Development and laboratory-scale testing of a fully automated online flow cytometer for drinking water analysis

Accurate and sensitive online detection tools would benefit both fundamental research and practical applications in aquatic microbiology. Here, we describe the development and testing of an online flow cytometer (FCM), with a specific use foreseen in the field of drinking water microbiology. The system incorporated fully automated sampling and fluorescent labeling of bacterial nucleic acids with analysis at 5-min intervals for periods in excess of 24 h. The laboratory scale testing showed sensitive detection (< 5% error) of bacteria over a broad concentration range (1 × 10(3) -1 × 10(6) cells mL(-1) ) and particularly the ability to track both gradual changes and dramatic events in water samples. The system was tested with bacterial pure cultures as well as indigenous microbial communities from natural water samples. Moreover, we demonstrated the possibility of using either a single fluorescent dye (e.g., SYBR Green I) or a combination of two dyes (SYBR Green I and Propidium Iodide), thus broadening the application possibilities of the system. The online FCM approach described herein has considerable potential for routine and continuous monitoring of drinking water, optimization of specific drinking water processes such as biofiltration or disinfection, as well as aquatic microbiology research in general.     

Real-time water quality monitoring of River Ganga (India) using internet of things

Achieving and maintaining suitable water quality is one of the important parameters to ensure health and well-being of the human as well as ecosystems. Among the various aquatic ecosystems, riverine ecosystems are more prone to pollution and therefore needs to be monitored frequently and on regular time intervals. In this context, real-time water quality monitoring system offers excellent opportunity to keep track of the water quality on a continuous basis; which not only helps to identify the affected location and pollution source, but also creates alert enabling the authorities to take immediate action. One such real-time water quality monitoring system was installed in the River Ganga (India), considering the fragility and significance of the Gangetic ecosystem. In this paper, we have presented the details of the real-time water quality monitoring system installed in River Ganga and results obtained through it for various parameters. The results have also been compared with the standard values. Additionally, based on this preliminary investigation, limitations and recommendations have also been presented to further enhance the utility of the system.     

Whole-cell biochips for online water monitoring

Chip-integrated luminescent recombinant reporter bacteria were combined with fluidics and light detection systems to form a real-time water biomonitor. The biomonitor was exposed to a continuous water flow for up to ten days, in the course of which it was challenged with spikes of both model toxic compounds and toxic environmental samples. All simulated contamination events were reported within 0.5-2.5?h. Furthermore, the response pattern of the reporter bacteria was indicative of the nature of the contaminating chemicals. Efforts were aimed at improving signal quality and at the development of an alarm management software. Following further research, a device of the proposed design could be implemented in monitoring networks as an early warning system against water pollution by toxic chemicals.     

河流干支流水质与土地利用的相关关系

为探索不同等级河流水质状况及其对土地利用构成响应的差异,以江苏北部的灌河流域为研究对象,基于2006—2007年两个年度灌河及其支流的水质监测数据和研究区的Landsat TM影像,在河流两侧长度0.0—10.0 km、宽度0.0—0.5 km的范围内,运用多元回归分析,对研究区干、支流主要水质指标及其与相应土地利用构成的关系进行了研究。结果表明:2006—2007年间,研究区干流水质总体上显著好于支流,支流的总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)等营养盐指标显著高于干流,而干流的有机污染指标显著高于支流;比较不同观测尺度上土地利用构成对河流水质变化的方差贡献率发现,缓冲区宽度一定时,支流在所有观测尺度上的土地利用构成与水质变化皆存在显著相关关系,而干流仅在缓冲区长度0.0—4.0 km的观测尺度上其土地利用构成与水质变化的相关关系显著;缓冲区长度一定时,干、支流河道两侧0.0—0.3 km间土地利用状况对水质变化的解释能力较大。同时发现,氮、磷等营养盐浓度多与较大尺度上的土地利用构成相关,而化学需氧量(COD)、生化需氧量(BOD)等多与较小尺度上的土地利用构成相关。研究结果显示,有必要区分不同河流等级,选择适宜的观测尺度,分别研究不同水质指标与土地利用构成间的相关关系。     

An empirical approach for deriving specific inland water quality parameters from high spatio-spectral resolution image

Inland lake of Vembanad has benefited from continuous monitoring to evaluate water quality which has declined due to increased anthropogenic activities and climate change. Remote sensing techniques can be used to estimate and monitor inland water quality both spatially and temporally. An empirical model is presented in Vemaband lake that retrieves the specific water quality parameters through correlations between various spectral wavelengths of Sentinel-2MSI (S2MSI) with field-measured water quality parameters. This approach includes the combinations of various bands, band ratios, and band arithmetic computation of satellite sensors of spectral datasets. The specific inland water quality parameters such as chlorophyll-a (chl-a), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and secchi disc depth (SDD) were retrieved from the developed water quality model through Sentinel-2A remote sensing reflectance. The result illustrates that Specific Inland Water Quality Parameters (SIWQP) strongly correlated with S2MSI reflection spectral wavelengths. The SIWQP models are constructed for TSS (R²?=?0.8008), Chl-a (R²?=?0.8055), Turbidity (R²?=?0.6329) and SDD (R²?=?0.7174).The spatial distribution of SIWQPs in Vembanad lake for March 2018 is mapped and shows the lake's water quality distribution. The research from Sentinel-2, MSI has potential and is appropriate in high spectral and spatial characteristics for retrieving and continuous monitoring of water quality parameters in the regional scale of inland water bodies.

     

Aggregated indices for trends in eutrophication of different types of fresh water in the Netherlands

As in many European countries, eutrophication of surface waters is a key problem in the Netherlands, caused by high concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). For implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the Netherlands, surface water types have been identified and for each water type environmental quality standard concentrations (EQS) were determined for both nutrients. With these standards, a new method was developed to quantify trends in water quality with respect to eutrophication on a national scale for the period 1990–2010. Firstly, monitoring data were aggregated to seven classes of surface water. Next, for each water class and each nutrient, a Nutrient Index was developed to express the degree of exceedance of EQS (distance-to-target method). The Nutrient Index for N shows a minor exceedance of EQS as well as an improvement in all water types; for P, the index shows a major exceedance in small stagnant waters throughout the 1990–2010 period, whereas in major rivers and lakes levels were close to EQS. Thirdly, the indices for seven surface water classes were aggregated to one index for each nutrient, and finally to a national Eutrophication Index combining N and P. This Eutrophication Index integrates all monitoring data and shows an improvement in the period 1990–2003 and stabilization since 2004.     

大亚湾水质遥感监测指标分析

我国沿海经济高速发展,对近海岸水质环境影响极大。传统的近海岸水质监测手段不仅成本大,而且空间信息有限,难以对相关海域进行全面、准确的监测与评价;利用遥感的手段进行近海岸水质监测可克服这些局限。利用遥感进行水质评价,需要建立相应的指标体系。论文以大亚湾为例,分析了大亚湾的水质环境现状,讨论了具有光学敏感性或热敏感性的水质因子特性,指出水温、悬浮物及叶绿素是大亚湾水质遥感监测与评价的首选指标。讨论了悬浮物、叶绿素的污染表征物特征,以及在近海岸、湖泊及河流水质研究中的重要指示意义,同时建议将叶绿素作为常规监测指标纳入我国海水水质评价体系。     

Bioassay testing for Australia as part of water quality assessment programmes

Abstract Bioassay testing includes both toxicity (one or more effects is measured) and bioaccumulation (the phenomenon of tissue accumulation is measured) tests. Both types of bioassay tests have an important place in water quality assessment programmes, ideally beginning with initial screening and as part of tiered testing that includes contaminant analyses and field studies. Both have advantages (e. g. measure bioavailability, provide quantitative data, experimental manipulations can address cause-effect relationships) and disadvantages (e. g. laboratory exposures do not necessarily reflect field conditions, not all organisms can be tested). Both provide essential, but not all, information necessary for holistic water quality assessments. This paper provides a review of the use of bioassays including definitions, applications, advantages and disadvantages, utility and relevance. The utility of bioassays in monitoring programmes is illustrated by two case studies. The first case study, involving novel toxicity studies conducted in the high Arctic, illustrates the versatility of bioassays such that testing conducted in a tent on the ice resulted in new knowledge and a change in industrial discharge limits. The second case study further illustrates the importance of bioassays in decision making. In this case, a decision not to immediately spend hundreds of millions of dollars for sewage treatment, but rather to concentrate on source control, was made based in large part on bioassay testing conducted as part of an integrated environmental assessment.     

New Approach for the Application of USP Apparatus 3 in Dissolution Tests: Case Studies of Three Antihypertensive Immediate-Release Tablets

The USP Apparatus 3 is a compendial dissolution Apparatus that has been mainly used to assess the performance of modified-release drug products. However, this Apparatus can be applied to dissolution testing of immediate-release tablets as well, with several advantages such as lower consumption of dissolution media, reduced setup time in quality control routine, and minimized hydrodynamic issues. In this work, three immediate-release (IR) tablets containing antihypertensive drugs of different Biopharmaceutic Classification System (BCS) classes were evaluated in order to assess the possible interchangeability between the official dissolution method using typical USP Apparatus 1 or 2 and the proposed methods using USP Apparatus 3. Depending on the selection of the appropriate operational conditions, such as dip rate and sieve mesh size, it was observed that USP Apparatus 3 could provide similar dissolution profiles compared to USP Apparatus 1 or 2 to the drug products tested. In addition, USP Apparatus 3 avoided conning issues related to USP Apparatus 2. The successful application of USP Apparatus 3 in dissolution tests for IR drug products depends on the definition of specific test conditions for each product, considering all the equipment variables, as well as drug and formulation characteristics.     

Robustness of the biotic indicators used for classification of ecological status of lotic water bodies: A testing method when the data series are short

Successful implementation of the Water Framework Directive and achieving its objective of good ecological status of all water bodies depend on the power of the set of monitoring indicators to capture the change in the ecological status of aquatic systems. In this context, testing the robustness and sensitivity of ecological indicators currently used for assessing the status of lotic water bodies is instrumental for the adaptation and further development of assessment methods. This is also a prerequisite for an effective, context-based monitoring system and for improving the quality of the decision making for water bodies. This is particularly challenging in regions where the sets of indicators are under development, the data series are relatively short and data which addresses the individual error sources are lacking. Here we show that hierarchical clusters and ordination analysis provide appropriate tools with which the validity of the ecological status of water bodies set up based on biological multimetric monitoring indices in a small water basin could be tested. We hypothesize that robust and informative monitoring methods classify all water bodies belonging to a single ordination grouping in the same quality class (high, good, moderate, poor or bad). In our case study multimetric biological indicators failed to discriminate between the good and moderate ecological status. Community structure as well as water conductivity and nitrate load were primarily responsible for the observed difference between ordination groupings. Inconsistencies shown in our case study are likely to be induced by insufficient refinement of monitoring schemes and by the constraints existing in the data series and available metadata. We show that multiplication of indicators leads to discrepant interpretation and problematic application. Proposed ordination analysis proves to be a simple and useful tool to detect such discrepancies and support further progress in indicator development. Integrated and longer data and metadata series are needed to refine context-based monitoring methods.     

不同空间尺度景观特征对南流江水质的影响差异

流域景观特征决定了非点源污染物来源与地表景观削减消纳能力,但尚缺乏全流域不同空间尺度对二者关联性的认识。以广西北部湾南流江为例,分别在子流域、河岸缓冲带以及监测点圆形缓冲区三种尺度上,基于2020年Landsat 8 OLI遥感影像解译的土地利用类型特征,结合水质监测数据,运用数理统计和GIS空间分析方法,探讨了流域景观特征在不同空间尺度上对河流水质的影响。结果表明：(1)在子流域尺度,土地利用类型以林地为主,而在河岸缓冲带与监测点圆形缓冲区均以耕地为主;(2)水质指标高锰酸盐指数、生化需氧量与景观特征相关性最为显著,耕地、建设用地、其他用地和园地与其呈正相关,是南流江水质污染负荷的重要来源区;景观格局指数中,斑块密度、蔓延度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数是引起河流水质指标变化的主要景观因子;(3)受流域内或不同子流域间景观特征差异,景观组成面积占比和景观格局指数均在河岸缓冲带尺度对水质状况影响最大,分别可解释57.0%和64.7%的水质指标变化;子流域尺度次之,圆形缓冲区尺度最小,且景观格局指数对水质状况的影响大于景观组成面积占比。建议在河岸带50 m范围内严格控制耕地面积,建设河岸缓...     

Variations in the water quality of a small urban tropical catchment: implications for load estimation and water quality monitoring

This paper presents findings on the quality of runoff draining a small urban tropical catchment in Singapore. Variations in runoff quality were studied by continuous, regular and storm event water sampling over a period of eleven months for suspended sediment, nutrient and inorganic variables. Storm events and anthropogenic activities exerted the most influence on runoff quality. Concentration-discharge rating relationships were derived to assess the rating curve method for calculating load of the variables monitored. The poor rating relationships obtained indicated that the method was not suitable for load estimation in this catchment. Instead, an interpolation method was used to calculate sediment loads. The preliminary results highlighted the importance of conducting small-scale, relatively short-term studies to identify and assess specific water quality problems facing each catchment. Such a sampling strategy might be more useful than either routine or continuous sampling in the context of planning more detailed monitoring strategies and management options suitable for disturbed catchments.     

On-line microbial biosensing and fingerprinting of water pollutants

The potential for biosensors to contribute to on-line toxicity testing for monitoring of water quality is currently constrained both by the relevance of the biosensors available and the technology for biosensor delivery. This paper reports the use of novel slow release biosensor delivery for on-line monitoring instrumentation, with environmentally relevant bacteria for both simple toxicity testing and more complex toxicity fingerprinting of industrial effluents. The on-line toxicity test, using bioluminescence-based biosensors, proved to be as sensitive and reliable as the corresponding batch test, with comparable contaminant EC(50) values from both methods. Toxicity fingerprinting through the investigation of the kinetics (dose-response) and the dynamics (response with time) of the biosensor test response proved to be diagnostic of both effluent type and composition. Furthermore, the slow release of biosensors immobilised in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix greatly improved biosensor delivery, did not affect the sensitivity of toxicity testing, and demonstrated great potential for inclusion in on-line monitoring instrumentation.     

启东海域水质营养状况及其与陆域农村水环境质量的关系

根据启东近岸海域2003—2009年7个站点的监测数据,研究了该海域的水质营养状况,并初步分析了与相邻陆域农村水环境质量的关系。结果表明:除平台站点之外,多数站点的COD、DIN、DIP和DO有增加的趋势;仅平台站点在2003年未富营养化,其他6站点都处于富营养状态,在2007年富营养化指数达到最高值,其后逐年显著降低;2003—2009年重污染海域比例达到4.1%,在2007和2008年是污染较为严重的年份;富营养化指数与综合标准指数之间存在显著的正线性相关;相对于城市工业生产生活排放,启东近岸陆域农村水环境质量变化和长江径流对近岸水质营养状况的影响较小。     

Scale-down model qualification of ambr® 250 high-throughput mini-bioreactor system for two commercial-scale mAb processes

Recent advances in high-throughput (HTP) automated mini-bioreactor systems have significantly improved development timelines for early-stage biologic programs. Automated platforms such as the ambr® 250 have demonstrated the ability, using appropriate scale-down approaches, to provide reliable estimates of process performance and product quality from bench to pilot scale, but data sets comparing to large-scale commercial processes (>10,000 L) are limited. As development moves toward late stages, specifically process characterization (PC), a qualified scale-down model (SDM) of the commercial process is a regulatory requirement as part of Biologics License Application (BLA)-enabling activities. This work demonstrates the qualification of the ambr® 250 as a representative SDM for two monoclonal antibody (mAb) commercial processes at scales >10,000 L. Representative process performance and product quality associated with each mAb were achieved using appropriate scale-down approaches, and special attention was paid to pCO₂ to ensure consistent performance and product quality. Principal component analysis (PCA) and univariate equivalence testing were utilized in the qualification of the SDM, along with a statistical evaluation of process performance and product-quality attributes for comparability. The ambr® 250 can predict these two commercial-scale processes (at center-point condition) for cell-culture performance and product quality. The time savings and resource advantages to performing PC studies in a small-scale HTP system improves the potential for the biopharmaceutical industry to get products to patients more quickly.     

A split-pot experiment with sorghum to test a root water uptake partitioning model

Correct modeling of root water uptake partitioning over depth is an important issue in hydrological and crop growth models. Recently a physically based model to describe root water uptake was developed at single root scale and upscaled to the root system scale considering a homogeneous distribution of roots per soil layer. Root water uptake partitioning is calculated over soil layers or compartments as a function of respective soil hydraulic conditions, specifically the soil matric flux potential, root characteristics and a root system efficiency factor to compensate for within-layer root system heterogeneities. The performance of this model was tested in an experiment performed in two-compartment split-pot lysimeters with sorghum plants. The compartments were submitted to different irrigation cycles resulting in contrasting water contents over time. The root system efficiency factor was determined to be about 0.05. Release of water from roots to soil was predicted and observed on several occasions during the experiment; however, model predictions suggested root water release to occur more often and at a higher rate than observed. This may be due to not considering internal root system resistances, thus overestimating the ease with which roots can act as conductors of water. Excluding these erroneous predictions from the dataset, statistical indices show model performance to be of good quality.     

流域景观格局与河流水质的多变量相关分析

流域内的景观格局改变是人类活动的宏观表现,会对河流水质产生显著影响,因此明确影响水质变化的关键景观因子,对于深入了解景观对水质的影响机制具有重要的研究价值。选择广东省淡水河流域为研究对象,以2007年ALOS卫星影像以及水质监测数据为基础,运用空间分析和多变量分析方法,分析淡水河流域景观格局与河流水质的相关关系。用包括流域和河岸带尺度的景观组成和空间结构信息的景观指数表征景观格局,用Spearman秩相关分析、多元线性逐步回归模型和典型相关分析(CCA)研究景观指数和水质指标的相关关系。研究结果表明:林地、城镇用地和农业用地占淡水河流域总面积超过90%,其中城镇用地超过20%。多元线性逐步回归分析和CCA结果说明水质指标受到多个景观指数的综合影响,反映了景观格局对水质的复杂影响机制。流域景观格局对河流水质有显著影响,流域尺度的景观指数比河岸带尺度的景观指数对水质影响更大。城镇用地比例是影响耗氧污染物和营养盐等污染物浓度最重要的景观指数,林地和农业用地对水质的影响较小。另外,景观破碎化对pH值、溶解氧和重金属等水质指标有显著影响。CCA的第一排序轴解释了景观指数与水质指标相关性的54.0%,前两排序轴累积能解释景观指数与水质指标相关性的87.6%,前两轴分别主要表达了城市化水平和景观破碎化水平的变化梯度。淡水河流域的景观格局特征从上游到下游呈现出城市—城乡交错—农村的景观梯度,水质变化也对应了这个梯度的变化,说明人类活动引起的流域土地覆盖及土地管理措施变化会对水质变化产生显著影响。     

Ecoacoustics can detect ecosystem responses to environmental water allocations

1. Globally, water abstraction for human consumption and irrigated agriculture leads to significant changes in aquatic ecosystems. To counter these detrimental effects, water releases—often termed environmental water allocations—restore overbank flow or are delivered to artificially disconnected wetlands. While a suite of monitoring methods is available, few programmes track continuous change in biota, mainly because repeated remote site visits can be prohibitively expensive.
2. In this paper, we propose a new approach to environmental flow monitoring, using ecoacoustic methods. We test acoustic monitoring of frog and waterbird responses to environmental water deliveries in the Goulburn Broken, a valley in the southern Murray–Darling river system. Response to three major environmental water deliveries within 2 years was monitored at four sites along Reedy swamp. Every 2 weeks, 30 s were recorded every 30 min, for a total of 24 hr.
3. We used two analysis strategies—manual counts of bird calls, as well as ecoacoustic indices, which describe the sonic properties of the acoustic spectrum at a site. Manual counts demonstrated that water-dependent birds were clearly responding to environmental water deliveries, whereas non-water-dependent species did not show any increases in activity. After restricting the analysis to the dawn chorus of birds and frogs, two acoustic indices (the median amplitude and the acoustic complexity index) showed responses to watering events.
4. Ecoacoustic methods show promise for continuous response monitoring to environmental water allocations. However, the first strategy—manual annotation of calls—might be too labour intensive for standard monitoring programmes. The second strategy—index-based approaches—can also detect ecological responses, although further investigation using control sites is needed. Automated call classifiers are an alternative that is currently being developed for endangered species. We also encourage simultaneous monitoring of the soundscape above and under water.

     

宁德水产养殖区水质状况及驱动力分析

水产养殖对海岸带生态系统的水环境有显著影响,研究水产养殖地区的水质动态及其驱动力对海洋牧场建设和海岸带生态系统管理有着重要意义。以宁德为研究区域,基于2017年夏季和冬季水质监测和遥感影像等数据,通过地理信息系统技术和统计分析软件,分析了水产养殖区域的水质现状、水质变化和驱动力。结果表明,该海域水质处于重污染状态,富营养化水平较高。除了悬浮物和总磷之外,其他水质指标都呈现出显著的季节性差异,不同季节影响水质的因素也不相同。水质的季节性变化是初始水质状况、养殖活动和自然因素共同作用的结果。基于研究结果,笔者建议结合高分遥感技术对养殖区水面覆盖和利用进行监测,对养殖类型和行为(如饵料类型和投放方式)进行调控,开展水质长期监测和风险应急管理,保障海洋牧场社会经济效益的同时降低生态环境影响、防控生态和人体健康风险。     

南京东郊城市湿地水质多尺度空间分异

对南京市东郊的17个城市湿地进行水质监测和植物群落调查,从生态系统、集水区和景观功能区3个尺度揭示城市湿地水质的分异特征.结果表明:湿地类型和植物群落特征是生态系统尺度上影响湿地水质的主要因素;原生湿地的水质普遍优于改造湿地,而改造湿地的水质则普遍优于次生湿地;湿地植物的盖度越大,水质越好.土地利用类型是集水区尺度上影响湿地水质空间分异的主要因素,建设用地对流域湿地营养盐影响程度较大,而林地对溶解氧影响程度较大.人类活动是功能区尺度上影响湿地水质空间分异的主要因素,而其对不同水质指标的影响程度不同.