Pollution Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pollution, including details on effects of air pollution, respiratory illness, industry.

Evaluation of the Host-Specificity and Prevalence of Enterococci Surface Protein (esp) Marker in Sewage and its Application for Sourcing Human Fecal Pollution.

Ahmed W, Stewart J, Powell D, Gardner T

Dep. of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland 4068, Australia.

The suitability of the enterococci surface protein (esp) marker to detect human fecal pollution was evaluated by testing 197 fecal samples from 13 host groups in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Overall, this marker was detected in 90.5% of sewage and septic system samples and could not be detected in any fecal samples from 12 animal host groups. The sensitivity of the esp primer to detect the human-specific esp marker in sewage and septic samples was 100 and 67%, respectively. The overall specificity of this marker to distinguish between human and animal fecal pollution was 100%. Its prevalence in sewage was also determined by testing samples from the raw sewage, secondary effluent, and treated effluent of a sewage treatment plant (STP) over five consecutive days. Of the 15 samples tested, 12 (80%) were found to be positive for this marker. In contrast, it was not found in three samples from the treated effluent and these samples did not contain any culturable enterococci. The PCR limit of detection of this marker in freshwater samples was up to dilution 1 x 10(-4) and the number of culturable enterococci at this dilution was 4.8 x 10(1) +/- 7.0 x 10 degrees colony forming unit (CFU). The utility of this marker was evaluated by testing water samples from three non-sewered catchments in Pine Rivers in Southeast Queensland. Of the 13 samples tested, eight were positive for this marker with the number of enterococci ranging between 1.8 x 10(3) to 8.5 x 10(3) CFU per 100 mL of water. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the esp marker appears to be sewage specific and could be used as a reliable marker to detect human fecal pollution in surface waters in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

Published 24 June 2008 in J Environ Qual, 37(4): 1583-8.
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Articles on Pollution published 23 June 2008:

Assessment of organochlorine pesticide pollution in Upper Awash Ethiopian state farm soils using selective pressurised liquid extraction.   Chemosphere, 72(8): 1181-7.

Upper Awash Agro Industry Enterprises (UAAIE) is one of the major state farms in Ethiopia with known large-scale pesticide use. Although organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been applied for about three decades, no studies have been carried out on levels of residue in the region. In this work a fast selective pressurised liquid extraction (SPLE) methodology has successfully been applied for screening of 13 OCPs in 12 soil samples from different fields in UAAIE, which further strengthen this ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Pollution published 20 June 2008:

Exchanges across Land-Water-Scape Boundaries in Urban Systems: Strategies for Reducing Nitrate Pollution.   Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1134: 213-32.

Conservation in urban areas typically focuses on biodiversity and large green spaces. However, opportunities exist throughout urban areas to enhance ecological functions. An important function of urban landscapes is retaining nitrogen thereby reducing nitrate pollution to streams and coastal waters. Control of nonpoint nitrate pollution in urban areas was originally based on the documented importance of riparian zones in agricultural and forested ecosystems. The watershed and boundary ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

A comparison of efficiencies of microbiological pollution removal in six sewage treatment plants with different treatment systems.   Int J Hyg Environ Health.

Six sewage treatment plants (STP) were investigated over a 12-month period in order to measure the microbiological load of untreated municipal wastewater and to evaluate the removal efficiencies of different treatment systems. The STP investigated can be classified into three categories: bigger plants with tertiary treatment, smaller plants with enhanced secondary treatment, and very small compact facilities. The plants studied had a considerable quantitative impact on the hydrology of the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Characterizing air pollution in two low-income neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana.   Sci Total Environ.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of urban population growth in the world, with a large number of urban residents living in low-income "slum" neighborhoods. We conducted a study for an initial assessment of the levels and spatial and/or temporal patterns of multiple pollutants in the ambient air in two low-income neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana. Over a 3-week period we measured (i) 24-hour integrated PM(10) and PM(2.5) mass at four roof-top fixed sites, also used for particle ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Pollution published 19 June 2008:

Soil pollution in day-care centers and playgrounds in Norway: national action plan for mapping and remediation.   Environ Geochem Health.

Systematic geochemical mapping based on sampling and analysis of surface soils (0-2 cm) has been carried out in several Norwegian cities. The soils in the oldest parts of the cities are contaminated with metals (especially Pb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Due to the fact that children are often in contact with surface soil, it was realized that special focus had to be directed towards soils in day-care centers and playgrounds. The first mapping and remedy program was initiated in ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Population similarity analysis of indicator bacteria for source prediction of faecal pollution in a coastal lake.   Mar Pollut Bull.

Biochemical fingerprinting (BF) databases of 524 enterococci and 571 Escherichia coli isolates and an antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) database comprising of 380 E. coli isolates from four suspected sources (i.e. dogs, chickens, waterfowls, and human sewage) were developed to predict the sources of faecal pollution in a recreational coastal lake. Twenty water samples representing four sampling episodes were collected from five sites and the enterococci and E. coli population from each site ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Pollution published 18 June 2008:

Meeting report: atmospheric pollution and human reproduction.   Environ Health Perspect, 116(6): 791-8.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of epidemiologic literature reporting associations between atmospheric pollutants and reproductive outcomes, particularly birth weight and gestational duration. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of our international workshop were to discuss the current evidence, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of published epidemiologic studies, and to suggest future directions for research. DISCUSSION: Participants identified promising exposure assessment tools, including ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Air pollution, airway inflammation, and lung function in a cohort study of Mexico city schoolchildren.   Environ Health Perspect, 116(6): 832-8.

BACKGROUND: The biological mechanisms involved in inflammatory response to air pollution are not clearly understood. OBJECTIVE: In this study we assessed the association of short-term air pollutant exposure with inflammatory markers and lung function. METHODS: We studied a cohort of 158 asthmatic and 50 nonasthmatic school-age children, followed an average of 22 weeks. We conducted spirometric tests, measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Fe(NO)), interleukin-8 (IL-8) in nasal lavage, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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