scholarly journals Water treatment in rural Guatemala: factors associated with the use of biosand water filters

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-297
Author(s):  
Chi-Fang Wu ◽  
Lissette M. Piedra ◽  
Lenore E. Matthew ◽  
Emily C. Rhodes ◽  
Thanh H. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Health Beliefs ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Adoption Of Technology ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Actual Filter ◽  
Water Taste ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Interviewer Observations ◽  
Water Filters

Abstract Point-of-use water filters are a means to provide clean water vital to the health of people in developing countries. The factors that influence the adoption of this technology include hygiene knowledge, health beliefs related to the use of new technology, and technical issues with using the filter (e.g., water taste and breakage). This study examines how people in Mayan communities in rural Guatemala perceived biosand filters they had received and what factors related to their filter use. Based on the survey and interviewer observations, approximately 53% were regular filter users, 28% were irregular filter users, and 19.4% were non-filter users. The observational data revealed that actual filter use is lower than self-reported use, reflecting complexities in the adoption of technology. One such complexity can be seen in the connection between health beliefs and behavior. The belief that believing drinking filtered water is salubrious does not necessarily coincide with filter use, but education and hygienic practices correlated with regular filter use. Furthermore, regular users typically depend on family members for a daily reminder to use the filter, suggesting that education should foster peer support as well as imparting knowledge.

scholarly journals Under-Sink Activated Carbon Water Filters Effectively Remove Lead from Private Well Water for over Six Months

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3584
Author(s):  
Riley Mulhern ◽  
Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
The United States ◽  
Well Water ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Metals Removal ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Minimal Data ◽  
Water Filters ◽  
Private Wells

Children who rely on private well water in the United States have been shown to be at greater risk of having elevated blood lead levels. Evidence-based solutions are needed to prevent drinking water lead exposure among private well users, but minimal data are available regarding the real-world effectiveness of available interventions like point-of-use water treatment for well water. In this study, under-sink activated carbon block water filters were tested for lead and other heavy metals removal in an eight-month longitudinal study in 17 homes relying on private wells. The device removed 98% of all influent lead for the entirety of the study, with all effluent lead levels less than 1 µg/L. Profile sampling in a subset of homes showed that the faucet fixture is a significant source of lead leaching where well water is corrosive. Flushing alone was not capable of reducing first-draw lead to levels below 1 µg/L, but the under-sink filter was found to increase the safety and effectiveness of faucet flushing. The results of this study can be used by individual well users and policymakers alike to improve decision-making around the use of under-sink point-of-use devices to prevent disproportionate lead exposures among private well users.

Technological Change and the International System

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen V. Milner ◽  
Sondre Ulvund Solstad
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
International System ◽  
New Technology ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Adoption Of Technology ◽  
Adoption Of New Technology

ABSTRACTDo world politics affect the adoption of new technology? States overwhelmingly rely on technology invented abroad, and their differential intensity of technology use accounts for many of their differences in economic development. Much of the literature on technology adoption focuses on domestic conditions. The authors argue instead that the structure of the international system is critical because it affects the level of competition among states, which in turn affects leaders’ willingness to enact policies that speed technology adoption. Countries adopt new technology as they seek to avoid being vulnerable to attack or coercion by other countries. By systematically examining states’ adoption of technology over the past two hundred years, the authors find that countries adopt new technologies faster when the international system is less concentrated, that changes in systemic concentration have a temporally causal effect on technology adoption, and that government policies to promote technology adoption are related to concerns about rising international competition. A competitive international system is an important incentive for technological change and may underlie global technology waves.

Virus removal efficiency of ceramic water filters: effects of bentonite turbidity

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Farrow ◽  
Edward McBean ◽  
Hamidreza Salsali
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Virus Removal ◽  
Ceramic Water Filters ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Cake Layer ◽  
Human Enteric Viruses ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Water Filters

Ceramic water filters (CWFs) are utilized in many developing countries as point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices, to reduce waterborne pathogens in potable water. Virus removal efficiencies of several CWFs are investigated under various influent conditions using MS2 (ATCC: 15597-B1) as a surrogate phage for human enteric viruses. The addition of bentonite turbidity (6–8 NTU) in the influent source water showed increased viral removal efficiency of CWFs by 0.1–0.2 log compared to tests involving clear (<1 NTU) influents. Trials employing an applied clay cake layer, formed using highly turbid influent source water (100 NTU) and no cleaning regime between trials, resulted in viral removal efficiency values of 1.5–2.5 log, compared to 0.2–0.5 log during non-obstructed trials.

Science, Technology, and Virtues

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Behavior

What makes for a good scientist or a good engineer? How does using a new technology or working in a research lab begin to shape our thought and behavior? How can we best anticipate and navigate the ethical dilemmas created by modern scientific research and technology? Scholars across multiple disciplines have begun turning to a surprising resource to address these questions: discussions of virtue that have their roots in ancient philosophical and religious traditions. This volume gathers a number of these perspectives to show how concepts of virtue can help us better understand, construct, and use the fruits of modern science and technology.

Sustainable Water Filters for the Developing World: A Focus on Cholera

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Krentz ◽  
Ryan Magowan ◽  
Liane Millington
Keyword(s):  
Vibrio Cholerae ◽  
Water Filtration ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Human Waste ◽  
Geological Materials ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Filtration Unit ◽  
Water Filters ◽  
Filtration Device ◽  
Water Borne

The goal of this project is to design a point-of-use water filtration device constructed from locally available geological materials, which is capable of filtering out Vibrio cholerae bacteria. Vibrio cholerae occurs naturally in tropical seawater, as well as in human waste. It is a water-borne pathogen, and thus human populations are especially vulnerable during and after natural crises such as floods, tsunamis and earthquakes. The basic filtration unit uses readily available supplies including pop bottles, fabric (such as that from a T-shirt), and a geologic material, such as sand, clay or zeolites. Tests utilizing yeast as a surrogate for Vibrio cholerae are currently ongoing.

scholarly journals Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Constructs of COVID-19 Health Beliefs: A Comparison Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Individuals in Taiwan

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nai-Ying Ko ◽  
Wei-Hsin Lu ◽  
Yi-Lung Chen ◽  
Dian-Jeng Li ◽  
Yu-Ping Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Belief Model ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Minority Participants ◽  
Behavioral Constructs

This online survey study aimed to compare the cognitive, affective, and behavioral constructs of health beliefs related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between sexual minority and heterosexual individuals in Taiwan. In total, 533 sexual minority and 1421 heterosexual participants were recruited through a Facebook advertisement. The constructs pertaining to cognition (perceived relative susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived COVID-19 severity, having sufficient knowledge and information on COVID-19, and confidence in coping with COVID-19), affect (worry toward COVID-19), and behavior (adoption of health-protective behaviors) in relation to health beliefs about COVID-19 were compared between sexual minority and heterosexual participants. The results indicated that sexual minority participants had lower perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, greater self-confidence in coping with COVID-19, and lower worry about COVID-19 and were less likely to maintain good indoor ventilation and disinfect their household than heterosexual individuals. Sexual orientation is the modifying factor for the Health Belief Model in the COVID-19 pandemic and should be taken into consideration when medical professionals establish prevention programs for COVID-19.

Participant responses to a water treatment intervention in rural Guatemala

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 792-809
Author(s):  
Lissette M Piedra ◽  
Lenore E Matthew ◽  
Chi-Fang Wu
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Water Remediation ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Viable Solution ◽  
Service Barriers ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Water Filters

Each year, 1.1 billion people suffer from disease, dehydration, and malnutrition fueled by waterborne pathogens. Although point-of-use water filters are a viable solution, effectiveness requires consistent use. As collaborators in international development projects, social workers are poised to address service barriers through their focus on multilevel practice and a relentless emphasis on culturally competent practice. This article describes an illustrative case of a water remediation project in rural Guatemala where social work researchers collaborated with engineers to understand how users appraised the project. We present a content analysis of interviews conducted in 20 households in the Boca Costa and Highland regions of rural Guatemala that received bio-sand water filters, which revealed a diverse group of filter users, with varying motivations and constancy patterns. Our study demonstrates how talking to people is essential to understanding their use of technology and how other objective measures—such as the wetness of the sand—can be helpful in interpreting results. It also shows that within the developing context, people vary in their need for additional supports as they adopt new health-promoting activities.

scholarly journals Performance of black ceramic water filters and their implementation in rural Ecuador

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Guerrero-Latorre ◽  
Priscila Balseca-Enriquez ◽  
Carlos Moyota-Tello ◽  
Ronald Bravo-Camino ◽  
Stephanie Davila-Chavez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Classical Model ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Household Water Treatment ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Ceramic Water Filters ◽  
Field Level ◽  
Water Filters

Abstract In rural Ecuador, microbial water contamination is associated with child morbidity mainly due to gastroenteritis. Black ceramic water filters (BCWF) are a new household water treatment recently developed to improve microbial removal from the classical model implemented worldwide. This study has assessed BCWF microbial performance at laboratory level by continuous filtering of spiked water with microbial surrogates (Escherichia coli and MS2 bacteriophage) and highly contaminated surface water to evaluate physicochemical pollutants' removal. At field level, baseline studies in Nanegal and Gualea districts have been performed to evaluate water quality and hygiene practices among communities and a six-month BCWF field implementation study in the Santa Marianita community. Results revealed poor drinking water quality in communities studied. Water treatment practices at household level were reported in low percentages. Conversely, results in BCWF filter assays at laboratory level for 600 litres of usage have shown 5.36 logarithms of bacterial removal and 3.83 logarithms for viral removal and significant reductions of physicochemical pollutants considering international standards. BCWF implementation in the Santa Marianita community reveals promising results on microbial water quality in households using this new technology. However, it is important to reinforce correct BCWF maintenance for better performance at field level.

Oral health beliefs and behavior among young adults in Appalachian Kentucky

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Savage ◽  
Allison M. Scott ◽  
Joanna A. Aalboe ◽  
Sharlee Burch ◽  
Pamela Sparks Stein VanArsdall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Appalachian Kentucky ◽  
Oral Health Beliefs ◽  
And Behavior
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document