Recent advances in applications of activated carbon from biowaste for wastewater treatment: a short review.

Assessment of groundwater quality and health risk was conducted in the Shenfu coal mine area in Ordos basin, northwestern China. Statistical analysis, Piper and Chadha diagrams were used to reveal the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater via physicochemical analysis of 44 collected samples. The suitability of groundwater was assessed for domestic and irrigation purposes, and the fuzzy comprehensive method was adopted to assess the overall groundwater quality for further discussion on groundwater management. The model recommended by the USEPA was selected to estimate the non-carcinogenic risks caused by NO3−, NO2−, NH4+, F−, Fe and Mn through oral ingestion and direct dermal contact. The results revealed that the predominant hydrochemical types of groundwater were SO4∙Cl–Ca∙Mg and HCO3–Ca∙Mg types and the major cations and anions followed the orders of Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ >K+ and HCO3− > SO42− > Cl−, respectively. Groundwater is generally acceptable for irrigation. However, for domestic purposes, 47.73% of the collected samples are of excellent and good quality and are suitable for direct consumption. Both adults and children face non-carcinogenic risks because of exposure to contaminants such as nitrate, nitrite and fluoride. The risk to children is higher than that to adults, which is consistent with other studies. Nitrite contributes most to the risks, followed by nitrate and fluoride. Home-use water quality improvement devices and rainwater harvesting are suggested to enhance the groundwater quality protection and management in this area. The research also indicates that health risk assessment should always accompany general water quality assessment to ensure the reliability of the water quality assessment.

Comprehensive understanding of groundwater quality for domestic and agricultural purposes in terms of health risks in a coal mine area of the Ordos basin, north of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Groundwater is critical for the sustainable development of the Loess Plateau, while groundwater quality is generally poor in this area due to natural factors and anthropogenic pollution. This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of groundwater for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City on the Chinese Loess Plateau and to assess its implications to sustainable groundwater management on the plateau. The index levels were compared with the threshold values established by the national and the WHO drinking water guidelines, and the suitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes was assessed using multiple agricultural water quality indicators. An entropy-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (entropy-weighted TOPSIS) was adopted for overall groundwater quality assessment. The results indicate that the study area is characterized by saline, hard, and slightly alkaline groundwater, mainly of the HCO3–Ca·Mg type, accompanied by some minor SO4·Cl–Ca·Mg type. The dissolution of carbonates and gypsum and the leaching of soluble salts are important natural processes influencing the groundwater ion chemistry. The parameters TH, TDS, and SO42− are major indices, while Fe, Mn, F−, and NH4+ are minor contaminants affecting groundwater quality. The overall groundwater quality is generally acceptable for irrigation, and most of the water is suitable for drinking. Rainwater harvesting, water quality improvement programs, regular water quality monitoring, and multidisciplinary water research programs are suggested as measures for sustainable groundwater management on the Loess Plateau.

Groundwater quality assessment for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City, northwest China: implications to sustainable groundwater quality management on the Loess Plateau

While flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is an emerging desalination technology, reduction in water hardness using this technology has so far received minimal attention In this study, treatment of influents containing both monovalent and divalent cations using FCDI was carried out with flow-electrodes operated in short-circuited closed-cycle (SCC) configuration Divalent Ca2+ cations were selectively removed compared to monovalent Na+ with the selectivity becoming dominant when the FCDI unit was operated at lower current densities and hydraulic retention times Results showed that SCC FCDI operation was much more energy-efficient for brackish water softening compared to operation in isolated closed-cycle (ICC) mode, particularly with implementation of energy recovery This finding was largely ascribed to (i) charge neutralization of the flow-electrodes in SCC configuration and (ii) regeneration of the active materials to maintain pseudo “infinite” capacity during electrosorption In addition, 

Short-Circuited Closed-Cycle Operation of Flow-Electrode CDI for Brackish Water Softening

High prevalence of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in some regions of the world is suspected mainly due to a toxin-mediated renal failure We examined the incidence of CKDu and potable chemical water quality in a CKDu-affected region This region has been identified as a high-risk zone for CKDu (location: latitude: 83500°–90000°, longitude: 803833°–813000°, North Central Province, NCP, Sri Lanka) by the World Health Organization (WHO) However, within this macro-region, small pockets of CKDu non-prevalence zones do exist; notably, the residents in those pockets consume spring water Therefore, the drinking water quality of four areas, namely high-CKDu-prevalence areas (zone I), low-CKDu-prevalence area (zone II), the CKDu-free isolated pockets (zone III) and control areas (controls) were examined for F, Al, Cd, and As, and hardness and the statistical analysis were carried out to probe possible correlations among these parameters The fluoride and hardness concentrations of water in zone III and control areas are much lower compared to zones I and II, and the water hardness is ~61 mg/L CaCO3 In zones I and II, the harness of drinking water is ~121–180 mg/L CaCO3; however, Al, Cd and As concentrations are almost comparable and below WHO recommendations In most of the locations in zones I and II, the F concentration in drinking water is higher than the WHO recommendations The peculiar distribution patterns of CKDu point to a synergic effect of trace elements in water for etiology of the disease

Drinking water quality and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu): synergic effects of fluoride, cadmium and hardness of water.

Despite WHO standards, waterborne diseases among the human being are rising alarmingly. It is known that the prolong exposure to contaminated water has major impact on public health. The effect of chemical contaminations in drinking water on human being is found to be chronic rather than acute and hence can be defined “consumption of contaminated drinking water could be a silent killer”. As the WHO recommended water quality standards are only for individual element and synergic effects of trace metals and anions have not been considered, investigation of synergic effects of trace metals and anions and their effect on human being is of prime important research. By an animal trial, we investigated the synergic effect(s) of heavy metals, aluminium, arsenic, fluoride and hardness in drinking water on kidney tissues of mice. Our investigation strongly suggests existing of a synergic effect especially among Cd, F and hardness of water which could lead to severe kidney damage in mice, even at WHO maximum recommended levels. Hence, the synergic effect(s) of trace metals, fluoride and hardness present in drinking water should be investigated meticulously when stipulating the water quality at WHO maximum recommended levels.

WHO water quality standards Vs Synergic effect(s) of fluoride, heavy metals and hardness in drinking water on kidney tissues.

It is suspected that drinking water containing fluo- ride and aluminum results in negative health effects especially onbrain,liver,and kidney.Inthisinvestigation,theeffectofF, Al, and AlFx complex on chronic kidney disease (CKD) was investigated.MiceweretreatedeitherwithWHOrecommend- ed or slightly higher F and Al levels in drinking water. Treatment solutions contained 0.05-10.0 mg/L of F, 0.08- 10.0 mg/L of Al, or 0.07-15 mg/L of AlFx, and the treatment period was 42 weeks. Blood urea level and creatinine levels were investigated as a measure of malfunction of kidneys. Histopathological evaluations of kidney tissues were carried out to assess the extent of damage that F, Al, and AlFx com- plexcould cause.Itwas demonstratedthatthe treated drinking water containing F and Al with par with WHO or moderately above the WHO levels or AlFx in low level (0.07-15 mg/L) does not lead to CKD in mice.

The impact of aluminum, fluoride, and aluminum–fluoride complexes in drinking water on chronic kidney disease

The Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic disease condition in dairy cattle and a proven global zoonosis. This study was designed to identify the prevalence of bTB in dairy cattle and buffaloes in the Central Province (CP) of Sri Lanka. Single Intradermal Comparative Cervical Tuberculin (SICCT) test was performed in 20 farms (n=616 cattle and buffaloes) in three districts (NuwaraEliya; NE, Kandy; KN, and Matale; MT) in the CP. Out of the SICCT positive samples, randomly selected serum samples (n=33) of eight farms were subjected to the rapid antibody (Ab) test for further confirmation. Results were evaluated for different risk factors; age, sex, parity, body condition score (BCS), breed, herd origin, reproductive status, herd size, type of management, and duration of farm establishment. The prevalence of bTB among individual cattle and buffaloes was 22% with a 50% herd-level prevalence. In NE and KN, 34% and 19% of individuals showed positive reactions for SICCT, respectively, while all the individuals in MT were negative. There were significant statistical associations (P&lt;0.05) were observed with the prevalence of bTB and BCS, breed, herd origin, and reproductive status; however, age, sex, parity, herd size, type of management, and duration of farm establishment were not statistically significant (P&gt;0.05) with the prevalence of bTB.The conclusion is that, based on the SICCT test, the estimated prevalence of bTB in cattle and buffaloes in the central province of Sri Lanka is relatively high (&gt;20%). The SICCT test could be recommended for the screening of the bTB in cattle and buffaloes in all regions of Sri Lanka to assess the island-wide prevalence of bTB, as this disease carries the risk of transmitting to humans and other susceptible animal species. 

Hewa M. S. Wasana

Papers

Drinking water quality and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu): synergic effects of fluoride, cadmium and hardness of water.

WHO water quality standards Vs Synergic effect(s) of fluoride, heavy metals and hardness in drinking water on kidney tissues.

The impact of aluminum, fluoride, and aluminum–fluoride complexes in drinking water on chronic kidney disease

Prevalence of Bovine Tuberculosis among Cattle and Buffaloes in the Central Province of Sri Lanka