Thermotolerant Coliforms Research Articles

USE OF PASSION FRUIT PEEL FLOUR IN THE MANUFACTURING OF LOAF BREAD

Brazil is the largest worldwide Passiflora fruit producer producing a peel waste with large potential of use. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different Passiflora peel flour (PPF) concentrations in addition to loaf bread. The experiment was carried out in the Agro Industry Sector of IF Goiano Ceres from August to November of 2019. The experimental design was totally randomized with four treatments with different concentrations of Passiflora peel flour (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) and three repetitions. Physicochemical (pH, titratable acidity, humidity, ash), microbiological analysis (total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms) were carried out at Instrumental and Microbiologic laboratories. Sensory evaluations were performed with 50 non trained panelists to verify acceptance and purchase intention. It was observed a decrease to pH level (varying from 6.06 to 5.39) and to humidity level (from 30.65% to 27.66%) with the addition of PPF. To ash and titratable acidity levels, there was an increase in the observed values with the addition of PPF, varying from 1.04% to 1.36% and from 2.23% to 4.76%, respectively. It was observed a higher acceptance for 0% (80.31%) and 5% (78.16%) PPF treatments. In this way, we conclude that the use of PPF to enrich loaf bread is an alternative to partial substitution of wheat flour for the addition of nutrients and fibers. The microbiological analysis results indicated that all treatments are according to Brazilian legislation. Therefore, passiflora peel flour has potential to be used in loaf bread fabrication, and could be used to substitute the wheat flour up to 5%.
 
 Keywords: bakery, Passiflora edulis, functional food

Grau de cumprimento das boas práticas de fabricação e perfil microbiológico de linguiças frescas mistas

Abstract Good manufacturing practices in production facilities are necessary to control microbiological growth and prevent foodborne illnesses. Among the various foods that can be contaminated by intensive handling, meat products such as fresh sausages stand out. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to establish a microbiological profile of the fresh sausages produced in the municipality of Alegrete-RS, Brazil, as part of the SIM/SISBI inspection between 2014 and 2016 and to promote and evaluate the producing establishments in terms of compliance with good manufacturing practices. Samples were regularly taken from 10 businesses in the city and tested for thermotolerant coliform bacteria, sulphitereducing Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Salmonella spp. In addition, the adequacy of good manufacturing practices was assessed and measures in the form of questionnaires, guidelines and training to improve the production chain were implemented in these companies. Over the years, significant improvements in compliance with good manufacturing practices have been observed in the production units. The microbial count of thermotolerant coliforms, sulphite-reducing Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Salmonella spp. decreased significantly, indicating that the interventions contributed to improving the microbiological profile of the fresh sausage produced in the community.

Сравнительная гигиеническая оценка качественного состава питьевой воды централизованной системы водоснабжения в отдельных районах г. Рязани

INTRODUCTION: Providing the population with drinking water that meets national standards is one of the urgent problems. In connection with the use of ground and surface waters for water supply in Ryazan and their different proportions in the water supply system, the quality of drinking water in individual districts of the city may have special features. AIM: Comparative hygienic assessment of the qualitative composition of drinking water of the centralized water supply system in the residential districts of Ryazan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of laboratory quality control of drinking water of central water supply system for the period from 2012–2021 were analyzed according to the monitoring data of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Ryazan Region. The calculation of the average many-year concentrations and the percentage of samples that do not meet hygienic requirements, was carried out. For statistical processing, the method of analysis of variance and Scheffe and Tamhein tests for paired comparisons were used, taking into account the results of Levene test. Statistical parameters were calculated in SPSS Statistics 19 software. RESULTS: Excess hardness of drinking water was recorded in all districts of the city, with the proportion of such samples ranging from 0.8% (Solotcha) to 74.1% (Stroitel). The average value of the total water hardness in Stroitel district was the highest, 7,554 mg-eq./l, exceeding the hygienic norm. In most districts, with the exception of Kanishchevo, Diagilevo, Zheleznodorozhny and Sovetsky, water samples (0.9–2.7%) were recorded that did not meet hygienic requirements for the content of generalized and thermotolerant coliform bacteria. The average many-year concentration of iron (2+) in the drinking water of the centralized water supply system of the village of Solotcha 2.5 times exceeded the MPC (0.3 mg/l) and was significantly higher than in the compared territories, and in 64.6% of samples its one-time concentrations did not correspond to the hygienic norm. In the territories of the districts: Dashkovo-Pesochnya, Kanishchevo, Mirny, Sovetsky and Zheleznodorozhny, the proportions of water samples with one-time concentrations of aluminum exceeding the MPC (0.2 mg/l) ranged from 1.5% (CI 95%; 0.3–8.2%) to 6.1% (CI 95%; 2.4–14.6%). One-time concentrations of boron above the MPC (0.5 mg/l) were recorded in drinking water in all districts of the city with the exception of Diaghilevo and Oktyabrsky, and ranged from 1.0% (CI 95%; 0.2–5.2%) to 1.9% (CI 95%; 0.52–6.68%). The average many-year concentration of cadmium in the drinking water of Dashkovo–Pesochnya residential area was 0.0006 mg/l and 1.9-14 times exceeded that in other districts of the city (p < 0.05), while the proportion of water samples where one-time concentrations of this toxicant exceeded the MPC (0.001 mg/l) was 4.7%. Also, cadmium concentrations exceeded the hygienic standard at the control points of water supply network in Mirny (in 2.9% of samples), Sovetsky and Zheleznodorozhny districts (0.9% of samples in each). One-time concentrations of nickel most often exceeded the respective MPC (0.02 mg/l) in the drinking water of Dashkovo-Pesochnya and Solotcha residential areas making 10.9% (CI 95%; 4.7–23.0%) and 11.1% (CI 95%; 4.8–23.5%), respectively, and least often of Mirny and Moskovsky areas — 2.2% (CI 95%; 0.4–1.3%) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The territorial features of the qualitative composition of drinking water of the centralized water supply system of the city of Ryazan are determined, consisting in higher average values of individual parameters and the percentages of samples that do not meet hygienic standards for hardness in Stroitel, Sovetsky, Zheleznodorozhny and Dashkovo-Pesochnya districts; for the content of sanitary-indicative microorganisms — in Stroitel, Dashkovo-Pesochnya, Mirny and Oktyabrsky; for the iron content (2+) — in Stroitel, Zheleznodorozhny, Oktyabrsky, Kanishchevo and Solotcha; for boron — in Stroitel; for cadmium — in Dashkovo-Pesochna and Mirny; for nickel — in Dashkovo-Pesochna and Solotcha; for lead — in Stroitel and Mirny.

Classification of water by bacterial presence using chemometrics associated with excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy

Bacterial presence in water is an important indicator of water quality and, when found in high concentrations, may risk human health. The detection of total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water through standard methods involves time-consuming and expensive laboratory tests, which may not always provide timely and accurate results. An alternative approach is excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMFS), which offers fast detection of bacteria in water by analyzing fluorescent compounds. Chemometrics methods can be used to process EEMF spectrum, extract the relevant information, and differentiate water samples based on the presence of bacteria using classification models. In this study, various classification algorithms were applied to EEMFS datasets, including k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), multiway-PLS (NPLS-DA), principal component analysis with discriminant analysis (PCA-DA), support vector machines (SVM), and random forest (RF). Models were developed after the unfold multiway and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) to classify groundwater, freshwater, saltwater, and treated water samples according to the presence of E. coli, thermotolerant coliforms, and total coliforms. Among these models, PLS-DA, SVM, and RF demonstrated superior performance in discriminating the samples in most cases. In the test sets, the accuracy of the best models for total coliforms varied from 85.2% to 100% for groundwater, 71.4% to 98.2% for freshwater, 64.6% to 81.3% for treated water, and 65.8% to 71.1% for saltwater. Accuracy for E. coli and thermotolerant coliforms ranged from 89.3% to 100% in groundwater and from 64.7% to 87.5% for treated water. Results for thermotolerant coliforms in freshwater were 64.8% to 95.2%, and 63.3% to 76.7% for saltwater. For E. coli, accuracy ranged from 73.8% to 78.6% for freshwater and 65.0% to 80.0% for saltwater.

Toxicological assessment of ZnO-Vernonia amygdalina nanoparticle-treated Asa River water in albino rats

Traditional water purification methods are increasingly inadequate, leading to the exploration of novel approaches. This study investigated the application of plant-derived nanomaterials for heterogeneous photocatalytic water treatment using ZnO-Vernonia amygdalina nanoparticles (ZVAN). The study evaluated the efficacy of ZVAN in purifying Asa River water (ARW) and assessed its toxicological profile in rats. Synthesized ZVAN was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ARW samples were collected according to standard guidelines and their physicochemical and bacteriological properties were analyzed. ARW was treated with ZVAN and alum separately. The effects of both treatments on various hematological, liver, and kidney parameters in albino rats were compared after 30 days of daily administration. The total suspended matter (TSM) levels in untreated and treated ARW exceeded approved standards. ZVAN treatment effectively eliminated cadmium (Cd) from the water (from 0.1 ppm to 0). Thermotolerant coliforms and enteric bacteria were also undetectable in ZVAN-treated samples. Compared to the control group, untreated ARW significantly decreased red blood cell (RBC) count (6.86±0.56 vs 2.75±0.11, p<0.05), hemoglobin (10.68±0.81 vs 3.80±0.22, p<0.05), hematocrit (40.78±2.49 vs 15.15±0.95, p<0.05), white blood cell (WBC) count (9.85±0.73 vs 1.60±0.08, p<0.05) and platelet count (377.75±26.96 vs 55.25±15.78, p<0.05). Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed in enzyme activities between experimental and control groups. This study demonstrates the high level of pollution in ARW. ZVAN treatment significantly reduced pollution and mitigated its associated detrimental effects, with minimal to no observed toxicity compared to alum treatment. These findings suggest the potential of ZVAN as a promising alternative for water purification.

Erythrocyte Recovery in Oreochromis niloticus Fish Exposed to Urban Effluents.

Urban activities pollute aquatic ecosystems, and the integrity of organisms such as fish. The use of cytological techniques, such as the analysis of blood cellular integrity using the Micronucleus test, can help detect mutagenic damage as a result to urban effluents exposure. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the frequency of micronucleus and other nuclear abnormalities in Oreochromis niloticus fish environmentally exposed to urban effluents in relation to their erythrocyte recovery capacity when exposed to clean water (30 and 45days). The results indicated high copper, dissolved iron, nickel, and thermotolerant coliform levels in the urban stream. There was no difference in the frequency of micronuclei. In contrast, cells with nuclear nuclei, binucleates, kidney-shaped nuclei, notched nuclei, lobed nuclei, and segmented nuclei decreased according to the time the fish were exposed to clean water. When exposed to clean water, we conclude that urban fish recover from genotoxic and cytotoxic damage.

High microbiological contamination in surface waters in the upper basin of the Choluteca River in Honduras

Microorganisms with a high pathogenic potential for humans and animals can spread through water. This represents a severe threat to public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where sanitation conditions are often limited. Due to their constant presence in the intestine and feces of both people and animals, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, and intestinal Enterococcus have historically been employed as indicators of fecal contamination to evaluate water quality for human use and consumption. Under no circumstances should water sources for human use and consumption have bacteria indicating fecal contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of surface water from six sub-basins located in the upper basin of the Cholulteca River in Honduras and determine the Escherichia coli phylogroups isolated in these samples. Our results show high rates of fecal contamination, suggesting that surface waters in the upper Choluteca River basin are unsafe for human consumption. Phylogroups B1 and D were the most frequent among 29 E. coli isolates, while phylogroups C and F were the least frequent. Measures must be taken to raise awareness about sanitation and good practices for managing household waste and those generated by agro-industrial and livestock activities in the area. Surface water in the Choluteca River basin must be adequately treated before consumption because it may impact people's health. In addition, we encourage prompt decision-making by the health authorities. In conclusion, this study assessed the microbiological quality of water in the upper Choluteca River basin. Our findings show high rates of fecal contamination and the predominance of E. coli strains from phylogroups associated with fecal contamination, suggesting that these waters are unsafe for human consumption. Keywords: fecal contamination; E. coli; phylogroups; surface water; Choluteca River basin; Honduras

Effect of greywater treated by horizontal subsurface flow wetlands planted with Chrysopogon zizanioides and Andropogon gayanus on the germination of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds under Sahelian climate

Greywater reuse for agricultural irrigation may contribute to reduce pressure on scarce freshwater sources and the use of chemical fertilizers in Sahelian countries. However, treatment methods that reduce the harmful effects of untreated greywater are essential for sustainable agriculture. This study aims to evaluate greywater treatment capacity by Horizontal Subsurface Flow wetlands (HSSF) planted with Chrysopogon zizanioides (HSSF-C) and Andropogon gayanus (HSSF-A), and to investigate the suitability of the effluents on the germination of tomato seeds. Three pilot-scale HSSF (planted with Chrysopogon zizanioides or Andropogon gayanus and an unplanted (control)) were designed and their removal efficiencies of organic matter, nutrients and fecal bacteria were evaluated. Principal component analysis showed planted systems provided higher removal efficiencies than the unplanted system. HSSF-A showed the best performance for removal of organic (COD, BOD5) and mineral (NO3−, NH4+) matter while HSSF-C showed the best performance for removal of phosphorus compounds and fecal indicators (thermotolerant coliforms, E. coli). HSSF-UP showed the lowest performance for removal of all parameters. The reduction of thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli were significantly greater in the two planted systems and exceeded 2 log10 removal. However, no significant difference was observed between the planted and unplanted HSSF for fecal indicators. Furthermore, germination rates obtained with greywater treated by HSSF were higher than 80%, approaching that obtained using distilled water, while the lower germination rates were observed with seeds irrigated with raw greywater (58%). This is a clear indication of the beneficial effect of treated greywater by HSSF wetlands on seeds germination. In addition, residual content of fecal indicators and physicochemical characteristics of the treated greywater are compliant with WHO reuse guidelines for restricted irrigation. The results demonstrate the possibility of using constructed wetlands for greywater treatment and its reuse in gardening in Sahelian countries.

Profile of lactic acid bacteria (MALDI-TOF-MS) and physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the raw milk and fresh artisanal cheese from Serra Geral, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Artisanal cheese from Serra Geral, Minas Gerais, Brazil, stands out for its cultural asset and socio-economic relevance. However, standards of identity and quality and the peculiar terroir associated with the edaphoclimatic conditions have not been established. Therefore, the production flow diagram and the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of the raw milk, pingo (natural starter culture), production benches, water and fresh cheese were investigated for the first time. In addition, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from cheese and its production environment were identified by MALDI-TOF. For that, 12 cheese making facilities were selected. The raw milk and pingo showed adequate physico-chemical characteristics for cheesemaking; however, high microbial counts were found. In the water, total and thermotolerant coliforms were also identified. The fresh cheeses were classified as ‘high moisture and fat’ and ‘soft mass’. Most physico-chemical parameters were satisfactory; however, there were high counts of total coliforms, Staphylococcus spp. and coagulase-positive staphylococci. There were high counts of LAB in the raw milk, pingo, bench surface and fresh cheese. A total of 84 microbial biotypes from MRS agar were isolated. Lactococcus lactis was the predominant LAB, followed by Lactococcus garvieae. Leuconostoc mesenteroides (benches), Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (fresh cheese), and Enterococcus faecium (pingo) were identified sporadically. These results indicate the risks to public health associated with the consumption of the fresh cheese, and measures to improve its safety are needed.

Assessment of the Vulnerability of Groundwater to Biological Contamination in the Khartoum State, Sudan

This study aims to determine how vulnerable groundwater in Khartoum is to contamination. For this purpose, the DRASTIC Index idea was used. A descriptive cross-sectional analytical analysis is designed in this study. A total of 279 boreholes were sampled from a total of 1015 boreholes (27.5 percent). The following criteria were utilized to define the DRASTIC Index: depth, net recharge, aquifer media, soil texture, terrain, video media, and soil conductivity. Standard bacteriological test methodologies were used for groundwater. The biological data from the 279 boreholes revealed that total coliform, thermo-tolerant coliform, and E. coli were found in 34.4 percent, 18.6 percent, and 0.36 percent of the boreholes, respectively. Bacteriological contamination is common in Sharge Elnile, although only a few cases have been reported in Khartoum. According to the study, the bulk of boreholes in Khartoum State were built without any criteria. Many sources of contamination were discovered within a radius of less than 120 meters, which was deemed to violate Khartoum State’s Environmental Health Law of 2002. For this reason, bacteriological contamination is common in Sharge Elnile, although only a few cases have been reported in Khartoum.

Assessment of the Sanitary Quality of Precooked Cereal-Based Foods Produced in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Small-scale cereal-based food production companies have recently been growing in Ouagadougou. The promoters of these companies do not always apply good hygiene practices (GHP) during their activities, which can lead to the production of food of unsatisfactory quality, which can threaten the health of consumers. In view of this observation, this study was initiated with the aim of assessing the sanitary quality of four pre-cooked cereal-based foods produced in Ouagadougou's city. Thus, 27 samples of these foods (rice and maize couscous, millet and sorghum dèguè) were collected and sent to the laboratory. Microbiological and physico-chemical analyses using standard methods were performed on these samples. The results obtained show that for all the samples of the four foods, the pH varies from 6.20±0.02 to 7.79±0.01 while the water content varies from 4.80±0.72% to 9.19±0.01%. The dry matter content of the samples was between 90.00±0.01% and 95.20±0.07%. The water and oil absorption capacities of the samples vary from 130.26±5.10% to 162.02±4.20% and from 90.09±0.00% to 115.05±7.03% respectively. The loads of Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora (TAMF) and Yeasts and Molds (YM) vary, respectively, from 1.33±0.71x102 CFU/g to 1.24±0.54x104 CFU/g and from &lt;10 CFU/g to 2.20±0.14x103 CFU/g. For most samples, total coliforms (TC) and Thermotolerant Coliforms (TTC) loads were less than 10 CFU/g. Salmonella-Shigella was absent from all samples. Referring to the standards, for all the germs studied, 100% of the rice couscous samples, 83.34% of the millet dèguè samples, 66.66% of the sorghum dèguè samples, and 77.78% of the maize couscous samples presented satisfactory microbiological quality.

Sanitary inspection and microbial health risks associated with enteric bacteria in groundwater sources in Ilara-Mokin and Ibule-Soro, Nigeria.

This study set out to determine the sanitary risk scores and microbial health risks associated with wells and boreholes in Ilara-Mokin and Ibule-Soro, Nigeria. Water samples (n = 96) were collected over a period of five months to determine the levels of enteric bacteria and to perform a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) of drinking water quality. Sanitary risk scores revealed `medium' and `low' overall risks for the wells and boreholes, respectively. Three risk factors (faulty fence; small apron; pollution sources) exhibited high significant (p < 0.01) association with the presence of E. coli and thermotolerant coliforms in water samples from the wells. E. coli and Salmonella ranged from 1.82 to 2.28 and 2.15 to 2.63 log10 CFU/100 ml respectively in water from the wells, but were below detection limit in water from the boreholes. Shigella and Campylobacter were detected in all water samples. Estimated risks of infection associated with Shigella (2.1 × 10-2 to 2.3 × 10-1) were higher than those of Campylobacter (6.7 × 10-2 to 1.9 × 10-1) and Salmonella (1.9×10-3 to 5.6×10-3). Adaption of water safety plans may be advantageous in these settings, since intentional ingestion of water from the wells and boreholes may pose potential risks of diarrheal illness to humans.

Balneability of the Municipality of São Luis – MA and the Influence of Rainfall Occurrences as an Externality Factor

Objective: To analyze the bathing conditions, that is, the quality of the water intended for primary contact recreation on the beaches of Ponta D’areia, São Marcos, Calhau and Olho d’água located in the municipality of São Luís- Maranhão. Theoretical framework: This study was conducted based on theoretical reflections on environmental issues, the relationship between society and nature. Issues of water use for recreation, environmental policies regarding bathing and externalities that interfere with the quality of water for bathing and their impacts on the health of the population were analyzed. Method: To select beaches and water collection sites, the most intense flow of bathers and the risks of interference with water quality were taken into account. Data on bathing ability and average monthly precipitation were obtained to verify bathing conditions, in addition to information on effluent release points and urban drainage. Results and conclusion: It was observed that the main influence on the incidence of thermotolerant coliforms is the presence of sanitary effluents on beaches, this factor becomes visible in the rainy season and with the lack of sanitary infrastructure. Implications of the research: This research will contribute to public policy measures, helping decision-making to improve public and environmental health in the city of São Luís- MA. Originality/value: This study has socio-environmental and scientific value, as it relates bathing ability to externalities such as the lack of environmental sanitation and high rainfall in the region.

Bacteriological assessment of fruit pulp sold in supermarkets in São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, Maranhão State, Brazil

Natural fruit pulp is highly appreciated because it retains the flavor and nutrients of the fresh fruit. However, fruit pulp is susceptible to contamination by pathogenic bacteria, mainly because of improper handling and storage. Therefore, this study evaluated and quantified the presence of pathogenic bacteria in fruit pulp sold in São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, Maranhão, Brazil. Two fruit pulp samples each of açaí (A and B), acerola (C and D), cajá (E and F), cashew (G and H), and passion fruit (I and J) were obtained from supermarkets and subjected to the following microbiological analyses: enumeration of mesophilic bacteria using plate count agar; quantification of total (TC) and thermotolerant (TTC) coliforms using the multiple tube technique; qualitative detection of Escherichia coli on eosin methylene blue agar and that of Salmonella on xylose lysine base agar and enteric agar. Mesophilic bacteria were found to grow in all the samples, with the highest value obtained for the acerola pulp (sample D; average: 1.08 x 105 colony-forming units g-1). However, all samples were in accordance with the Brazilian legislation for this parameter. The most probable number of colonies (MPN g-1) of TC and TTC were ≥1,100 in açaí (sample A), cajá (sample E), and cashew (sample G) pulps, which is in disagreement with the maximum value allowed. E. coli and Salmonella were not found to grow in the samples evaluated in this study. Collectively, the data indicate inadequate handling and storage in the production chain of fruit pulp sold in the municipality of São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, suggesting that the population in the region is exposed to a probable risk of food contamination.

Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Southeastern Coast of Brazil: A Potential Threat to Human Health in Marica Municipality

Groundwater pollution is a current issue that may result in considerable negative effects on human health and the ecological balance. In the present study, the authors evaluated pollutants in groundwater in Maricá Municipality, located on the east side of Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil. The evaluated parameters were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, Eh, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, nitrates, dissolved organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, phosphates, and total and thermotolerant coliforms. Due to the large number of evaluated points, they were divided into zones according to the respective hydrographic basin. The local accelerated urbanization accompanying income from oil production has led to uncontrolled population growth and associated groundwater pollution. The results of the present study suggest that sewage pollution of Maricá groundwater is already a significant issue. The lack of investment in basic sanitation has led to an imbalance in the local groundwater reservoir. In certain locations of the municipality, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nutrient, and bacteria concentrations increase and spread in the aquifers because of domestic waste disposal. As aquifers are the main source of freshwater for the residents, contamination of them represents a potential threat to local public health.

Land use and rainfall influences on bacterial levels and sources in stormwater ponds.

Urban stormwater runoff is a known source of microbial contamination of stormwater ponds. However, less is known about the influences of land use and rainfall on microbial quality over time in these receiving waters. In this study, two fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), namely Escherichia coli and thermotolerant coliforms, were monitored in three stormwater ponds in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The stormwater ponds were selected due to their potential as water sources for beneficial uses such as irrigation, which requires lower water quality than drinking water, thereby alleviating the pressure on the city's potable water demands. The selected stormwater ponds vary in size and shape, contribution catchment size, and percentages of several primary land use types. Microbial source tracking for human, dog, seagull, Canada goose, ruminant, and muskrat was also conducted to determine sources of bacterial contamination in the stormwater ponds. Sampling was conducted near the pond surface and adjacent to the shoreline, specifically near the outfalls that discharge stormwater runoff into the ponds and the inlets that convey water out of the ponds. Overall, the FIB concentrations in the vicinity of pond outfalls were significantly or relatively higher than those near pond inlets. The contamination in the McCall Lake and the Country Hills stormwater ponds showed higher amounts of human markers (40 to 60%) compared to the Inverness stormwater pond (< 20%), which coincided with their higher FIB concentration medians. The results revealed that stormwater drained from catchments with a higher percentage of commercial land use was more contaminated than those with primary residential land use, while the impacts of residential development on the FIB levels in the Inverness stormwater pond were not obvious. Furthermore, FIB concentrations in the ponds increased in response to both rain events and inter-event dry periods, with human-specific markers being predominant despite the high levels of animal markers during inter-event dry periods. Human-origin sources might be among the main microbial loading contributors in the pond catchments in general. All these findings can inform the development or improvement of measures for mitigating microbial pollution, strategies for reusing stormwater, and maintenance programs.

Risk assessment of Sanitation and water Infrastructure in informal settlements of Kisumu: Implications for Hygiene and Public Health

Risk assessment encompasses assessment and reporting of the potential harm, danger and health concerns arising from the use or contact with potentially harmful materials or substance. In the context of urban sanitation and water, risk assessment may involve the assessment of the likely harm arising from the use of unprotected or unimproved water and sanitation facilities and likelihood of injuries that such facilities may exert on the community. Urban informal settlements, which remain the face of urban vulnerability in most developing countries, are dominated by unprotected sanitation facilities and water sources which have subsequently exacerbated the urban social and health vulnerabilities and risks. This article assessed risks from sanitation and water infrastructure in urban informal settlements and their implications on community hygiene and public health using the case study from Kisumu City, Kenya. The article is based on data collected using a modified WASHFIT risk assessment tool developed by the WHO. One hundred and fourteen water sources and 460 sanitation facilities were covered by the study. Findings from the study revealed that 87% of water sources studied were shared by multiple households, while 65% and were unprotected. Some improvements had been undertaken in only less than 20% of sanitation facilities, with large proportion accounting for the ventilated improved pit latrine type. The remaining more than one fifth or 80% of the facilities were poorly constructed traditional pit latrines. Water quality findings revealed that nitrate and thermotolerant coliform levels were higher across most water sources and beyond the minimum recommended thresholds by WHO drinking water standards. On the risk assessment scale, 67% of water sources and 70% sanitation facilities were categorised as “risky” respectively.

The Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Characterization of Domestic Wastewater in Adétikopé (Togo, West Africa)

Wastewater represents a health risk for the population. For sanitary safety, it is important to know its physico-chemical and microbiological qualities in order to better understand the risks incurred by the population. The aim of this study was to analyze Adétikopé’s domestic wastewater from a microbiological and physico-chemical standpoint. Twelve wastewater samples were taken in Adétikopé from December 2022 to February 2023. Physico-chemical parameters were determined in accordance with AFNOR and the French NF standard. In microbiology, AFNOR was used as a reference for the detection of germs contaminating wastewater. Results were assessed in relation to European Union Criteria 98/83/EC. The wastewater analyzed has a pH close to neutral, with an average pH of 7.05. The pollutant load generated ranged from 32 mG/L to 201 mg/L for BOD5, from 660 mG/L to 900 mG/L for COD and from 408 mG/L to 2080 mG/L for suspended solids. The highest levels of germs were detected in the samples taken, with values of 68,000 CFU/100 mL and 47,000 CFU/100 mL for thermotolerant coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively. The results show that fecal contamination originates from both animal and human sources. Concentrations of fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci are very high, far exceeding WHO guidelines. While a short-term solution would be to disinfect household sanitation systems on a daily basis, in the long term, the construction of collective sanitation systems, backed up by environmental education, remains a sustainable solution for the health and safety of populations.

Determination of pathogens and contamination indicators in fresh pork sausages in the state of São Paulo

The highest cost of beef and chicken meat justifies higher consumption of fresh sausage products, especially linguiça, due to their easy preparation and affordability for consumers, making necessary an evaluation of sanitary hygienic conditions of these products. The objective was to investigate the presence of pathogens such as Salmonella spp., coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. in artisanal and inspected fresh pork sausages. It was found that 12% (6/50) of the artisanal sausage samples were contaminated with Salmonella spp., 58% (29/50) presented coagulase-positive Staphylococcus levels above the acceptable limits for consumption and 76% (38/50) presented thermotolerant coliform levels above the acceptable limits. In sausage samples produced under inspected conditions, 6% (3/50) were contaminated with Salmonella spp., 24% (12/50) presented thermotolerant coliform levels above the acceptable limits, 2% (1/50) presented enteropathogenic E. coli. None samples showed coagulase-positive Staphylococcus counts above the limits, or presence of Campylobacter spp. Sensitizing traders and consumers about the importance of inspection service in food of animal origin is urgent for a sanitary acceptable production, since foodborne diseases continue to be a public health problem.

Spatial–Temporal Influence of Sand Dams on Chemical and Microbial Properties of Water from Scooping Holes in Degraded Semi-Arid Regions

Communities in semi-arid lands use sand dams to enhance access water during the dry seasons. However, there is limited information on the quality of water derived from these sand dams, especially in degraded lands where storm surface runoff poses contamination risk. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the spatial–temporal variations in water quality of sand dams in Chepareria, West Pokot County in Kenya. Water samples were collected from scooping holes across 18 purposefully selected sand dams. Results obtained showed significant differences in water quality based on a sand dam’s age and location of the scooping holes, but the magnitude of these differences differed with specific properties. For instance, in recently constructed sand dams (&lt;1 year), scooping holes near the sand dam wall had lower pH values (8.5) than holes scooped a distance from the sand dam wall (9.2). For total dissolved solutes and microbial properties, sand dam age had the greatest impact, over the location of the scooping holes. For example, water obtained from &lt;1 year old sand dams had significantly higher TDS with an average value of 100.3 mg L−1. The thermotolerant coliforms (TTC) exceeded the maximum allowable levels recommended by The World Health Organization. Thus, water obtained from these sand dams should be treated before consumption. Finally, sand dams meant for domestic water harvesting should be protected. Shallow wells with appropriate aprons for effective protection against contamination should be installed to enhance abstraction of safe water from sand dams.