scholarly journals Socio-Institutional Drivers of Groundwater Contamination Hazards: The Case of On-Site Sanitation in the Bwaise Informal Settlement, Kampala, Uganda

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2153
Author(s):  
Felix R. B. Twinomucunguzi ◽  
Giorgia Silvestri ◽  
Joel Kinobe ◽  
Allan Mugabi ◽  
Jenifer Isoke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
World Health ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Institutional Assessment ◽  
Institutional Control ◽  
Guideline Value ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Institutional Drivers

Socio-institutional factors are poorly addressed in the risk assessment of groundwater contamination. This paper contributes to the development of a socio-institutional assessment framework based on a case study of contamination by on-site sanitation (OSS) in an informal settlement of Bwaise (Kampala, Uganda). We conducted a snapshot survey of the recent extent of groundwater contamination by OSS using microbial and hydro-chemical indicators. Through transition arenas and key informant interviews, we investigated the socio-institutional drivers of the contamination. Overall, 14 out of the 17 sampled groundwater sources tested positive for Escherichia coli during the wet season. Nitrate concentrations at four sources exceeded the World Health Organization guideline value (50 mg/L), attributed to OSS. Despite the high contamination, the community highly valued groundwater as an alternative to the intermittent municipal water supply. We deduced six drivers of groundwater contamination, including land-use management, user attributes, governance, infrastructure management, groundwater valuation, and the operating environment (“LUGIVE”). Qualitative indicators for each of the drivers were also construed, and their interlinkages presented in a causal loop diagram, representing a socio-institutional assessment framework. The framework can help policymakers and the community to analyze various socio-institutional control levers to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination by OSS in informal settlements.

Physico-chemical and Biological Properties of Groundwater Quality in Rural Settlement, Nadi, Fiji

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Roselyn Naidu ◽  
Lionel Joseph ◽  
Syed Sauban Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Drinking Water Contamination ◽  
Contamination Levels ◽  
Health Organization

The current study investigated drinking water quality of samples taken from Arolevu village, a locality situated in Nadi, Fiji. The groundwater samples were collected and subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical and biological analysis. The analysis for the drinking water sample was conducted seasonally, six times a year, that is, three for the dry season and three for the wet season. The results retrieved from the analysis were compared to its maximum contamination levels (MCLs) based on the health-based guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO standards were used as an attribute to determine the sources of contaminants likely to be present at the study site. A degradation trend in drinking water quality in the context of climate change may lead to potential health impacts. Hence, it is important to understand seasonal variations in drinking water quality. A proper understanding of the drinking water quality through seasonal water analysis for nitrate, nitrite, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chlorine content as well as its microbiological presence to reduce preventable risks such as using calculated amounts of fertilisers and upgrading the sewerage system to alleviate drinking water contamination is devised through this study.

Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Consumption and World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Garlasco ◽  
Costanza Vicentini ◽  
Ifeoma Nneka Emelurumonye ◽  
Giulia D’Alessandro ◽  
Francesca Quattrocolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Health Organization

scholarly journals The effect of a 5-year hand hygiene initiative, consisting of the 5 Components, the 5 Steps, and the Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework, an interrupted time-series study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumi Suzuki ◽  
Motoko Morino ◽  
Ichizo Morita ◽  
Shigenori Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
World Health ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Consumption Change ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background:A World Health Organization (WHO) guideline-based multimodal hand hygiene (HH) initiative consisting of the 5 Components, the 5 Steps, and the HH Self-Assessment Framework (HHSAF) was introduced hospital-wide to a nonteaching Japanese hospital for 5 years. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of this initiative in terms of changes in alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) consumption and HHSAF score.Methods:The consumption of monthly hospital-wide ABHR was calculated as ml per patient day (PD). The change in ABHR consumption was analysed by an interrupted time series analysis, with a preintervention period of 36 months and an intervention period of 60 months. The correlation between annual ABHR consumption and the HHSAF score was estimated using Pearson’s correlation coefficients.Results:A statistically significant increase was found in the monthly ABHR consumption (change in slope: + 0.479 ml/PD, p < 0.01). Annual ABHR consumption was strongly correlated with the annual HHSAF score (r = 0.971, p < 0.01).Conclusions:A 5-year, 5-step, WHO-based HH initiative significantly increased ABHR consumption. Our study suggested that the HHSAF score can be a good process measure to improve HH in a single facility, as ABHR consumption increased with the HHSAF score.

scholarly journals Noncompetitive Chromogenic Lateral-Flow Immunoassay for Simultaneous Detection of Microcystins and Nodularin

Biosensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultana Akter ◽  
Teemu Kustila ◽  
Janne Leivo ◽  
Gangatharan Muralitharan ◽  
Markus Vehniäinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
Antibody Fragment ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Lateral Flow Immunoassay ◽  
Guideline Value ◽  
Health Organization

Cyanobacterial blooms cause local and global health issues by contaminating surface waters. Microcystins and nodularins are cyclic cyanobacterial peptide toxins comprising numerous natural variants. Most of them are potent hepatotoxins, tumor promoters, and at least microcystin-LR is possibly carcinogenic. In drinking water, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the provisional guideline value of 1 µg/L for microcystin-LR. For water used for recreational activity, the guidance values for microcystin concentration varies mostly between 4–25 µg/L in different countries. Current immunoassays or lateral flow strips for microcystin/nodularin are based on indirect competitive method, which are generally more prone to sample interference and sometimes hard to interpret compared to two-site immunoassays. Simple, sensitive, and easy to interpret user-friendly methods for first line screening of microcystin/nodularin near water sources are needed for assessment of water quality and safety. We describe the development of a two-site sandwich format lateral-flow assay for the rapid detection of microcystins and nodularin-R. A unique antibody fragment capable of broadly recognizing immunocomplexes consisting of a capture antibody bound to microcystins/nodularin-R was used to develop the simple lateral flow immunoassay. The assay can visually detect the major hepatotoxins (microcystin-LR, -dmLR, -RR, -dmRR, -YR, -LY, -LF -LW, and nodularin-R) at and below the concentration of 4 µg/L. The signal is directly proportional to the concentration of the respective toxin, and the use of alkaline phosphatase activity offers a cost efficient alternative by eliminating the need of toxin conjugates or other labeling system. The easy to interpret assay has the potential to serve as a microcystins/nodularin screening tool for those involved in water quality monitoring such as municipal authorities, researchers, as well as general public concerned of bathing water quality.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal patterns of phytoplankton composition in Zobe Reservoir, Dutsinma, Katsina State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
U.F. Suleiman ◽  
S. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Oscillatoria Agardhii ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Positive Significant Correlation

The abundance and distribution of phytoplankton algae in Zobe Reservoir was studied from using (3) sampling stations for a period of eight (8) months.The water was also analysed for Physicochemical attributes which includes Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand, Nitrate-Nitrogen, Phosphate-Phosphorus, Total Dissolved Solids, Transparency and Electrical Conductivity using standard methods. Results showed that the values of physicochemical parameters recorded were of a typical tropical region. Station ‘B’ (middle) has highest number of organisms (284 org/l), followed by station ‘C’ (221 org/l), the least was recorded in station ‘A’ (162 org/l). Physicochemical attributes did not vary significantly among the stations. Four (4) classes of algae were identified which were dominated by Chlorophyta 386(57.87%), followed by Cyanophyta 126 (18.89%), and the least was Bacillariophyta 47(7.05%) represented byTabellaria flocculosa. There were generally high number of algal organisms (Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta and Bacillariophyta) observed during the dry season than in the wet season. However, Spirogyra sp.had the highest number of occurrence in all stations (204 org/l) followed by Euglena sp. (109 org/l)and the least was Oscillatoria agardhii (22 org/l). There was positive significant correlation (P<0.05) between algae and physicochemical attributes of the reservoir. The study showed that the reservoir was not polluted and the water is safe for domestic use since the number of harmful algal cells recorded were relatively low which were within the standardof World Health Organization for safe water (WHO, 2003). Keywords: Phytoplankton, Zobe, Reservoir, Pollution, Cyanophyta.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Human Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Disinfection by-Products (Dbps) in Drinking Water of Wassit Province Southeast Iraq

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-277
Author(s):  
Baghdad Science Journal
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Guideline Value ◽  
Exposure Routes ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Risk Of Cancer ◽  
By Products

The toxicological risks and lifetime cancer risks associated with exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) including Halloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) compounds by drinking water in several districts in Wassit Province were estimated. The seasonal variation of HAAs and THMs compounds in drinking water have indicated that the mean values for total HAAs (THAAs) and total THMs (TTHMs) ranged from 43.2 to 72.4 mg/l and from 40 to 115.5 mg/l, respectively. The World health organization index for additive toxicity approach was non-compliant with the WHO guideline value in summer and autumn seasons and this means that THMs concentration has adverse toxic health effects. The multi-pathway of lifetime human health risk of cancer credited to THMs and HAAs in drinking water via three exposure routes for THMs and only one exposure route for HAAs was evaluated and found to be 6.13×10-4 and 1.78×10-4 respectively and these values were higher than the US.EPA range of concern limit of 1×10-6. The risk ratio of THAAs to TTHMs was 3.44. Also, the highest cancer risk was recorded for BDCM followed by DBCM, CF, TCAA, DCAA, and BF.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Potential Microcystin-Producing Cyanobacteria in Lake Ontario Embayments and Nearshore Waters

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (14) ◽  
pp. 4570-4578 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Hotto ◽  
M. F. Satchwell ◽  
G. L. Boyer
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Genotypic Variation ◽  
New York State ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Pcr Primers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Water Current ◽  
Guideline Value ◽  
Protein Phosphatase Inhibition ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACT The distribution and genotypic variation of potential microcystin (MC) producers along the southern and eastern shores of Lake Ontario in 2001 and 2003 were examined using a suite of PCR primers. Cyanobacterial, Microcystis sp., and Microcystis-specific toxin primer sets identified shoreline distribution of cyanobacterial DNA (in 97% of the stations) and MC synthetase genes (in 50% of the stations). Sequence analysis of a partial mcyA amplicon targeting Microcystis, Anabaena, and Planktothrix species indicated that the Microcystis sp. genotype was the dominant MC genotype present and revealed a novel Microcystis-like sequence containing a 6-bp insert. Analysis of the same samples with genus-specific mcyE primers confirmed that the Microcystis sp. genotype was the dominant potential MC producer. Genotype compositions within embayments were relatively homogenous compared to those for shoreline and tributary samples. MC concentrations along the shoreline exhibited both temporal and spatial differences as evidenced by the protein phosphatase inhibition assay, at times exceeding the World Health Organization guideline value for drinking water of 1.0 μg MC-LReq liter−1. MC genotypes are widespread along the New York State shoreline of Lake Ontario, appear to originate nearshore, and can be carried through the lake via wind and surface water current patterns.

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