Urbanisation effects on groundwater chemical quality: findings focusing on the nitrate problem from 2 African cities reliant on on-site sanitation

By 2010 Africa's urban population will have grown to over 420 million with on-site sanitation the predominant excreta disposal option. The use of on-site sanitation has important public health benefits but can result in large faecally derived loadings of nitrogen and chloride to groundwater resources. Nitrate is of particular concern, with elevated concentrations linked to potentially serious health problems. N and Cl can derive from natural sources so it is important to quantify the additional impact of human activities. Several authors have used empirical relationships between nitrate and chloride concentrations to assess the extent to which excreta influences groundwater quality. However, these relationships have assumed fixed loadings from excreta. Relationships between N and Cl have been extended here by adding country-specific estimates of average annual per capita nitrogen and chloride content of, and loading from, excreta. The results are compared with groundwater monitoring results from two very different mid-sized African cities (Timbuktu, Mali and Lichinga, Mozambique) where the vast majority of residents use on-site sanitation and are dependent on the subsurface water for drinking purposes. The results illustrate the impact of urbanisation on groundwater quality. They are compared with data from other African cities to allow the calculation of a general nitrate and chloride relationship for unsewered African urban areas. Potential interventions to help arrest rising nitrate levels and so provide a public health benefit are also examined.

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Nitrogen Mass Balance and Pressure Impact Model Applied to an Urban Aquifer

Water ◽

10.3390/w12041171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1171 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mitja Janža ◽

Joerg Prestor ◽

Simona Pestotnik ◽

Brigita Jamnik

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Transport Model ◽

Nitrate Concentration ◽

Impact Model ◽

Sewer System ◽

Management Measures ◽

Pressure Impact ◽

The Impact ◽

The City

The assurance of drinking water supply is one of the biggest emerging global challenges, especially in urban areas. In this respect, groundwater and its management in the urban environment are gaining importance. This paper presents the modeling of nitrogen load from the leaky sewer system and from agriculture and the impact of this pressure on the groundwater quality (nitrate concentration) in the urban aquifer located beneath the City of Ljubljana. The estimated total nitrogen load in the model area of 58 km2 is 334 ton/year, 38% arising from the leaky sewer system and 62% from agriculture. This load was used as input into the groundwater solute transport model to simulate the distribution of nitrate concentration in the aquifer. The modeled nitrate concentrations at the observation locations were found to be on average slightly lower (2.7 mg/L) than observed, and in general reflected the observed contamination pattern. The ability of the presented model to relate and quantify the impact of pressures from different contamination sources on groundwater quality can be beneficially used for the planning and optimization of groundwater management measures for the improvement of groundwater quality.

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Assessing impact of Omicron on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics and public health burden

10.1101/2021.12.12.21267673 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Epke A. Le Rutte ◽

Andrew J. Shattock ◽

Nakul Chitnis ◽

Sherrie L. Kelly ◽

Melissa A Penny

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Immune Evasion ◽

Health Benefit ◽

Critical Time ◽

Epidemiological Surveillance ◽

Transmission Model ◽

Public Health Burden ◽

Novel Treatments ◽

Health Burden ◽

The Impact

SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron (B.1.1.529) was classified as a variant of concern (VOC) on November 26, 2021. The infectivity, severity, and immune evasion properties of Omicron relative to the Delta variant will determine 1) the probability of dominant future transmission, and 2) the impact on disease burden. Here we apply an individual-based transmission model to identify thresholds for Omicrons potential dominance, impact on health, and risk to health systems; and identify for which combinations of viral properties, current interventions would be sufficient to control transmission. We show that, with first-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and limited physical distancing in place, the threshold for Omicrons future dominance will primarily be driven by its degree of infectivity. However, Omicrons potential dominance may not necessarily lead to increased public health burden. Expanded vaccination that includes a third-dose for adults and child vaccination strategies is projected to have the biggest public health benefit for a highly infective, highly severe variant with low immune evasion capacity. However, a highly immune evading variant that becomes dominant will likely require alternative measures for control, such as strengthened physical distancing measures, novel treatments, and second-generation vaccines. These findings provide quantitative guidance to decision-makers at a critical time while Omicron properties are being assessed. We emphasize the importance of both genomic and population epidemiological surveillance.

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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of University Students in Pakistan

10.20944/preprints202012.0367.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hafiz Muhammad Asif ◽

Hafiz Abdul Sattar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Family Income ◽

Sampling Procedure ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Purpose: A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of COVID-19 eventually led to the declaration of Public health emergency of international concern and a pandemic by WHO due to its exponential global spread. Present study was conducted to investigate the impact of second wave of pandemic on mental wellbeing and social behaviors among university students of Pakistan during this crucial period of COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was designed to evaluate the psychosocial impact during the current COVID-19 outbreak among the students of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Snowball sampling or chain referral sampling procedure was adopted to recruit the participants in the study. Verbal informed consent was taken from all participants before recruitment in the study irrespective of their gender, age and socioeconomic status. Results: Mental health of university students during COVID-19 epidemic was affected to a varying degree revealing that 26.66% were recorded to have mild, 27.15% moderate and 17.04% suffering from severe anxiety out of total 1029 students. Students who were residing in urban areas with parents and having a steady family income were negatively associated and found protective factors against anxiety. However, having a relative or an acquaintance infected with COVID-19 was an independent risk factor for experienced anxiety. Positively associated factors with the level of anxiety symptoms included economic stressors, effects on daily-life, and academic delays whereas social support was negatively correlated with anxiety in COVID-19 related stressors. Conclusion: Public health emergencies and such pandemic are exerting serious psychological impacts on university students. It is recommended that the higher authorities should plan better policies to reduce this impact for the provision of high quality and timely crisis-oriented psychological services to university students.

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Ecological monitoring of livestock complexes on groundwater quality (on the example of the pig breeding farm № 11 JV LLC "Nyva Pereiaslavschyny")

Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation ◽

10.31548/biologiya2021.01.005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

V. Serdiuk ◽

◽

V. Maksin ◽

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Water Samples ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Modern Approach ◽

Protection Zone ◽

Quality Of Water ◽

The Impact

Agriculture, especially livestock, is rated as one of the most polluting industries in the world. In the other hand there is a modern approach to the technology implementation, and is this true that with its usage the impact on the environment is so critical and inevitably leads to environmental catastrophe. It is important to investigate and scientifically substantiate the impact of modern livestock complexes on the environment, especially on groundwater resources objectively,. And only after a number of studies conducted on pig farms with a capacity of 30 and 50 thousand heads per year it would be possible to determine next: is livestock an object of ultra-intensive pollution, or it is an object that does not have a significant negative impact on the environment and is also an economic and food lever of the country. The research was conducted on the example of the company JV LLC "NYVA PEREIASLAVSCHYNY" that is located in two districts of Kyiv region – Brovarskyi and Boryspilskyi. The sanitary protection zone size is 1500 meters to the nearest residential development (MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF UKRAINE, 1996). Projects to reduce the sanitary protection zone have not been developed as there is no need for it. Research of water quality was performed according to State Sanitary Regulations and Rules “Hygienic Requirements to Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption” “2.2.4-171-10” (State Water Agency of Ukraine, 2010). It was conducted on samples that were taken from 4 artesian wells that are located on the territory of the pig breeding farm № 11. The aim of the research is to identify the impact of the pig breeding farm’s № 11 activity on the underground aquifer and surface water body. To reach this target water samples were collected according to the requirements established in the conclusion on environmental impact assessment from wells in the villages and river. Studies that were conducted during 2020 showed that the quality of water in wells meets the requirements for drinking water. Water samples from wells and ponds showed deviations from the norm up to 10 times. Previous studies did not set a negative impact of the pig breeding farm № 11 on groundwater quality.

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Environmental noise levels and noise annoyance in Novi Sad, 2012-2016

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.256 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

E Zivadinovic ◽

M Jevtic ◽

N Dragic ◽

S Bijelovic

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Health ◽

Noise Level ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Road Traffic Noise ◽

Residential Areas ◽

Novi Sad ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objective Increased noise level represents a significant public health problem in urban environments. The aim of this paper is to examine the annoyance of the population by road traffic noise in the City of Novi Sad. Methods The results of 161 24-hour noise measurements in Novi Sad were analyzed. Measurements were done by Public Health Institute of Vojvodina, according to accredited and standardized national methodology during 2012 - 2016. Results Total noise indicator (Lden) / night noise indicator (Lnight) ranged from 61,1 dB / 50,7 dB in residential, up to 66,3 dB / 58,1 dB in recreation / hospital areas, 68,0 dB / 60,3 dB in city traffic areas and 70,2 dB / 62,7 dB in business and residential areas. Taking into account the results and using methodology prescribed by national regulations, the percentage of highly annoyed population (% HA) was found to be in the range 11-25% during the day, and 6-13% during the night. Using ISO 1996-1:2016, prevalence of a population highly annoyed (PHA) was established to be in the range 9,2-33,9% in residential; 18,4-45,7% in recreation / hospital areas 22,9-50,6 in city traffic; 27,7-55,4% in business and residential areas. Conclusions The results confirm that urban noise seriously disturbs people. It was established that about a half of the population was highly annoyed which poses a serious challenge for public health. The results have social, health and economic importance for the population. Activities to reduce the noise level could also stimulate economic, health, social and community programs for sustainable development aiming to preserve and improve human health. Acknowledgment: Supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia - Project “Biosensing Technologies and Global System for Continuous Research and Integrated Management”, No.43002 Key messages Continous noise monitoring is important for understanding the impact of noise on human health. About a half of the population was highly annoyed by noise, which poses a big challenge for public health in urban areas.

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Policies for Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use: A Survey of All Higher Education Institutions and NHS Trusts in England

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntz192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 1235-1238 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna K M Blackwell ◽

Daina Kosīte ◽

Theresa M Marteau ◽

Marcus R Munafò

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Higher Education ◽

Higher Education Institutions ◽

Health Benefit ◽

Public Health Benefit ◽

Shared Spaces ◽

Outdoor Spaces ◽

Smoking Policies ◽

Workplace Policies ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction There is an absence of evidence regarding the impact of treating tobacco smoking and vaping equivalently in workplace policies. We aimed to describe and compare smoking and vaping policies in acute nonspecialist NHS Trusts (n = 131) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) (n = 131) in England. Methods We conducted a census of smoking and vaping policies through organizational websites searches and direct requests for information. We recorded whether and where smoking and vaping were permitted. Results Smoking was prohibited indoors in all organizations. No NHS Trust permitted smoking freely outdoors, in contrast with 60% of HEIs. In 27% of NHS Trusts and 33% of HEIs smoking was permitted in designated areas, while in 73% of NHS Trusts and 8% of HEIs smoking was prohibited anywhere on site. Vaping was prohibited indoors in all NHS Trusts and all but one HEI, but permitted freely outdoors in 18% of NHS Trusts and 75% of HEIs. Vaping was permitted in designated outdoor spaces in 23% of NHS Trusts: 21% had areas shared with smokers; 2% had separate vaping areas. Vaping was permitted in designated outdoor areas in 18% of HEIs, all of which were shared with smokers. Vaping was prohibited anywhere on site in 54% of NHS Trusts and 6% of HEIs. Conclusions Policies vary considerably in whether vaping and smoking are treated equivalently. Smoking policies in most HEIs should be reviewed to include more effective tobacco control approaches. Evidence is needed on the impact of imposing shared or separate spaces on vapers and smokers. Implications This report provides a comprehensive review of smoking and vaping policies in two types of organization across England. It highlights key discrepancies between current public health recommendations for vaping and existing workplace policies, which often lead to smokers and vapers sharing spaces. The report identifies the need for evidence on the impact of imposing shared spaces on smokers and vapers to inform workplace policies that maximize public health benefit.

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Smallpox in the Post-Eradication Era

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12020138 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 138 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hermann Meyer ◽

Rosina Ehmann ◽

Geoffrey L. Smith

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Population ◽

Health Benefit ◽

World Health Organisation ◽

World Health ◽

Viral Spread ◽

The World ◽

The Usa ◽

The Impact

Widespread vaccination programmes led to the global eradication of smallpox, which was certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and, since 1978, there has been no case of smallpox anywhere in the world. However, the viable variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, is still kept in two maximum security laboratories in Russia and the USA. Despite the eradication of the disease smallpox, clandestine stocks of VARV may exist. In a rapidly changing world, the impact of an intentional VARV release in the human population would nowadays result in a public health emergency of global concern: vaccination programmes were abolished, the percentage of immunosuppressed individuals in the human population is higher, and an increased intercontinental air travel allows for the rapid viral spread of diseases around the world. The WHO has authorised the temporary retention of VARV to enable essential research for public health benefit to take place. This work aims to develop diagnostic tests, antiviral drugs, and safer vaccines. Advances in synthetic biology have made it possible to produce infectious poxvirus particles from chemicals in vitro so that it is now possible to reconstruct VARV. The status of smallpox in the post-eradication era is reviewed.

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The groundwater quality of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao: a hydrogeochemical study

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw ◽

10.1017/s0016774600021958 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 459-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

M.H.G. van Sambeek ◽

H.G.M. Eggenkamp ◽

M.J.M. Vissers

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Agricultural Waste ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Anthropogenic Influences ◽

Calcite Dissolution ◽

Caribbean Islands ◽

Groundwater Samples

AbstractThe Groundwater resources on the Caribbean Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are limited and of poor quality. The groundwater of the islands is brackish, due to both seawater mixing and the semi-arid climate of the islands. Two hundred and thirty water samples were collected to relate chemical variations in the groundwater of the three islands to the underlying differences in geology, and to define the natural versus anthropogenic influences. Both the chemical and isotopic (δ180, δD, and δ37Cl) compositions of samples were determined.Several geochemical processes are recognised in the chemistry of the groundwater samples. The most important processes are calcite dissolution, cation exchange, silicate weathering and potassium fixation. In (sub)urban areas anthropogenic influences affect the groundwater quality: high nitrate concentrations were measured. Infiltrating domestic and agricultural (waste)water replenishes the aquifer, and has a desalinization effect on the groundwater quality. This phenomenon is primarily seen on Curaçao, the most populated island.Oxygen and hydrogen isotopie compositions of groundwaters from Curaçao and Bonaire show that the samples are either meteoric water, or are affected by evaporation or seawater mixing. No distinction could be made between the last two processes. Only a few samples were measured for the Cl-isotope composition; all showed that no physical processes have taken place.

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Impact of Spatio-Temporal change in landuse/landcover on Groundwater Quality and Human Health; A case study of District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-334072/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Waqas Ahmad ◽

Javed Iqbal ◽

Muhammad Jamal Nasir ◽

Burhan Ahmad ◽

Muhammad Tasleem Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Human Health ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Magnesium Concentration ◽

Health Administration ◽

High Calcium ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

Abstract The quality and quantity of groundwater resources are affected by landuse/landcover (LULC) dynamics, particularly the increasing urbanization coupled with high household wastewater discharge and decreasing open lands. This study evaluates temporal changes of groundwater quality for 2012 and 2019, its relation to Landuse/landcover, and its impact on Peshawar's residents (study area), Pakistan. A total of 105 and 112 groundwater samples were collected from tube wells in 2012 and 2019. Samples were then analyzed for seven standard water quality parameters (i.e., pH, Electric Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium, and Nitrate). Patient data for waterborne diseases were also collected for the years 2012 and 2019 to relate the impact of groundwater quality on human health. Landsat satellite images were classified for the years 2012 and 2019 to observe Landuse/landcover dynamics concerning groundwater quality. Results manifested a decrease in groundwater quality for the year 2019 compared to 2012 and were more highlighted in highly populated areas. The nitrate concentration level was found high in the vicinity of agricultural areas due to the excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers and pesticides, and thus the methemoglobinemia patients ratio increased by 14% (48- 62% for the year 2012 and 2019, respectively). Besides, Urinary Tract Infections, Peptic Ulcer, and Dental Caries diseases increased due to the high calcium and magnesium concentration. The overall results indicate that anthropogenic activities were the main driver of Spatio-temporal variability in groundwater quality of the study area. The study could help district health administration understand groundwater quality trends, make appropriate site-specific policies, and formulate future health regulations.

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Monitoring of groundwater in Gabal el Asfar wastewater irrigated area (Greater Cairo)

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1995.0429 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 32 (11) ◽

pp. 163-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Rashed ◽

S. R. Awad ◽

M. A. Salam ◽

E. Smidt

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Quality ◽

Land Reclamation ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

National Level ◽

Domestic Wastewater ◽

Sewage Effluent ◽

Nile Valley ◽

Greater Cairo ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

In arid to semi-arid countries water scarcity on a national level is seemingly contradicted by the local occurrence of sometimes large amounts of domestic wastewater. Consequently, in many countries this wastewater is considered as an additional source of water, particularly for irrigation purposes. The government of Egypt is planning to use wastewater in land reclamation in many areas on the Eastern and Western fringes of the Nile Valley and Delta. A preliminary survey on the effects of wastewater irrigation was carried out by the Research Institute for Groundwater (RIGW) in the Gabal el Asfar area (Greater Cairo) in 1990-1991. A general framework of reuse of sewage effluent for irrigation in Egypt was discussed. The hydrogeological setting of the Gabal el Asfar area, the groundwater flow system and the thickness of the unsaturated zone were described. The impact on groundwater quality from sewage effluent irrigation has been assessed and the migration of pollution was evaluated. The main objective of the present study is to analyze and explain changes in groundwater quality between 1991 and 1994. The study is executed within the framework of the Environmental Management Groundwater Resources project.

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