An evaluation of properly operated NSF/ANSI-53 Pb certified drinking water filters in Benton Harbor, MI.

Communities across the United States and particularly in the Midwest continue to grapple with the complications associated with aging infrastructure. This includes the presence of lead (Pb)-bearing plumbing components such as lead service lines, downstream galvanized iron pipes, and Pb/tin solder. The community of Benton Harbor, MI, experienced six Pb action level exceedances between 2018 and 2021, leading to increasing community concern and a request from the state of Michigan for the US Environmental Protection Agency involvement.

Comprehensive characterization of aerobic groundwater biotreatment media.

Aerobic biotreatment systems can treat multiple reduced inorganic contaminants in groundwater, including ammonia (NH), arsenic (As), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). While individual systems treating multiple contaminants simultaneously have been characterized and several systems treating one contaminant have been compared, a comparison of systems treating co-occurring contaminants is lacking. This study assessed the treatment performance and microbial communities within 7 pilot- and full-scale groundwater biotreatment systems in the United States that treated waters with pH 5.

Orthophosphate Interactions with Destabilized PbO Scales.

This research presents two case studies in which a change in the disinfectant from free chlorine to chloramine caused an increase in lead corrosion. In both systems, the predominantly tetravalent lead (PbO) scales destabilized as a result of disinfectant change. Orthophosphate corrosion control was used in both systems, and the effect of this treatment chemical on the destabilized PbO scales was examined.

Lead Particle Size Fractionation and Identification in Newark, New Jersey's Drinking Water.

Following a pH reduction in their drinking water over a span of more than 20 years, the City of Newark, New Jersey, has struggled with elevated lead (Pb) release from Pb service lines and domestic plumbing in the zone fed by the Pequannock Water Treatment Plant. In response, Newark initiated orthophosphate addition and provided faucet-mounted point-of-use (POU) filters and pitcher filters certified for Pb and particulate reduction under NSF/ANSI Standards 53 and 42 to residential homes in that zone. Water chemistry analysis and size fractionation sampling were performed at four of these houses.

Design and evaluation of degassed anaerobic membrane biofilm reactors for improved methane recovery.

Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater (DWW) produces dissolved methane that needs to be recovered for use as an energy product. Membrane-based recovery systems have been reported in the literature but are often limited by fouling. The objective of this study was to develop a methane producing biofilm on the shell side surface a membrane to allow for immediate recovery of methane as it was produced, negating mass transfer resistance caused by fouling.

Dermal transfer and environmental release of CeO nanoparticles used as UV inhibitors on outdoor surfaces: Implications for human and environmental health.

A major area of growth for "nano-enabled" consumer products have been surface coatings, including paints stains and sealants. Ceria (CeO) nanoparticles (NPs) are of interest as they have been used as additives in these these products to increase UV resistance. Currently, there is a lack of detailed information on the potential release, and speciation (i.

Copper Nanoparticle Induced Cytotoxicity to Nitrifying Bacteria in Wastewater Treatment: A Mechanistic Copper Speciation Study by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

With the inclusion of engineered nanomaterials in industrial processes and consumer products, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could serve as a major sink for these emerging contaminants. Previous research has demonstrated that nanomaterials are potentially toxic to microbial communities utilized in biological wastewater treatment (BWT). Copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) are of particular interest based on their increasing use in wood treatment, paints, household products, coatings, and byproducts of semiconductor manufacturing.

A new in vitro model using small intestinal epithelial cells to enhance infection of Cryptosporidium parvum.

To better understand and study the infection of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, a more sensitive in vitro assay is required. In vivo, this parasite infects the epithelial cells of the microvilli layer in the small intestine. While cell infection models using colon, kidney, and stomach cells have been studied to understand the infectivity potential of the oocysts, an ideal in vitro model would be readily-available, human-derived, and originating from the small intestine.

Experimental and modeling studies of sorption of ceria nanoparticle on microbial biofilms.

This study focuses on the interaction of ceria nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Mycobacterium smegmatis biofilms. Confocal laser microscopy and transmission electron microscopy determined the distribution of NPs in the complex structures of biofilm at molecular levels. Visual data showed that most of the adsorption takes place on the bacterial cell walls and spores.

Inside-out core-shell architecture: controllable fabrication of Cu2O@Cu with high activity for the Sonogashira coupling reaction.

Inside-out core-shell architectures (Cu(2)O@Cu) with a Cu(2)O core and a Cu shell, which are in contrast to the normally reported Cu(2)O-outside structure (Cu@Cu(2)O), were fabricated. This strategy can also be applied to construct square and hexapod Cu(2)O@Cu. The obtained Cu(2)O@Cu composite exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the Sonogashira coupling reactions.

Evidence for endothermic ancestors of crocodiles at the stem of archosaur evolution.

Physiological, anatomical, and developmental features of the crocodilian heart support the paleontological evidence that the ancestors of living crocodilians were active and endothermic, but the lineage reverted to ectothermy when it invaded the aquatic, ambush predator niche. In endotherms, there is a functional nexus between high metabolic rates, high blood flow rates, and complete separation of high systemic blood pressure from low pulmonary blood pressure in a four-chambered heart. Ectotherms generally lack all of these characteristics, but crocodilians retain a four-chambered heart.