Establishment of local wastewater-based surveillance programmes in response to the spread and infection of COVID-19 - case studies from South Africa, the Netherlands, Turkey and England.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 340 million infection cases (as of 21 January 2022) and more than 5.57 million deaths globally. In reaction, science, technology and innovation communities across the globe have organised themselves to contribute to national responses to COVID-19 disease. A significant contribution has been from the establishment of wastewater-based epidemiological (WBE) surveillance interventions and programmes for monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in at least 55 countries. Here, we examine and share experiences and lessons learnt in establishing such surveillance programmes. We use case studies to highlight testing methods and logistics considerations associated in scaling the implementing of such programmes in South Africa, the Netherlands, Turkey and England. The four countries were selected to represent different regions of the world and the perspective based on the considerable progress made in establishing and implementing their national WBE programmes. The selected countries also represent different climatic zones, economies, and development stages, which influence the implementation of national programmes of this nature and magnitude. In addition, the four countries' programmes offer good experiences and lessons learnt since they are systematic, and cover extensive areas, disseminate knowledge locally and internationally and partnered with authorities (government). The programmes also strengthened working relations and partnerships between and among local and global organisations. This paper shares these experiences and lessons to encourage others in the water and public health sectors on the benefits and value of WBE in tackling SARS-CoV-2 and related future circumstances.

Nutrient and light limitation of periphyton in the River Thames: implications for catchment management.

Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in the River Thames, south east England, have significantly decreased from an annual maximum of 2100 µg l(-1) in 1997 to 344 in 2010, primarily due to the introduction of phosphorus (P) removal at sewage treatment works within the catchment. However, despite this improvement in water quality, phytoplankton biomass in the River Thames has greatly increased in recent years, with peak chlorophyll concentrations increasing from 87 µg l(-1) in the period 1997 to 2002, to 328 µg l(-1) in 2009. A series of within-river flume mesocosm experiments were performed to determine the effect of changing nutrient concentrations and light levels on periphyton biomass accrual. Nutrient enrichment experiments showed that phosphorus, nitrogen and silicon were not limiting or co-limiting periphyton growth in the Thames at the time of the experiment (August-September 2010). Decreasing ambient SRP concentration from 225 µg l(-1) to 173 µg l(-1) had no effect on periphyton biomass accrual rate or diatom assemblage. Phosphorus limitation became apparent at 83 µg SRP l(-1), at which point a 25% reduction in periphyton biomass was observed. Diatom assemblage significantly changed when the SRP concentration was reduced to 30 µg l(-1). Such stringent phosphorus targets are costly and difficult to achieve for the River Thames, due to the high population density and intensive agriculture within the Thames basin. Reducing light levels by shading reduced the periphyton accrual rate by 50%. Providing shading along the River Thames by planting riparian tree cover could be an effective measure to reduce the risk of excessive algal growth. If the ecology of the Thames is to reach the WFD's "good ecological status", then both SRP concentration reductions (probably to below 100 µg l(-1)) and increased shading will be required.

Enhanced biotransformation of TCE using plant terpenoids in contaminated groundwater.

AIMS: To examine plant terpenoids as inducers of TCE (trichloroethylene) biotransformation by an indigenous microbial community originating from a plume of TCE-contaminated groundwater. METHODS AND RESULTS: One-litre microcosms of groundwater were spiked with 100 micromol 1(-1) of TCE and amended weekly for 16 weeks with 20 microl 1(-1) of the following plant monoterpenes: linalool, pulegone, R-(+) carvone, S-(-) carvone, farnesol, cumene. Yeast extract-amended and unamended control treatments were also prepared. The addition of R-carvone and S-carvone, linalool and cumene resulted in the biotransformation of upwards of 88% of the TCE, significantly more than the unamendment control (61%). The aforementioned group of terpenes also significantly (P < 0.05) allowed more TCE to be degraded than the remaining two terpenes (farnesol and pulegone), and the yeast extract treatment which biotransformed 74-75% of the TCE. The microbial community profile was monitored by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and demonstrated much greater similarities between the microbial communities in terpene-amended treatments than in the yeast extract or unamended controls. CONCLUSIONS: TCE biotransformation can be significantly enhanced through the addition of selected plant terpenoids. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Plant terpenoid and nutrient supplementation to groundwater might provide an environmentally benign means of enhancing the rate of in situ TCE bioremediation.

Bioremediation of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil using carvone and surfactant-grown bacteria.

Partial bioremediation of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated soil was achieved by repeated applications of PCB-degrading bacteria and a surfactant applied 34 times over an 18-week period. Two bacterial species, Arthrobacter sp. strain B1B and Ralstonia eutrophus H850, were induced for PCB degradation by carvone and salicylic acid, respectively, and were complementary for the removal of different PCB congeners. A variety of application strategies was examined utilizing a surfactant, sorbitan trioleate, which served both as a carbon substrate for the inoculum and as a detergent for the mobilization of PCBs. In soil containing 100 microg Aroclor 1242 g(-1) soil, bioaugmentation resulted in 55-59% PCB removal after 34 applications. However, most PCB removal occurred within the first 9 weeks. In contrast, repeated addition of surfactant and carvone to non-inoculated soil resulted in 30-36% PCB removal by the indigenous soil bacteria. The results suggest that bioaugmentation with surfactant-grown, carvone-induced, PCB-degrading bacteria may provide an effective treatment for partial decontamination of PCB-contaminated soils.

The biological activities of norgestrel and its enantiomers.

The dextrorotatory enantiomer of norgestrel has now been tested by oral and parenteral routes in a broad range of biological assays and its inactivity has been confirmed. The active enantiomer has been further compared with the racemate in a similarly broad range of tests, largely by the oral route. Levonorgestrel was twice as potent as the racemate in experiments in which norgestrel was effective. These data reinforce earlier findings that levonorgestrel is responsible for all the biological activity found in norgestrel.

Punishing the not guilty: hospitalization of persons acquitted by reason of insanity.

Some of the mystique surrounding persons acquitted of crimes on insanity grounds (NGIs) is being dispelled by arguing that they should be treated as are other mental patients in all phases of their contact institutions. The courts have moved along the road to equalization but still have a way to go. It is concluded that there is no basis for any differentiation between persons who are acquitted of crime by reason fo insanity and other civil patients with respect to commitment, treatment, and discharge. Any other approach sacrifices not only constitutional rights but also impairs the likelihood of rehabilitation and productive return to society for these patients who have been adjudge not guilty of their antisocial acts and from whom no punishment may be exacted.