BA.2.86 variant emergence and spread dynamics through wastewater monitoring in Paris, France.

Numerous SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging as the epidemic continues, inducing new waves of contamination. In July 2023, a new variant named BA.2.

From Alpha to Omicron BA.2: New digital RT-PCR approach and challenges for SARS-CoV-2 VOC monitoring and normalization of variant dynamics in wastewater.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, new variants have continuously emerged and spread in populations. Among these, variants of concern (VOC) have been the main culprits of successive epidemic waves, due to their transmissibility, pathogenicity or ability to escape the immune response. Quantification of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes in raw wastewater is a reliable approach well-described and widely deployed worldwide to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in human populations connected to sewage systems.

A nationwide indicator to smooth and normalize heterogeneous SARS-CoV-2 RNA data in wastewater.

Since many infected people experience no or few symptoms, the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic is frequently monitored through massive virus testing of the population, an approach that may be biased and may be difficult to sustain in low-income countries. Since SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in stool samples, quantifying SARS-CoV-2 genome by RT-qPCR in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been carried out as a complementary tool to monitor virus circulation among human populations. However, measuring SARS-CoV-2 viral load in WWTPs can be affected by many experimental and environmental factors.

First evidence of SARS-CoV-2 genome detection in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha).

The uses of bivalve molluscs in environmental biomonitoring have recently gained momentum due to their ability to indicate and concentrate human pathogenic microorganisms. In the context of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the objective of this study was to determine if the SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid genome can be detected in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) exposed to raw and treated urban wastewaters from two separate plants to support its interest as bioindicator of the SARS-CoV-2 genome contamination in water. The zebra mussels were exposed to treated wastewater through caging at the outlet of two plants located in France, as well as to raw wastewater in controlled conditions.

Multiresidue Methods for the Determination of Organic Micropollutants and Their Metabolites in Fish Matrices.

Two analytical methods were developed for the determination of 48 organic compounds and 20 of their main by-products in fish matrices. The targeted compounds belong to various chemical classes of metabolizable (phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, insecticides [pyrethroids and N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide]) and legacy (organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers) pollutants. Analyses were performed by gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and dynamic MRM, respectively.

Investigating the metal contamination of sediment transported by the 2016 Seine River flood (Paris, France).

Fine sediment transport in rivers is exacerbated during flood events. These particles may convey various contaminants (i.e.

Nitrite reduction by biogenic hydroxycarbonate green rusts: evidence for hydroxy-nitrite green rust formation as an intermediate reaction product.

The present study investigates for the first time the reduction of nitrite by biogenic hydroxycarbonate green rusts, bio-GR(CO3), produced from the bioreduction of ferric oxyhydroxycarbonate (Fohc), a poorly crystalline solid phase, and of lepidocrocite, a well-crystallized Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide mineral. Results show a fast Fe(II) production from Fohc, which leads to the precipitation of bio-GR(CO3) particles that were roughly 2-fold smaller (2.3 ± 0.

Combining measurements and modelling to quantify the contribution of atmospheric fallout, local industry and road traffic to PAH stocks in contrasting catchments.

Various sources supply PAHs that accumulate in soils. The methodology we developed provided an evaluation of the contribution of local sources (road traffic, local industries) versus remote sources (long range atmospheric transport, fallout and gaseous exchanges) to PAH stocks in two contrasting subcatchments (46-614 km²) of the Seine River basin (France). Soil samples (n = 336) were analysed to investigate the spatial pattern of soil contamination across the catchments and an original combination with radionuclide measurements provided new insights into the evolution of the contamination with depth.

Variation of raw wastewater microbiological quality in dry and wet weather conditions.

The microbiological quality of urban wastewaters presents important environmental, sanitary, and political challenges. However, the variability of untreated wastewater quality is seldom known when it comes to microbial parameters. This study aims to evaluate the variability of microbiological quality in wastewater influents from different wastewater treatment plants connected to combined and partially separate sewer networks in the Parisian area and to evaluate the impact of this variability on the treatment efficiency and on the accuracy of wastewater effluent monitoring.

Mass balance and decontamination times of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in rural nested catchments of an early industrialized region (Seine River basin, France).

Accumulation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and their subsequent release in rivers constitute a major environmental and public health problem in industrialized countries. In the Seine River basin (France), some PAHs exceed the target concentrations, and the objectives of good chemical status required by the European Water Framework Directive might not be achieved. This investigation was conducted in an upstream subcatchment where atmospheric fallout (n=42), soil (n=33), river water (n=26) and sediment (n=101) samples were collected during one entire hydrological year.

Spatio-temporal variability of solid, total dissolved and labile metal: passive vs. discrete sampling evaluation in river metal monitoring.

In order to obtain representative dissolved and solid samples from the aquatic environment, a spectrum of sampling methods are available, each one with different advantages and drawbacks. This article evaluates the use of discrete sampling and time-integrated sampling in illustrating medium-term spatial and temporal variation. Discrete concentration index (CI) calculated as the ratio between dissolved and solid metal concentrations in grab samples are compared with time-integrated concentration index (CI) calculated from suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected in sediment traps and labile metals measured by the diffusive gel in thin films (DGT) method, collected once a month during one year at the Seine River, upstream and downstream of the Greater Paris Region.

Impact of an intense combined sewer overflow event on the microbiological water quality of the Seine River.

For a better understanding of the short and mid-term impacts of a combined sewer overflow (CSO) on the microbiological quality of the receiving river, we studied the composition of a CSO discharge and monitored during several hours the changes in the concentration of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in the impacted river water mass. The CSO occurred at the Clichy outfall (Paris agglomeration, France) in summer 2008 as a result of the most intense rainfall of the year. In 6h, 578, 705 m(3) of sewage and 124 t of suspended matter (SM) were discharged into the Seine River.

Combined monitoring of changes in delta13CH4 and archaeal community structure during mesophilic methanization of municipal solid waste.

Reconstituted municipal solid waste (MSW) with varying contents of putrescible and cellulosic waste was incubated anaerobically under mesophilic conditions. Standard physicochemical parameters were monitored, together with stable isotopic signatures of produced CH(4) and CO(2). delta(13)C values for CH(4) indicated a change of methanogenic metabolism with time.

Dissolved organic matter from treated effluent of a major wastewater treatment plant: characterization and influence on copper toxicity.

A combination of reverse osmosis (RO) concentration and DAX-8/XAD-4 resin adsorption techniques is used to isolate the various constituents of urban dissolved organic matter (DOM) from inorganic salts. Three fractions: hydrophobic (HPO), transphilic (TPI) and hydrophilic (HPI) accounting respectively for 35%, 20% and 45% of extracted carbon, are isolated from effluents of a major French wastewater treatment plant. This atypical DOC distribution, in comparison with natural water where the HPO fraction dominates, shows the significance of HPI fraction which often gets neglected because of extraction difficulties.

Efficiency evaluation of sewage treatment plants with different technologies in Delhi (India).

Physical, chemical and microbiological efficiencies of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) located in Delhi's watershed in context of different treatment technologies employed in these plants have been determined. There were in all seventeen STPs treating domestic wastewater which were studied over a period of 12 months. These STPs were based on Conventional Activated sludge process (ASP), Extended aeration (Ex.

Dissolved and bioavailable contaminants in the Seine river basin.

Diffusive Gradient in Thin Films (DGT) and Semi-Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) were deployed in the Seine river basin in order to assess labile metals and truly dissolved Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. We show that the tools are reliable in aquatic environments to assess the speciation of dissolved contaminants and hence provide a good insight into the potential bioavailability of contaminants. The deployment of the DGT and SPMDs in contrasting environments in the Seine river basin allowed distinction to be made of availability of contaminants between headwater streams and much more impacted river reaches and an assessment of bioavailability.

The Seine system: introduction to a multidisciplinary approach of the functioning of a regional river system.

The Seine basin (France) is dominated by the megalopolis of Paris (10 millions inhabitants), surrounded by intensive agricultural areas: it represents an important example of regional territory strongly affected by anthropogenic activity. In the scope of the PIREN-Seine program, an interdisciplinary study of this basin was conducted. This paper introduces a special issue of the Science of the Total Environment devoted to the results of this program.

Distribution of 7Be, 210Pb and 137Cs in watersheds of different scales in the Seine River basin: inventories and residence times.

The activity of environmental radionuclides ((7)Be, (210)Pb and (137)Cs) was monitored in nested catchments, inside the Seine River basin. Suspended matter data was collected at 8 different watersheds, ranging from order 1 to order 7, and ranging in size over 4 orders of magnitude. Suspended matter was analyzed for (210)Pb, (137)Cs and (7)Be, and used to calculate the flux of sediments out of each watershed.

Modelling the impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows on the river Seine water quality.

To achieve the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive (EWFD), the Seine basin Water Authority has constructed a number of prospective scenarios forecasting the impact of planned investments in water quality. Paris and its suburbs were given special attention because of their impact on the river Seine. Paris sewer system and overflow control is of major concern in future management plans.

Trace metal speciation and fluxes within a major French wastewater treatment plant: impact of the successive treatments stages.

Seven metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb) were monitored at the Seine-Aval wastewater treatment plant during 6 sampling campaigns in April 2004. Particulate and dissolved metals have been measured in 24h composite samples at each treatment stage (primary settling, secondary activated sludge and tertiary flocculation by FeCl(3)). In addition, the diffusive gradient in thin film technique (DGT) was used to determine the dissolved inert and labile metal fraction.

Variability estimation of urban wastewater biodegradable fractions by respirometry.

This paper presents a methodology for assessing the variability of biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions in urban wastewaters. Thirteen raw wastewater samples from combined and separate sewers feeding the same plant were characterised, and two optimisation procedures were applied in order to evaluate the variability in biodegradable fractions and related kinetic parameters. Through an overall optimisation on all the samples, a unique kinetic parameter set was obtained with a three-substrate model including an adsorption stage.

Evaluation of DGT as a metal speciation tool in wastewater.

This paper aims to evaluate the performance of the diffusive gradient in thin film technique (DGT) as a speciation tool for metals in wastewater. The validity of metal sampling by DGT in wastewater was checked. DGT was used in parallel with the Daphnia magna acute toxicity test in order to obtain information on the speciation of copper and cadmium in diluted and spiked filtered wastewater (raw and treated) from two treatment plants.

Influence of algal and bacterial particulate organic matter on benzo[a]pyrene bioaccumulation in Daphnia magna.

In order to better asses the influence of organic matter on the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic contaminants, the effect of algae and POM of bacterial origin on the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in Daphnia magna was evaluated. The bioaccumulation was monitored with increasing concentrations of particulate organic matter (POM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM). In all experiments, the presence of POM greatly reduced the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene.