Release of VOCs, Gasses, and Bacteria from Contaminated Landings and Creeks of Ogeechee River Basin

River landings are common public grounds, visited by many people every day. The aftermath of visiting these places may be unsettling since much trash is left behind and scattered throughout. The litter collects and with each rain or high wind, it has a better chance of ending up in our streams, rivers, creeks, and eventually our oceans. The main purpose of this study was to measure both air and water quality throughout the Ogeechee River basin in South Georgia to determine how each was impacted by trash. Ammonia, methane, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with temperature and humidity were also measured for air quality. Water quality parameters for this study were derived from the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream method. Conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, and Escherichia coli counts were taken every two weeks at three locations: Rocky Ford Landing along the Ogeechee River, Rocks River Landing on the Canoochee River, and Little Lotts Creek located in the center of Statesboro, Georgia. Each Monday, from 17 January 2022 to 17 May 2022, selected air pollutants were sampled ten times at each location. The data show higher trends in air and water pollution where trash is found—the highest with Rocks River Landing and Little Lotts Creek showing trends supporting the hypothesis that trash may impact air and water quality in these areas. The potential contamination of river landings and creeks may contribute to increased levels of airborne and waterborne gas levels and microbial loads near the river water surfaces

Tetracycline Resistant Bacteria Occurrence Before and After Treating Wastewater Effluents with Algal Turf Scrubbers

Background: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are known to be hot spots for antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). When introduced to the environment they can end up in water, sediment, and fish tissue. Using algae has been shown to be an effective method to remove excessive nutrients from the WWTPs. The purpose of this study is to assess algal turf scrubbers (ATS) as a sustainable way to reduce ARB from effluents. Methods: Water samples from the effluent and after ATS treatment were taken once a week and filtered at 10, 50, 100, and 300mL. Filters then placed on MI agar (with and without tetracycline) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Escherichia coli colonies appear blue under ambient light and blue-green under fluorescent light were reported as CFU/100 mL. Results: E. coli colonies at the WWTP effluent ranged from 1-29 CFU/100mL with an average of 7±9 CFU/100mL. The tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-11 with an average of 2 CFU/100mL. Post ATS treatment colonies on MI agar ranged from 1-26 CFU/100mL with an average of 6±7 CFU/100mL, where tetracycline resistant E. coli ranged from 0-6 CFU/100mL with an average of 2±1 CFU/100mL. Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance is considered to be an emerging contaminant. Although the initial tetracycline resistant bacteria concentrations are low and our ATS system is a small channel, our preliminary results show a decrease in antibiotic resistant bacteria when ATS is included as an additional treatment technology to conventional wastewater treatment. Using nature based systems to improve wastewater treatment is a promising tool to improve water quality in our environment and protect human health. Future research will involve a larger ATS system to be installed at the facility to test for better removal and also target other antibiotic resistant bacteria along with other emerging contaminants

Associations Between Atmospheric Ozone, P.M 2.5, and Incidence Rates of Adult Diabetes

Introduction: Fine particulate matter and ozone are naturally and anthropogenically produced in the atmosphere. Ozone is a secondary gaseous air pollutant formed from traffic-related precursors under the influence of sunlight. Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) induces cytotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and alters gene expression. Approximately 34 million Americans in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes. Additionally, over 1 million of the adult population in Georgia have been diagnosed with diabetes with an estimated cost of $11 billion in Georgia each year Increased diabetes prevalence rates have been reported to be associated with long-term exposure to air pollutants. These air pollutants released from long-term industrial exposures and exhaust from vehicles could be one of the major risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of increasing premature deaths and global disease burden. Studies have also found that long-term exposure to that P.M2.5 and Ozone concentration can cause morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine the association between these two specific air pollutants and incident rates of adult diabetes at the county level. Methods: County-level data for ozone, PM2.5, adult Type 2 diabetes diagnosed patient numbers and other relevant confounding factors were collected from the Georgia Health Data Hub (2011-2018). The total number of counties analyzed in Georgia was 159. The dependent variable “Adults diagnosed with diabetes” was the total number of adults diagnosed with diabetes daily at County-level. The independent variable “Ambient daily ozone concentration” was reported by the county-level National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone per million (ppm) averaged over 8 hours. The independent variable “PM2.5” was reported as the county-level mean annual concentration of smaller than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter fine suspended particles. The first control variable was “percentage nonfarm” reported as a county-level percentage total number of nonfarm jobs. The second control variable, “percentage aged 25-44years” was county-level total percentages of people between the age group of 25-44 years. One sample KS (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test) was significant. Therefore, a negative binomial regression test was conducted to examine the association between the dependent variable- adults diagnosed with diabetes annual cases by county with total county population as the offset, and two independent county-level variables: ambient daily ozone concentration and P.M 2.5, while controlling for age and non-farm jobs. Finally, the incidence rates ratios (IRR) were also calculated. Result: The results show that at the County level, a 1% increase in ambient daily ozone concentration was associated with a 24% increase in adults diagnosed with diabetes (IRR=1.24, CI=1.09-1.41), and a 1% increase in the percentage of non-farm jobs was associated with 2% (IRR=1.02, CI=1.01-1.03) rise in adults diagnosed with diabetes. Similarly, a 1% increase in P.M 2.5 was associated with a 37% increase in adults diagnosed with diabetes (IRR=1.37, CI=1.06-1.76), 1% increase in the percentage of non-farm jobs was associated with 2% (IRR=1.02, CI=1.01-1.03) rise in the percentage of adults diagnosed with diabetes. Discussion: Our findings are consistent with the previous results reported from China and the United States suggesting that long-term ozone exposures could be associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, our findings suggest that ozone concentration and PM2.5 increase the risk for adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes based on the calculated IRRs. In addition, the percentage of people with non-farm jobs exposed to ozone and PM2.5 had higher IRR values for adults with type 2 Diabetes. The limitation is that it is an ecological study and that there may be other confounders that were not identified which may affect the outcome. Additionally, County-level exposure may not accurately reflect individual exposures because ambient air pollution interventions are likely to happen at the community level rather than at the individual level, which may not address the individual exposure-outcome response. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of significant associations between two specific air pollutants (i.e., PM2.5 and ozone concentrations) and IRR of adults with type 2 diabetes. The findings are important because the evidence regarding the contribution of air pollution to the diabetes burden in Georgia is lacking and people with non-farm jobs exposed to these specific air pollutants have higher chances of developing type 2 diabetes. It is essential that further research needs to be conducted on the biological mechanisms of the association between these specific air pollutants and type 2 diabetes development. Stakeholders in the governing agency should review air pollutants regulations policies to limit the exposures of these two air pollutants among the diabetic worker population in Georgia

Associations between Average ozone, PM2.5 levels and Asthma among Medicare Beneficiaries in the State of Georgia

Background:The most at-risk populations for respiratory diseases due to air pollution are children, pregnant women, immune compromised, and anyone over the age of 65 including Medicare beneficiaries. Findings have seen that both ozone and PM2.5 are among the main air pollutants related to this adverse health effect. The objective of this study was to follow the Medicare beneficiary population in the state of Georgia, USA who are over the age of 65 concerning their asthma in relation to air pollutants. The main purpose was to determine the association between ozone,PM2.5 levels and the prevalence of asthma in elderly people in Georgia. Methods:This study used data from Georgia Rural Health Hub with data from 2010-2019. The total number of counties analyzed in Georgia was 159. Descriptive statistics and linear regression method were utilized to examine the associations between percentage of beneficiaries diagnosed with Asthma as a dependent variable; average ambient ozone concentration (ppm) and average P.M2.5 concentration (µg/m3) as the independent variables, while controlling for confounders such as smoking and age. Results:The results show a significant association between the percentage of beneficiaries diagnosed with asthma and average daily ambient particulate matter (P.M 2.5) P\u3c.05. For a unit increase in average daily particulate matter, there was a 0.3-fold decrease in the percentage of beneficiaries with asthma. There was also a significant association between the percentage of beneficiaries diagnosed with asthma and the percentage of adults aged 65+ ,P,\u3e.05. For every unit increase in percentage population aged 65+ years, there was a 0.1 percent decrease in Medicare beneficiaries with asthma. Conclusion:The study findings conclude that asthma in elderly people is likely to be less influenced by air pollutants such as PM2.5 and ozone. The possible reasons could be less exposures of elderly people to ambient air pollutants and their more confined stay in indoor environments

Airborne Particulate Matter in a Ready-mix Concrete Plant and Assessment of a New Air Curtain Technology for Protecting Workers From Dust Exposures

Background and ObjectivesReady-mix concrete (RMC) workers are at increased risk of respiratory diseases. Little is known about RMC workers’ exposure to particulate matter (PM) and adequate respiratory protection. The study objectives were to investigate PM exposure levels in a large RMC plant and to assess workplace protection factors (WPF) against PM of different sizes with a new patented air curtain technology. This technology was considered because during hot working conditions the cooling air curtain can prevent heat fatigue providing double benefits for worker safety. MethodsConcentrations of airborne PM of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10µm sizes near workers\u27 (n=10) breathing zone were determined (10x6=60 measurements) during the active work hours by using a 23V750 particle counter. Same PM concentrations were simultaneously measured inside the air curtain (90 CFM) mounted in a helmet for these workers when they were wearing this helmet using a second particle counter. The WPFs were calculated, and a questionnaire survey determined workers\u27 perceptions of the user friendliness of the helmet immediately after the tests. ResultsThe concentrations of 0.3, 2.5, and 10µm particles, which are often regulated in workplaces, were 103,085±81,409/m(3), 624±512/m(3), and 54±66/m(3), respectively. Corresponding WPF\u3e1 was observed in 32, 29, and 27 measurements, and the highest WPF observed was 3.29 for 10µm particle. ≥60% ‘strongly agree’ responses from workers were obtained for ‘easy to put on’, ‘not difficult to communicate’, ‘no breathing resistance’, ‘no excess noise, vibration, pressure, or tightness’ related questions. ConclusionsSubmicron 0.3µm particle concentrations reached up to 10(7)/m(3), whereas PM2.5 and PM10 reached up to 10(3)/m(3) and 10(2)/m(3). Mixed results on WPFs were observed for the air curtain technology, possibly due to windy conditions and lower openings in the curtain. In general, workers agreed that the air curtain technology is user-friendly during the work at RMC plant