Aquatic organism behaviours at multiple trophic levels for water monitoring: the case of Gran Sasso - Sirente aquifer

Emerging contaminants could exert combined toxic effects, including synergetic and antagonistic ones, that cannot be identified by chemical analysis tools. The biological early warning systems (BEWS) perform a real-time and continuous (24 h) monitoring of physiological and/or behavioural parameters of organism alterations, potentially correlated to water pollution. They are based on the response of living sentinels (i.e. molluscs, algae, crustaceans, fish) to a contaminant or mixture of them. Early warnings can be sent by SMS, e-mail, etc. to operators, in order to activate response actions. Belonging to different trophic levels, the crustacean D. magna, the alga C. vulgaris and the mollusc P. casertanum have been used to control Gran Sasso-Sirente aquifer in three different locations. Drinkable water of Teramo province and irrigation water of L&#8217;Aquila have been continuously monitored by the commercial tools &#8220;bbe&#174; Daphnia Toximeter (DTOX)&#8221; and &#8220;bbe&#174; Algae Toximeter (ATOX)&#8221;, respectively. In Tirino river spring, a novel sensor &#8220;SmartShell&#8221; has registered for the first time the valve movements of the autochthonous bivalve. After the first testing period, DTOX and ATOX did not register any typology of alarms in the potable and irrigation water. The valve movements of P. casertanum have been examined through spectral analysis in order to evaluate the behavioural rhythms useful for further investigation on their alterations as early warnings. The objective has been to reinforce the aquifer protection by installing instruments internationally recognised as efficient tools and exploring new proposals for guaranteeing human and ecosystem health.

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The CARE Telematics Network for the Surveillance of Influenza in Europe

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1634617 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 34 (05) ◽

pp. 518-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. Bensadon ◽

A. Strauss ◽

R. Snacken

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning Systems ◽

Warning Systems ◽

Surveillance Networks ◽

Spanish Flu ◽

The 1950S ◽

National Networks ◽

First Time

Abstract:Since the 1950s, national networks for the surveillance of influenza have been progressively implemented in several countries. New epidemiological arguments have triggered changes in order to increase the sensitivity of existent early warning systems and to strengthen the communications between European networks. The WHO project CARE Telematics, which collects clinical and virological data of nine national networks and sends useful information to public health administrations, is presented. From the results of the 1993-94 season, the benefits of the system are discussed. Though other telematics networks in this field already exist, it is the first time that virological data, absolutely essential for characterizing the type of an outbreak, are timely available by other countries. This argument will be decisive in case of occurrence of a new strain of virus (shift), such as the Spanish flu in 1918. Priorities are now to include other existing European surveillance networks.

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The human dimension of early warning – a viewpoint

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment ◽

10.1108/ijdrbe-07-2019-0040 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 263-274

Author(s):

Mo Hamza ◽

Peter Månsson

Keyword(s):

Early Warning ◽

Warning System ◽

Early Warning Systems ◽

Human Dimension ◽

Warning Systems ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Content Type ◽

Starting Point ◽

End To End ◽

Early Warnings

Purpose The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami prompted global efforts to develop end-to-end multi-hazard warning systems. Taking this event as a starting point, and drawing on experiences from the following advancement of the Indonesian tsunami early warning system, this paper aims to highlight the importance of paying attention to human factors and the perceptions and behaviors of end recipients when trying to design efficient early warning systems. Design/methodology/approach The study is a viewpoint where theoretical frameworks for the design of efficient early warning systems are used as backdrop to an extensive review and analysis of secondary data, including scientific papers and newspaper articles. Findings The paper presents what an end-to-end warning system means, explores process problems related to perception and communication and concludes with views and recommendations toward more inclusive early warnings. Originality/value Research and practice related to early warning systems have traditionally had a strong focus on technological elements whilst the target groups of early warnings (i.e. communities) have received far less attention and resources. This paper focuses on the human dimension of warning systems and uses a real case to exemplify how efficient warning systems not only require a sound scientific and technological basis, but also depend on the awareness, trust and will of the people they aim to protect.

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Occurrence of the Persistent Antimicrobial Triclosan in Microwave Pretreated and Anaerobically Digested Municipal Sludges under Various Process Conditions

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25020310 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 310 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gokce Kor-Bicakci ◽

Timothy Abbott ◽

Emine Ubay-Cokgor ◽

Cigdem Eskicioglu

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Ecosystem Health ◽

Emerging Contaminants ◽

Transformation Products ◽

Wastewater Sludge ◽

Process Conditions ◽

Municipal Sludge ◽

Agricultural Use ◽

The Impact ◽

First Time

Treatment of emerging contaminants, such as antimicrobials, has become a priority topic for environmental protection. As a persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative antimicrobial, the accumulation of triclosan (TCS) in wastewater sludge is creating a potential risk to human and ecosystem health via the agricultural use of biosolids. The impact of microwave (MW) pretreatment on TCS levels in municipal sludge is unknown. This study, for the first time, evaluated how MW pretreatment (80 and 160 °C) itself and together with anaerobic digestion (AD) under various sludge retention times (SRTs: 20, 12, and 6 days) and temperatures (35 and 55 °C) can affect the levels of TCS in municipal sludge. TCS and its potential transformation products were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Significantly higher TCS concentrations were detected in sludge sampled from the plant in colder compared to those in warmer temperatures. MW temperature did not have a discernible impact on TCS reduction from undigested sludge. However, AD studies indicated that compared to controls (no pretreatment), MW irradiation could make TCS more amenable to biodegradation (up to 46%), especially at the elevated pretreatment and digester temperatures. At different SRTs studied, TCS levels in the thermophilic digesters were considerably lower than that of in the mesophilic digesters.

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