Levels Of NO3 Research Articles

Differences and variations of drinking water quality between the northern and southern regions of a tropical island and the indicators influenced by meteorological factors

ABSTRACT Climate change poses a considerable threat to humanity. This study aims to explore the effects of meteorological factors on drinking water quality in urban and rural areas in the tropics. Drinking water was assessed by performing correlation and logistic regression analyses on South China from 2021 to 2023. Results showed that fluorine and chemical oxygen demand were low in the north countryside. The total bacterial count (TBC), sulfate, chloride, manganese, total dissolved solids, arsenic, ferrum, nitrate, total hardness, pH value, and turbidity in the north were higher than those in the rural south. Terminal tap water from northern rivers and southern lakes was significantly affected by meteorological factors (p < 0.05). In general, the microorganisms (r = 0.156–0.737) and trichloromethane (r > 0.633) increased with temperature, odds ratio (OR) > 1. Arsenic increased with temperature in the north rural areas (OR > 1). High levels of nitrate corresponded to increased frequency of extreme rainstorms. Furthermore, trichloromethane, aluminum, nitrate, and TBC were most susceptible to extreme meteorological factors in the tropics. Fluorine from different sources showed inconsistency. Chemical types and dosing or treatment adjustments in water treatment processes may help address deteriorated water quality during extreme weather events.

Pd Nanoparticle Size-Dependent H* Coverage for Cu-Catalyzed Nitrate Electro-Reduction to Ammonia in Neutral Electrolyte.

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO3 -) to ammonia (NH3) is an effective approach to reduce nitrate pollutants in the environment and also a promising low-temperature, low-pressure method for ammonia synthesis. However, adequate H* intermediates are highly expected for NO3 - hydrogenation, while suppressing competitive hydrogen evolution. Herein, the effect of H* coverage on the NO3RR for ammonia synthesis by Cu electrocatalysts is investigated. The H* coverage can be adjusted by changing Pd nanoparticle sizes. The optimized Pd@Cu with an average Pd size of 2.88nm shows the best activity for NO3RR, achieving a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 97% (at -0.8V vs RHE) and an NH3 yield of 21mg h-1 cm- 2, from an industrial wastewater level of 500ppm NO3 -. In situ electrochemical experiments indicate that Pd particles with 2.88nm can promote NO3 - hydrogenation to NH3 via well-modulated coverage of adsorbed H* species. Coupling the anodic glycerol oxidation reaction, ammonium and formate are successfully obtained as value-added products in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer. This work provides a feasible strategy for obtaining size-dependent H* intermediates for hydrogenation.

Balancing river water pollution and agricultural development: A tradeoff threshold approach

Balancing environmental protection and social-economic development in agricultural land use management is a dilemma for decision-makers. Based on the modelling of the impacts of land use changes on river water pollution by SWAT model, the tradeoff between tea plantation expansion and river water quality was detected. SWAT model performs well in simulating the non-point source (NPS) pollution in agricultural watershed. The results showed that the tea plantation area expanded dramatically from 44 km2 in 2000 to 169 km2 in 2020 at the high cost of forest land. Consequently, the mean contents of NO3−-N and TN have significantly increased by 100% and 91% respectively in the past 20 years. And the NO3−-N in river water accounted for over 80% of TN in the tea plantation area. The NO3−-N and TN concentrations were positively related with the proportions of tea plantation area (Tea%) at different periods. The high pollution levels of NO3−-N and TN are priority control targets for river water quality management. The results indicated that the proportion of tea plantation thresholds lead to abrupt changes in river water quality. When the Tea% exceeded 3.0% in 2000, the probability of N pollution increased sharply. Whereas in 2020, it is suggested that the Tea% should not exceeds 18% to avoid sudden deterioration of water quality. The critical interval value of the Tea% for sudden change in N pollution showed an obvious increase tendency. The accelerating of nutrient pollution in rivers reduced the sensitivity of water quality to tea plantation expansion. Our results can provide new insights and empirical evidence for balancing the tradeoff between agricultural development and river water quality protection by demonstrating the carrying capacity threshold of river water environment for the expansion tea plantation.

Traceability of Phreatic Groundwater Contaminants and the Threat to Human Health: A Case Study in the Tabu River Basin, North China

Groundwater is the main clean water resource in northern China, and its quality is critical for both human health and social sustainable development. Due to complex anthropogenic and/or geogenic processes, the sources of groundwater contaminants are not easy to determine. The Tabu River Basin, located in northern China, is an agriculture and pasture interlaced area in which phreatic groundwater is the predominant water resource for domestic and agricultural purposes. Groundwater with abnormally high levels of NO3−, F−, and TDS was observed here based on 87 groundwater samples collected from the phreatic aquifer in 2022. In this study, hydrogeochemical and isotopic methods were used to trace groundwater contaminants in the phreatic aquifer, and a risk assessment was conducted to analyze their threat to human health. The results indicated that NO3− in the phreatic groundwater primarily originated from manure, the high concentration of TDS was highly associated with irrigation, and the enrichment of F− was mainly controlled by geogenic factors, including alkaline condition, competitive adsorption, the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals, and cation exchange. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that both anthropogenic (PC1, 50.7%) and geogenic (PC2, 19.9%) factors determined the quality of the phreatic groundwater in the study area. The human health risk assessment demonstrated that 98.9%, 92.0%, and 80.5% of the groundwater samples exceeded the permissible limit of the total noncarcinogenic risk for children, adult females, and adult males, respectively. The monitoring results from 2022 to 2023 suggested that phreatic groundwater contamination could not be mitigated through natural attenuation under the existing external pressures. Measures need to be taken to decrease the contamination of phreatic groundwater and enhance the groundwater sustainability in the Tabu River Basin. The findings of this study can provide a reference for sustainable groundwater development in the Tabu River Basin and other arid and semi-arid regions worldwide.

The impact of flooding from the Minjiang River on the succession of harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by diatoms in China's offshore waters

This study examines diatom assemblages in the Matsu Archipelago, an area influenced by Minjiang River runoff. It focuses on harmful algal blooms (HABs) that occurred between August 2021 and July 2022. Utilizing 18S rRNA metabarcoding and microscopic analysis, we observed a significant diatom bloom during early summer runoff, peaking at 5 × 105 cells L−1. The research reveals dynamic community changes during the runoff season, with dominant genera including Pseudo-nitzschia, Chaetoceros, and Skeletonema. Skeletonema cell density correlated with NO3 levels, Chaetoceros had a slight PO4 affinity, and Pseudo-nitzschia showed a negative correlation with Skeletonema. Pseudo-nitzschia, which prefers high light and pH conditions, had notably high concentrations in the flood season and in the autumn. In both, it was dominated by potential toxin-producing species - P. multistriata and P. pungens during the flooding, and P. cuspidate in the autumn. These findings highlight the intricate relationship between diatom dynamics and environmental factors, providing essential insights for managing HABs, especially Pseudo-nitzschia species, amidst environmental changes.

An Overview of Pollution Level in Vlora Port

This study reports the concentrations of organic pollutants, nutrients, and some physicochemical parameters in water samples from Vlora Port. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, o-, m- and p-Xyelenes, Ethylbenzene) were analyzed organic pollutants. The levels of NO3-, NO2-, NH4-, N-total, PO4-, and P-total were determined. Temperature, PH, Conductivity, Turbidity, TDS, TSS DO, BOD and COD were physical-chemical parameters determined in the water samples. Vlora Port is located in the southern part of Albania in Vlora Bay, near Vlora City in the Adriatic Sea. Elevated activities in port areas (terrestrial and marine areas) are the main causes of water pollution. Urban pollution, agriculture, and water currents can influence marine water pollution in this area. To evaluate pollution levels at the port of Vlora, water samples (12 stations) were analyzed over a two-year period (2022 – 2023). Water samples were collected during two seasons: March and July of each year Analyses of organic compounds were performed using a gas chromatograph (Varian 450 GC) equipped with ECD and FID detectors. Nutrients were analyzed using the UV-VIS technique. Titration, automatic, semi-automatic, and gravimetric methods were used to determine the physicochemical parameters. Organic pollutants were detected in all the water samples. Nutrient concentrations and physicochemical values classified the marine water of Vlora’s port as moderately good. Levels of organic pollutants, nutrients, and physicochemical parameters in water samples from Vlora’s port were higher/comparable with those reported in previous studies of the Adriatic Sea (Albania coastline).

Fruit extracts of various cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) cultivars as antioxidant therapy for alleviating nitrative stress in erythrocytes of blood in experimental diabetes mellitus

Natural antioxidants (vitamins, bioflavonoids, anthocyanins, etc.) are used to prevent the development of oxidative-nitrative stress in diabetes mellitus (DM), which helps to restore or avert functional disorders in the cells and tissues of the body. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of extracts of the fruit of different cultivars of the cornelian cherry, as well as their main iridoid glycoside – loganic acid, on the activity of NO-synthase and the content of stable metabolites of NO in blood erythrocytes of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Materials and methods. In the work, we used the extract of the fruits of the cornelian cherry “Podolski” cultivar (BDPA 10462), the ripe fruits of which have a red color, and the extract of the “Yantarnyi” (BDPA 14131) and “Flava” (BDPA 8795) cultivars, the ripe fruits of which have a yellow color. Loganic acid was extracted from yellow fruits of the “Yantarnyi” and “Flava” cultivars of Cornus mas L. All studied extracts were administered to rats orally for 14 days from the 10th day after the induction of DM. The dose of administration was 20 mg/kg body weight. Results. The extract of the red fruits is demonstrated the most pronounced effect in normalizing the biomarkers of nitrative stress (activity of NO-synthase and its isoforms, the content of nitrite and nitrate anions) in erythrocytes of rats with diabetes. The extract of the yellow fruits shows a positive effect on the suppression of nitrative stress, which has been indicated by a decrease in the activity of iNO-synthase to the values in the control group of animals. Loganic acid, on the contrary, inhibited the eNO-synthase. In addition, the extract of yellow fruits of cornelian cherry and loganic acid decreased the level of NO3– and increased the content of NO2– in erythrocytes of diabetic rats. Conclusions. Biomarkers of nitrative stress in erythrocytes of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes indicated the antioxidant properties of fruit extracts of cornelian cherry, in particular the red fruits, which contain a large amount of anthocyanins.

Surface water quality modelling with data scarcity in semi-enclosed coastal regions encompassed distributed islands

Water quality variation in semi-enclosed urban coastal areas with different pollutant sources is a substantial issue. Pollutant entrapment has a significant impact on the lives of the local people. Surface water quality modelling often requires large datasets covering bathymetry, fluid and pollutants boundary conditions, sources and sinks. This is particularly challenging in regions with complex features and poor data availability, such as coastal water bodies featuring a large number of widely distributed islands and estuaries. In this paper, we developed a model of surface water quality and hydrodynamics for Ha Long Bay, in the North of Vietnam and includes 1969 islands, for a one-year period using a water quality dataset obtained for this study. The model utilized extracted bathymetric and geometric data from Admiralty Charts and Admiralty Tide Tables. Water quality coupled with the TELEMAC Model (WAQTEL) Biomass Module was employed to predict pollutant transport in the domain using point and diffused sources while field studies were conducted to collect data for the setting up and calibration of the water quality model. Thirty scattered sampling points were selected, and the water quality parameters were measured during two campaigns. The predicted water level and velocity values matched the local observation data well with a small error (RMSE = 0.19 and 0.16). Both NO3−-N and PO43--P were high near the shoreline and decrease gradually offshore. The maximum concentrations of NO3−-N and PO43--P reached 0.476 mg/L and 0.048 mg/L at the end of 2021 with the RMSE = 0.13 and 0.011, respectively. The levels of NO3−-N and PO43--P and their distributions showed that Ha Long Bay was eutrophic even during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Competitive partitioning of denitrification pathways during arrested methanogenesis: Implications in ammonium recovery, N2O emission, and volatile fatty acid production

The complex interaction between nitrate (NO3−) reduction and fermentation is poorly understood when high levels of NO3− are introduced into anaerobic systems. This study investigated the competitive distribution between conventional denitrification (DEN) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) during simultaneous denitrification and fermentation in arrested methanogenesis. Up to 62% of initial NO3− (200 mg-N/L) was retained as ammonium through DNRA at a chemical oxygen demand (COD)/N ratio of 25. Significant N2O emission occurred (1.7 – 8.0% of the initial NO3−) with limited carbon supply (≤1600 mg COD/L) and sludge concentration (≤3000 mg COD/L). VFA composition shifted predominantly towards acetic acid (>50%) in the presence of nitrate. A novel kinetic model was developed to predict DNRA vs. DEN partitioning and NO2− accumulation. Overall, NO3− input, organic loading, and carbon source characteristics independently and collectively controlled competitive DNRA vs. DEN partitioning.

Dietary Nitrate Metabolism in Porcine Ocular Tissues Determined Using 15N-Labeled Sodium Nitrate Supplementation.

Nitrate (NO3-) obtained from the diet is converted to nitrite (NO2-) and subsequently to nitric oxide (NO) within the body. Previously, we showed that porcine eye components contain substantial amounts of nitrate and nitrite that are similar to those in blood. Notably, cornea and sclera exhibited the capability to reduce nitrate to nitrite. To gain deeper insights into nitrate metabolism in porcine eyes, our current study involved feeding pigs either NaCl or Na15NO3 and assessing the levels of total and 15N-labeled NO3-/NO2- in various ocular tissues. Three hours after Na15NO3 ingestion, a marked increase in 15NO3- and 15NO2- was observed in all parts of the eye; in particular, the aqueous and vitreous humor showed a high 15NO3- enrichment (77.5 and 74.5%, respectively), similar to that of plasma (77.1%) and showed an even higher 15NO2- enrichment (39.9 and 35.3%, respectively) than that of plasma (19.8%). The total amounts of NO3- and NO2- exhibited patterns consistent with those observed in 15N analysis. Next, to investigate whether nitrate or nitrite accumulate proportionally after multiple nitrate treatments, we measured nitrate and nitrite contents after supplementing pigs with Na15NO3 for five consecutive days. In both 15N-labeled and total nitrate and nitrite analysis, we did not observe further accumulation of these ions after multiple treatments, compared to a single treatment. These findings suggest that dietary nitrate supplementation exerts a significant influence on nitrate and nitrite levels and potentially NO levels in the eye and opens up the possibility for the therapeutic use of dietary nitrate/nitrite to enhance or restore NO levels in ocular tissues.

Natural regeneration or tree planting in a tropical forest‐to‐pasture damaged area: which is more efficacious for soil ecosystem recovery?

This study assessed whether a natural regeneration or active tree‐planting reforestation strategy better restored the C and N‐cycle processes and associated microbiota within soils after 18 years in a Premontane Wet Life zone site in Monteverde, Costa Rica, compared to adjacent old secondary forest and pasture soils (both >60 years). Our findings apply to small‐scale restoration sites (<0.5 ha plots) commonly used in Monteverde. Both restoration strategies showed recovering soil C and N‐cycle processes with similar levels of TN, NH4+, NO3−, Biomass‐C, and efficiency of organic C use. Both strategies appeared to positively influence the recovery of the levels and community compositional stability of the Actinobacterial, Acidobacterial, N‐fixing (N‐Fixer) bacterial, ammonium‐oxidizing bacterial, and complex organic C‐degrading fungal communities. The main differences between the two strategies were that the tree‐planted and pasture soils had similar compositions of the Actinobacterial, N‐Fixer, and Fungal complex organic C degrader, while the natural regeneration and pasture soils had similar compositions of these groups and the Acidobacteria. However, the community compositions of all five microbial groups were different between restored forest and the old secondary forest soils. These results suggest that while the soil ecosystems from both reforestation strategies are recovering, after 18 years, there is still more recovery to occur. Lastly, possible indicators of post‐restoration soil ecosystem enhancement included increasing constancy of critical microbial group composition, efficiency of organic C conversion to biomass, Biomass‐C, NH4+, NO3−, and levels of Acidothermus, Acidobacteria subgroups 2, 3, and 5, Archaeorhizomyces, Anaeromyxobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Nitrosomonas, Flavobacterium, and Nitrospira.

Evaluation of the Concentrations of Nitrate, Nitrite and Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Irrigated along the Amba Stream Lafia, Nasarawa State

The concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and heavy metals were evaluated in the soil and edible portion of Spinach, irrigated along the Amba stream, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Nitrate, nitrite and heavy metals in the soil and spinach samples were determines using Spectrophotometric method. The mean concentrations (± Standard deviation) of nitrate ranged from 3042.91±1.62mgkg-1 to 4977.26±9.57mgkg-1, for Spinach while 5899.20±58.98mgkg-1 to stipulated by WHO and EC respectively. Mean of nitrite concentrations (NO2) (± standard deviation) ranged from 0.00029±0.00002mgkg-1 to 00102±0.00001mgkg-1 for all the spinach, while 0.00332±0.00002mgkg-1 to 0.00903±0.00002mgkg-1 for all soil were all below the mg/kg maximum specified by WHO. NO3 levels were generally higher than NO2.The mean concentrations of heavy metals ranged from Cd (1.29±0.01 mg/kg) to Fe (281.60±1.65 mgkg-1) for spinach while Cd (0.93±0.32 mgkg-1) to Fe (1084.1±1.73 mgkg-1) for soil. The values in spinach exceeded the permissible limit set by FAO. Transfer factors for the anions between the soil and spinach identify the efficiency of a spinach species to accumulate a given anion. There was positive correlation at p = 0.05 between the anions in the spinach. The transfer factors calculated were lower for all metals except cadmium (1.39).

Plasma-Activated Media Produced by a Microwave-Excited Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Is Effective against Cisplatin-Resistant Human Bladder Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Media exposed to atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitrite (NO2-), and nitrate (NO3-) being among the most detected species due to their relatively long lifetime. In this study, a standardized microwave-excited (ME) APP jet (APPJ) source was employed to produce gaseous RONS to treat liquid samples. The source was a commercially available plasma jet, which generated argon plasma utilizing a coaxial transmission line resonator at the operating frequency of 2.45 GHz. An ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer was used to measure the concentrations of H2O2 and NO3- in plasma-activated media (PAM). Three different types of media (deionized water, Hank's balanced salt solution, and cell culture solution Dulbecco's modified eagles medium [DMEM]) were utilized as liquid samples. Among these media, the plasma-treated DMEM was observed to have the highest levels of H2O2 and NO3-. Subsequently, the feasibility of using argon ME-APPJ-activated DMEM (PAM) as an adjuvant to enhance the therapeutic effects of cisplatin on human bladder cancer cells (T-24) was investigated. Various cancer cell lines, including T-24 cells, treated with PAM were observed in vitro for changes in cell viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A viability reduction was detected in the various cancer cells after incubation in PAM. Furthermore, the study's results revealed that PAM was effective against cisplatin-resistant T-24 cells in vitro. In addition, a possible connection between HER expression and cell viability was sketched.

Incorporating microbial inoculants to reduce nitrogen loss during sludge composting by suppressing denitrification and promoting ammonia assimilation

To address the challenge of increasing nitrogen retention in compost, this study investigated the effects of microbial communities on denitrification and ammonia assimilation during sludge composting by inoculating microbial inoculants. The results showed that the retention rates of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and humic acid (HA) in MIs group (with microbial inoculants) were 4.94 % and 18.52 % higher than those in the control group (CK), respectively. Metagenomic analysis showed that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were identified as main microorganisms contributing to denitrification and ammonia assimilation. The addition of microbial agents altered the structure of the microbial community, which in turn stimulated the expression of functional genes. During cooling period, the ammonia assimilation genes glnA, gltB and gltD in MIs were 15.98 %, 24.84 % and 32.88 % higher than those in CK, respectively. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed a positive correlation between the dominant bacterial genera from the cooling stage to the maturity stage and the levels of NO3−-N, NH4+-N, HA, and TKN contents. NH4+-N was positively correlated with HA, indicating NH4+-N might be incorporated into HA. Heat map and network analyses revealed NH4+-N as a key factor affecting functional genes of denitrification and ammonia assimilation, with Nitrospira identified as the core bacteria in the microbial network. Therefore, the addition of microbial agents could increase nitrogen retention and improve compost product quality.

Nocturnal downward transport of NO3 radical from the residual layer to a surface site by the mountain breeze in Seoul, South Korea

Using the long-path differential optical absorption spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) technique, the nocturnal mixing ratios of NO3 radicals were measured at an urban site in Seoul, South Korea, from May 13 to June 12, 2022. The primary objectives of the study were to estimate the NO3 radical concentration in the nighttime boundary layer and to examine the variations in their generation and loss over time, including an evaluation of their sources and sinks. The observed mean NO3 mixing ratios and lifetimes were 16 pptv and 73 s, respectively. NO3 concentrations and lifetimes were closely associated with their production, involving O3 and NO2, as well as the loss processes regulated by NO, VOCs, and aerosol surface area. Applying the steady-state assumption for NO3 and N2O5, the mean N2O5 uptake coefficient on the aerosol surface for the entire period was 0.031. When foggy nights were excluded from the analysis, the uptake coefficient decreased to 0.025. These values are within the higher range of the results reported in other studies. High relative humidity, which averaged 75% at night throughout the collection period, favored high N2O5 uptake coefficients. NO3 concentrations generally peaked shortly after sunset and gradually declined until sunrise. However, we frequently observed distinct increases in NO3 throughout the early morning hours, especially during clear nights, when local circulation with the westerly mountain breeze prevailed at the research site. The mountain breeze transported residual air downward, resulting in 110% and 38% higher NO3 and O3 levels at the sampling locations, respectively, compared to normal conditions. This additional source of nocturnal radicals and O3 has consequences for increased secondary aerosols and O3 production, particularly at urban surface levels where they are readily depleted in the early morning hours. To this end, a more thorough examination is required to measure N2O5 and a larger spectrum of VOCs species, as these parameters are crucial for nighttime radical budgets, secondary aerosols, and O3 generation in cities like Seoul.

Effects of organic carbon and subsurface dams on saltwater intrusion and nitrate pollution in sandy coastal aquifers.

This study explores the impact of a novel approach on the levels of SWI (saltwater intrusion) and NO3- (nitrate) contamination. Some numerical simulations were conducted utilizing a coupled model that incorporates variably saturation and density, as well as convection diffusion reaction within a sandy coastal aquifer. We verified the reliability of the model for SWI based on comparison lab experiments and for chemical reactions based on a comparison of previous in situ observations. Cutoff walls and subsurface dams cannot simultaneously control SWI and reduce NO3- contamination. A novel approach that combines subsurface dams and permeable CH2O (organic carbon) walls (PC-Wall) is proposed. Subsurface dams are utilized to prevent SWI, while PC-Walls are employed to mitigate NO3- pollution. Results demonstrate that the construction of a PC-Wall with a concentration of 1.0mM facilitated a transition from nitrification (Ni)-dominated to denitrification (Dn)-dominated. An increase in CH2O concentration to 1.0mM caused a significant 1942.5 % rise in mDn (the mass of NO3- removed through Dn). Increment of the distance between the PC-Wall and the ocean from 35 to 45m could result in a 103.7 % mDn increase and reduce mN (the compound mass of NO3- remaining in the aquifer) by 11.7 %. The study offers a detailed comprehension of the intricate hydrodynamics of SWI and NO3- pollution. In addition, it provides design guidance for engineering to mitigate contamination by NO3- and controlling SWI, thus fostering the management of groundwater quality.

Assessment of water quality for mountainous high-elevated spring waters using self-organized maps

It is crucial to continuously evaluate the chemistry and quality of spring waters due to human activity, climate change, and environmental contamination in high-elevated areas. A total of 58 spring waters were collected from high-elevated areas in the Hamedan province, Iran. Different spring waters were divided into 4 clusters using the self-organizing map (SOM) and K-means clustering approach. The results from SOM indicated that the electrical conductivity (EC), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), and potassium (K+) displayed relatively similar patterns, while the distribution patterns of pH, nitrate (NO3−), and phosphorus (P) were completely different from other variables. Factor analysis supported this conclusion as well, indicating that while pH, NO3−, and P were the results of human activity, the main cations and anions came from parent rocks. The weighted arithmetic water quality index (WQI) was also calculated based on measured parameters and spring waters were primarily categorized as excellent water. Every cation was predominantly found on its free ion species. The saturation indices for all minerals were negative, indicating the dissolution of all minerals. It was concluded that the characterization of spring waters is substantially influenced by the geological nature of the aquifer rocks. Also, the background levels of NO3− and P have been identified as ecological goal levels for spring water resource management in high-elevated areas.

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.

Hydrogeochemical characteristic and water quality index of groundwater and streamwater at Nam Mu River basin, Lai Chau province in northwest Vietnam

Assessing the quality of groundwater and upstream water in regions experiencing water scarcity during the dry season, such as the mountainous districts of Northern Vietnam, holds immense significance in the management, utilization, and preservation of natural water resources. In this study, we collected and analyzed 54 samples of groundwater and upstream streamwater within the Nam Mu river basin in Lai Chau province during the dry season. These samples underwent thorough analysis for physicochemical parameters, major ion concentrations, and trace elements. Some results revealed a close relationship between streamwater and groundwater, indicating a similar chemical composition. These waters could be classified based on geological formations, yielding two primary water types in the area. The first type, characterized by Ca2+ - Mg2+ - HCO3 − is prevalent in Triassic terrigenous sediments. The second type is a mixed water type, ranging from Ca2+ - Mg2+ - Cl− to Ca2+ - Na+ - HCO3 −, primarily distributed in Permian felsic volcanic formations. These distinct water types are primarily the result of interactions between water and rock, precipitation processes, and ion exchange phenomena. Geochemical simulation results demonstrated the supersaturation of aragonite, calcite, and dolomite minerals, leading to the precipitation of carbonate minerals. Concurrently, the simulation indicated a tendency to dissolve minerals such as fluorite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite. The assessment of water quality using the WQI indicates that, in accordance with QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT 2018 standards, the majority of groundwater and streamwater are suitable for domestic use. However, exceptions exist in certain sample locations where water quality exceeds permissible standards, primarily due to elevated levels of Fe, Mn, and NO3 − concentration. Hence, it is important to implement water treatment processes for the water sourced from these specific locations before their utilization in daily activities to ensure the safety and well-being of the local population.

Beet supplementation mitigates post-exercise inflammation.

This study investigated the efficacy of a mixed beet-based supplement (BEET) versus placebo (PL) in countering inflammation during recovery from 2.25 h of intensive cycling in 20 male and female cyclists. A multi-omics approach was used that included untargeted proteomics and a targeted oxylipin panel. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design was used with two 2-week supplementation periods and a 2-week washout period. Supplementation periods were followed by a 2.25 h cycling bout at close to 70%VO2max. The BEET supplement provided 212 mg of nitrates per day, 200 mg caffeine from green tea extract, 44 mg vitamin C from Camu Camu berry, B-vitamins from quinoa sprouts (40% Daily Value for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6), and 2.5 g of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps sinensis and Inonotus obliquus. Six blood samples were collected before and after supplementation (overnight fasted state), immediately post-exercise, and at 1.5 h-, 3 h-, and 24 h-post-exercise. The 2.25 h cycling bout increased plasma levels of 41 of 67 oxylipins detected. BEET supplementation significantly increased plasma nitrate (NO3 -) and nitrite (NO2 -) (sum, NO3 - + NO2 -) concentrations (interaction effect, p < 0.001) and two anti-inflammatory oxylipins [18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) and 4-hydroxy-docosahexanoic acid (4-HDoHE)]. The untargeted proteomics analysis identified 616 proteins (458 across all times points), and 2-way ANOVA revealed a cluster of 45 proteins that were decreased and a cluster of 21 that were increased in the BEET versus PL trials. Functional enrichment supported significant BEET-related reductions in inflammation-related proteins including several proteins related to complement activation, the acute phase response, and immune cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Intake of a BEET-based supplement during a 2-week period was linked to higher plasma levels of NO3 - + NO2 -, elevated post-exercise levels of two anti-inflammatory oxylipins, and a significant decrease in a cluster of proteins involved in complement activation and inflammation. These data support that 2-weeks intake of nitrate from a mixed beet-based supplement moderated protein biomarkers of exercise-induced inflammation in athletes.