Assessment of sources and fate of nitrate in shallow groundwater of an agricultural area by using a multi-tracer approach

AbstractNitrate isotopic values are often used as a tool to understand sources of contamination in order to effectively manage groundwater quality. However, recent literature describes that biogeochemical reactions may modify these values. Therefore, data interpretation is difficult and often vague. We provide a discussion on this topic and complement the study using halides as comparative tracers assessing an aquifer underneath a sub-humid to humid region in NE Mexico. Hydrogeological information and stable water isotopes indicate that active groundwater recharge occurs in the 8000km2 study area under present-day climatic and hydrologic conditions. Nitrate isotopes and halide ratios indicate a diverse mix of nitrate sources and transformations. Nitrate sources include organic waste and wastewater, synthetic fertilizers and soil processes. Animal manure and sewage from septic tanks were the causes of groundwater nitrate pollution within orchards and vegetable agriculture. Dairy activities within a radius of 1000m from a sampling point significantly contributed to nitrate pollution. Leachates from septic tanks caused nitrate pollution in residential areas. Soil nitrogen and animal waste were the sources of nitrate in groundwater under shrubland and grassland. Partial denitrification processes helped to attenuate nitrate concentration underneath agricultural lands and grassland, especially during summer months

Response of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Predictor for the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Ahmedabad, India: A Long-term Data Perspective

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) monitoring can play a key role in managing future pandemics because it covers both pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, especially in densely populated areas with limited community health care. In the present work, wastewater monitoring was employed in Ahmedabad, India, after the successful containment of the first wave of COVID-19 to predict resurgence of the disease in the expected second wave of the pandemic. Here we show wastewater levels of COVID-19 virus particles (i.e., SARS-CoV-2) positively correlated with the number of confirmed clinical cases during the first wave, and provided early detection of COVID-19 presence before the second wave in Ahmedabad and an WBE-based city zonation plan was developed for health protection. A eight-month data of Surveillance of Wastewater for Early Epidemic Prediction (SWEEP) was gathered, including weekly SARS-CoV-2 RNA wastewater analysis (n=287) from nine locations between September 2020 and April 2021. Across this period, 258 out of 287 samples were positive for least two out of three SARS-CoV-2 genes (N, ORF 1ab, and S). Monitoring showed a substantial decline in all three gene markers between October and September 2020, followed by an abrupt increase in November 2020. Similar changes were seen in March 2021, which preceded the second COVID-19 wave. Measured wastewater ORF-1ab gene copies ranged from 6.1 × 102 (October, 2020) to 1.4 × 104 (November, 2020) copies/mL, and wastewater gene levels typically lead confirmed cases by one to two weeks. The study highlights the value of WBE as a monitoring tool to predict waves within a pandemic, identifying local disease hotspots within a city and guiding rapid management interventions.This work is funded by UNICEF, Gujarat. We acknowledge the help received from GPCB and AMCN

German S3 guideline "actinic keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma" – long version of the update 2023

Actinic keratosis (AK) are common lesions in light-skinned individuals that can potentially progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Both conditions may be associated with significant morbidity and constitute a major disease burden, especially among the elderly. To establish an evidence-based framework for clinical decision making, the guideline “actinic keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma” was updated and expanded by the topics cutanepus squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disease) and actinic cheilitis. This guideline was developed at the highest evidence level (S3) and is aimed at dermatologists, general practitioners, ear nose and throat specialists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists and radiation oncologists in hospitals and office-based settings, as well as other medical specialties, policy makers and insurance funds involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with AK and cSCC

Geochemical characterization of components of the groundwater flow system in the basin of Mexico

More than 21 million people live within the Basin of Mexico. Water is the main concern of this large population, where groundwater has been intensively exploited, leading to subsidence and fracturing of the ground. It is for this reason that it’s very important to understand the behavior of groundwater flow system components. This knowledge can help to more effectively manage water use and conserve the recharge zones. The main purpose of this study is to identify and characterize the components of groundwater flow system. Cluster analysis was used to classify 303 groundwater samples into groups. The groups show that chemical concentrations increase along the trajectories of groundwater flow. We describe these groups and identify three components in the flow system; the upper zone, the intermediate zone and the inferior zone. Different water management policies are suggested for each system component, because they have different response times to the actions taken in their use and conservation

Revisiting groundwater chemical processes in a rapidly urbanizing basin

Monterrey procures about 40% of its water supply from groundwater resources, considering several aquifers below and nearby. This city meets semiarid climate conditions with highly variable precipitation rates. The increasing demand for groundwater during drought conditions can deteriorate water quality, raising the energy consumption and costs of lifting, moving, distributing, and treating water. Thus, the major ion content of this resource was assessed, analyzing changes across the Monterrey Basin during the last 11 years to obtain a more robust geochemical concept of the study area. Waters from three wellfields (Buenos Aires, Santiago, Mina) with low mineralization were classified as recharge waters. Waters circulating across evaporite-silicate-carbonate sediments of the Monterrey Basin with gradually increasing salinity were classified as transition zone waters (Metropolitan area) and discharge zone waters (north and northeast of the city). According to this, it can be concluded that groundwater from the different Monterrey sources exhibits high-quality mineralized water, considering the analyzed parameters. Nevertheless, further attention must be paid on nitrate and sulfate occurrence and evolution in the transition and discharge zones

Intensive long-term pumping in the Principal-Lagunera Region aquifer (Mexico) causing heavy impact on groundwater quality

Located in the semi-arid and water-scarce area, Comarca Lagunera is one of the main agricultural and dairy products supplying regions in Mexico. As a consequence of the intensive exploitation of groundwater resources for irrigating purposes over one century, the water table has declined up to 200 meters and developed several cones of depression, aggravating the energy consumption necessary for lifting and distributing the groundwater in the agricultural land. Due to this long-term overdraft pumping, not only the groundwater flow dynamics are constantly changing, but also water quality has deteriorated significantly during the last decades. This study evaluates groundwater dynamics and the evolution of ion element composition and the quality of water from the Principal-Lagunera Region aquifer. Elevated nitrate and sulfate concentrations are ubiquitous near Bermejillo in the northwestern portion. Arsenic concentration exceeds international drinking water recommendations in 80% of the sampled sites and reaches maximum values of up to 349 μg/l in agricultural fields. The distribution of these high values of arsenic overlaps with the location of depression cones. This suggests a geogenic origin of this metalloid

Groundwater contamination pathways of phthalates and bisphenol A: origin, characteristics, transport, and fate – A review

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) or phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) that may harm biota and human health. Humans can be exposed to these contaminants by drinking water consumption from water sources such as groundwater. Before their presence in aquifer systems, phthalates and BPA can be found in many matrices due to anthropogenic activities, which result in long-term transport to groundwater reservoirs by different mechanisms and reaction processes. The worldwide occurrence of phthalates and BPA concentrations in groundwater have ranged from 0.1 × 10−3 to 3 203.33 µg L−1 and from 0.09 × 10−3 to 228.04 µg L−1, respectively. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the groundwater contamination pathways of phthalates and BPA from the main environmental sources to groundwater. Overall, this article provides an overview that integrates phthalate and BPA environmental cycling, from their origin to human reception via groundwater consumption. Additionally, in this review, the readers can use the information provided as a principal basis for existing policy ratification and for governments to develop legislation that may incorporate these endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) as priority contaminants. Indeed, this may trigger the enactment of regulatory guidelines and public policies that help to reduce the exposure of these EDCs in humans by drinking water consumption