys315, Thr316, and Glu272) of β-lactamase further confirmed that inhibition of β-lactamase could be a most probable mechanism of biocidal activity.

Removal of Cr (III) and Ni (II) from tannery effluent using calcium carbonate coated bacterial magnetosomes

Heavy metal contamination of surface water bodies and ground water has been a major problem around the world. Calcium-based adsorbents are effective but cannot be separated easily after the treatment. Magnetosomes are biogenic magnetite synthesised as highly ordered chain-like structures by magnetotactic bacteria. In this study, we have prepared magnetically controlled calcite microcrystals using magnetosomes for the adsorption experiment. The ability of magnetic calcite as adsorbent was investigated for the removal of Cr (III) and Ni (II) ions from synthetic solution. Critical parameters, such as the effect of pH, temperature, contact time, initial ion concentration, and adsorbent dose, were optimised in comparison with calcite, magnetosomes, and activated carbon for maximum metal ion removal. The study showed that equilibrium was established in 1 h for both Cr (III) and Ni (II) at a pH of 6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics, along with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The thermodynamics of adsorption of both metal ions on magnetic calcite showed that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Magnetically controlled calcite crystals successfully removed Cr (III) and Ni (II) from collected tannery effluent and separated from the solution by applying magnetic field. Maximum removal of chromium and nickel (94 and 84%) by magnetic calcite is similar to calcite crystals but higher than magnetosomes and activated carbon. The results indicated that magnetic calcite could be used as an alternative adsorbent for removing heavy metals from tannery effluent.

Stable Isotopes Reveal Nitrogen Loading to Lake Tanganyika from Remote Shoreline Villages.

Access to safe water is an ongoing challenge in rural areas in Tanzania where communities often lack access to improved sanitation. Methods to detect contamination of surface water bodies, such as monitoring nutrient concentrations and bacterial counts, are time consuming and results can be highly variable in space and time. On the northeast shore of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, the low population density coupled with the high potential for dilution in the lake necessitates the development of a sensitive method for detecting contamination in order to avoid human health concerns. We investigated the potential use of nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes of snail tissues to detect anthropogenic nutrient loading along the northeast shore of Lake Tanganyika. δ15N of snails was positively related to human population size in the nearest village, but only for villages with >4000 inhabitants. The areal footprint of villages within their watershed was also significantly correlated with snail δ15N, while agricultural land use and natural vegetation were not. Dissolved nutrient concentrations were not significantly different between village and reference sites. Our results indicate that nitrogen isotopes provide a sensitive index of local nutrient loading that can be used to monitor contamination of oligotrophic aquatic environments with low surrounding population densities.

Hog‐Manure‐Recovered Struvite: Effects on Canola and Wheat Biomass Yield and Phosphorus Use Efficiencies

Core Ideas Struvite recovered from liquid hog manure is a slow‐release P source. Recovered struvite produced yields that matched or exceeded those from MAP fertilizers. Despite its slow‐release properties, struvite supplied adequate P to the crops. Recovery of manure P as magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH4PO4∙6H2O), commonly known as struvite, can mitigate the risk of P contamination of surface water bodies from hog operations. The slow release of P from struvite may help improve crop P use efficiency. This greenhouse bioassay evaluated the agronomic effectiveness of liquid hog manure recovered struvite. Struvite, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and polymer‐coated MAP (CMAP) were evaluated for canola (Brassica napus L.) grown in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in two low soil test P (Olsen P < 6 mg kg−1) soils: a sandy Gleyed Regosol (Typic Haplaquent) and a clay loamy Orthic Black Chernozem (Udic Boroll). The fertilizers were applied either in the seed row or in a sideband at 1.1 and 2.2 g P m−2 rates. In both soils, struvite produced canola dry matter (DM) yield (DMY, 2.4 g kg−1 soil), P uptake (5.9 mg P kg−1 soil), P recovery efficiency (43%), and agronomic efficiency (0.15 g DM mg−1 P) that were similar to those of MAP and CMAP in the first crop phase. Moreover, at the 2.2 g P m−2 rate, struvite produced significantly greater canola DMY than MAP in the second crop phase and both MAP and CMAP in the third crop phase. Overall, wheat did not produce significant responses to P fertilization. These results indicate that struvite recovered from liquid hog manure can supply sufficient P to sustain yields and P use efficiency matching or exceeding those for MAP.

Arsenic Mining Waste in the Catchment Area of the Madrid Detrital Aquifer (Spain)

In recent years, elevated arsenic concentrations in groundwater used for drinking water supplies have been recognised in the Madrid Tertiary detrital aquifer. Although only natural causes have been suggested as the source of arsenic, this study aims to highlight that the anthropogenic contribution cannot be disregarded. During the sub-catchment’s areas sampling, we found many geographical sites where natural arsenopyrite [FeAsS] originally encapsulated in pegmatite bodies and quartz veins, was artificially outcropped and dumped out, since mining wastes were scattered and exposed to weathering. Several mineral and ground specimens were collected to analyse its mineralogical and chemical composition by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). Both, the abundant existence of secondary phases, such as scorodite [FeAsO4⋅2H2O] and jarosite [KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6], much more soluble than arsenopyrite, and the lixiviation experiments of arsenopyrite in acidic media to simulate acid mine drainage (AMD) conditions, usually found in old mining districts, point to a potential risk of arsenic contamination of surface water bodies, which operate as recharged waters of the aquifer in the studied area. The elemental determination of heavy metals present in ground samples by XRF analyses, reaching up to 1,173 mg kg–1 of copper, 347 mg kg–1 of lead and 113,702 mg kg–1 of arsenic; and the physicochemical and arsenic fractionation studies of soil samples, led us to classify the soil as Spolic Technosol (Toxic). The contamination of the area due to old mining activities could release arsenic to Madrid water supplies; accordingly, additional decontamination studies should be performed.

SECOND-ORDER CONE OPTIMIZATION APPROACH TO GROUNDWATER QUANTITY MANAGEMENT

As demand for potable water increases due to either increase inworld population, contamination of surface water bodies or both,groundwater aquifers are constantly being viewed as the ultimatealternative source for additional quantities.

Second-Order Cone Optimization Approach to Groundwater Quantity Management

As demand for potable water increases due to either increase in world population, contamination of surface water bodies or both, groundwater aquifers are constantly being viewed as the ultimate alternative source for additional quantities. Moreover, as these aquifers get exploited, it is becoming mandatory to incorporate management schemes to ensure sustainable exploitation of such sources. However, because of the complexity of the earth material that forms such aquifers, it has become evident that deterministic management approaches are not suitable for designing such management schemes. This has resulted in researchers developing stochastic management methodologies which recognize the fact that measurement data used to characterize the groundwater aquifers is not only scarce but also uncertain due to, for example, measurement errors. The most popular approach of addressing this uncertainty has been through the Monte Carlo approach and its variants. However, Monte Carlo approach is CPU intensive and therefore only a few realizations can be considered. In this paper, we introduce a novel optimization technique which explicitly takes into account the uncertainty in the hydraulic conductivity of a groundwater aquifer. In this approach, we transform the uncertain groundwater management problem into a Second Order Cone Optimization problem which is then solved. Furthermore, we extend the methodology to address both a single objective and multi-objective groundwater quantity optimization in the presence of uncertainty. Results from an hypothetical example demonstrate that solutions obtained through this approach are robust, meaning that small perturbations in the hydraulic conductivity values will not affect the optimal solutions computed. second order cone, stochastic, multi-objective groundwater quantity optimization in the presence of uncertainty. Results from an hypothetical example demonstrate that solutions obtained through this approach are robust, meaning that small perturbations in the hydraulic conductivity values will not affect the optimal solutions computed.

Runoff generation mechanisms in pastures of the Sand Mountain region of Alabama—a field investigation

AbstractExcessive application of poultry litter to pastures in the Sand Mountain region of north Alabama has resulted in phosphorus (P) contamination of surface water bodies and buildup of P in soils of this region. Since surface runoff is recognized as the primary mechanism of P transport, understanding surface runoff generation mechanisms are crucial for alleviating water quality problems in this region. Identification of surface runoff generation mechanisms is also important for delineation of hydrologically active areas (HAAs). Therefore, the specific objective of this study was to identify surface runoff generation mechanisms (infiltration excess versus saturation excess) using distributed surface and subsurface sensors and rain gauge. Results from three rainfall events (2·13–3·43 cm) of differing characteristics, and sensor data at four locations with differing soil hydraulic properties along the hillslope showed that the main surface runoff generation mechanism in this region is infiltration excess. Because of this, rainfall intensity and soil hydraulic conductivity were found to play dominant roles in surface runoff generation in this region. Further, only short periods of a few rainfall events during which the rainfall intensity is high produce surface runoff. This study indicates that perhaps subsurface flows and transport of P in subsurface flows need to be quantified to reduce P contamination of surface water bodies in this region. Current studies at this location are identifying spatial and temporal distribution of HAAs, quantifying rainfall characteristics that generate runoff, and estimating runoff volume that results from connected HAAs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Distribution of heavy metals in surface water of Ranipet industrial area in Tamil Nadu, India

Ranipet industrial area is about 120 km from Chennai on Chennai-Bangalore highway and is a chronic polluted area identified by Central Pollution Control Board of India. It is one of the biggest exporting centers of tanned leather in India. The total number of industries located in and around Ranipet town are 240 tanneries along with ceramic, refractory, boiler auxiliaries plant, and chromium chemicals. Studies were carried out to find out the contamination of surface water bodies due to industrial effluents. The results reveal that the surface water in the area is highly contaminated showing very high concentrations of some of the heavy/toxic metals like Cadmium ranging from 0.2 to 401.4 microg/l (average of 51.1 microg/l), Chromium 2.4-1,308.6 (average of 247.2 microg/l), Copper 2.1-535.5 microg/l (average of 95.5 microg/l), Nickel 1.6-147.0 microg/l (average of 36.7 microg/l), Lead 6.4-2,034.4 microg/l (average of 467.8 microg/l) and Zinc 20.8-12,718.0 microg/l (average of 3,760.4 microg/l). The concentration levels of these metals are much above the permissible limits in surface water and are health hazards especially for the people working in the tannery industries. It was observed that the people in the area are seriously affected and suffering from occupational diseases such as asthma, chromium ulcers and skin diseases. Distribution of metals, their contents at different locations, and their effects on human health are discussed in this paper.

WATER TREATMENT RESIDUALS AGGREGATE SIZE INFLUENCES PHOSPHORUS SORPTION KINETICS AND PMAX VALUES

Drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs) are used as a soil amendment to minimize off-site P movement and increase a soil's phosphorus (P) sorption capacity. The aggregate size of WTRs may affect sorption kinetics and P sorption maxima (P max ) values. We hypothesize that finer-sized WTRs aggregates will have higher kinetic sorption rates and P max values than coarser-size aggregates. The objectives were to determine WTRs aggregate size effects on kinetic rates of P sorption, on the magnitude of P max values, and the time necessary to reach equilibrium with P. A WTR sample was ground and sieved into five aggregate size ranges ( 4 mm). Phosphorus sorption isotherms for each aggregate size range were determined as a function of time (between 24 and 120 h). Reaction rate constants (k) were determined by using a first-order reaction equation and P max values for each aggregate size range were calculated from the linear form of the Langmuir equation. The 4.0-mm) had P max values of 98 mg g -1 . Aggregate size has an important influence on WTRs P sorption characteristics; therefore, it is recommended that aggregate size should be strongly considered when determining P isotherms or using residuals as a soil amendment to reduce non-point source P contamination of surface water bodies.

Contamination of surface-water bodies after reactor accidents by the erosion of atmospherically deposited radionuclides.

Reactor safety analyses usually do not consider the population risk which might result from the contamination of surface-water bodies after reactor accidents by the erosion of atmospherically deposited radionuclides. This paper is intended to provide perspective on the reasonableness of this omission. Data are presented which are suggestive of the rates at which atmospherically deposited radionuclides might erode into surface-water bodies. These rates are used in the calculation of potential health effects resulting from surface-water contamination due to such erosion. These health effects are compared with predicted health effects due to atmospheric and terrestrial pathways after reactor accidents. The presented results support the belief that the contamination of surface-water bodies after reactor accidents by the erosion of atmospherically deposited radionuclides is not a major contributor to the risk associated with such accidents.