All Wastewater & Sanitation articles
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News
Researchers catalog the microbiome of US rivers
River microbes found near wastewater treatment plants expressed high levels of antibiotic resistance genes, reveals a study of the presence and function of microbes in rivers covering 90% of the watersheds in the continental U.S.
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Greener and cleaner: Yeast-green algae mix improves water treatment
Researchers have discovered that yeast and green algae form the best combination in terms of boosting wastewater treatment efficiency.
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Sewage surveillance proves powerful in combating antimicrobial resistance
A study is using sewage surveillance as a vital strategy in the fight against diseases that spread through the water such as legionella and shigella.
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Standard methodologies failing to accurately quantify fecal contamination across the globe, study warns
Standard risk assessment methodologies are significantly underestimating fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) loads in contaminated water, including recreational waters used for the 2024 Olympics, a new study reveals.
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Pathogens that cling to microplastics may survive wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment fails to kill several human pathogens when they hide out on microplastics in the water, reports a new study.
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Scientists examine how wastewater practices in Florida Keys impact water quality
A new study has tracked how wastewater nutrients migrate from disposal sites in the Florida Keys, and the results have already informed wastewater practices in the region.
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Effective wastewater surveillance methods for monitoring COVID-19 infection trends
A research team identified appropriate investigation methods for wastewater surveillance to accurately monitor regional COVID-19 infection trends.
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Tire-wear particles disrupt gut-liver function in aquatic organisms
Researchers have uncovered the adverse health effects of tire-wear particles (TWPs) on aquatic organisms. The study focused on the hepatotoxicity of TWP leachates, revealing significant impacts on the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels in test organisms.
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Study combines woodchips, microbes and biochar to clean water of pharmaceuticals
Researchers show how a simple system using microbially colonised woodchips and a bit of glorified sawdust can dramatically reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and multiple common drugs in wastewater.
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Materials of the future can be extracted from wastewater
Researchers are revolutionizing what biomass from wastewater treatment plants can be used for. Biopolymers from bacteria can be a sustainable alternative to oil-based products, and phosphorus and other minerals can also be harvested.
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Sludge sequencing reveals novel species and genetic diversity
A study sequencing activated sludge has unearthed a plethora of antibiotic resistance genes and has pointed to the existence of previously unknown microbial species.
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Plastic-eating enzyme identified in wastewater microbes
Plastic pollution is everywhere, and a good amount of it is composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET, ♳). This polymer is used to make bottles, containers and even clothing. Now, researchers report in ACS’s Environmental Science & Technology that they have discovered an enzyme that breaks apart PET ...
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Zooplankton go ‘Eew!’ to cleaning feces-contaminated water
Scientists were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton — tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria — present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms.
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Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food
Researchers have discovered how cells of a Comamonas bacterium break down plastic for food. First, they chew the plastic into small pieces, then secrete an enzyme that breaks down the plastic further, and finally use a ring of carbon atoms as a food source.
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Sewage secrets: economic factors shaping our microbiome exposed
A study examining examined 243 sewage samples from 60 countries across seven continents reveals the climatic and socioeconomic factors that drive microbial diversity and composition in sewage.
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Scientists boost denitrification of wastewater with biochar-based substrate
An innovative study has unveiled a substantial development in wastewater treatment technology. The innovative approach to improving denitrification in constructed wetlands uses a novel biochar-based substrate.
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Careers
A fresh perspective on phages - AMI intern Helen Kinchin opens up on her new PhD topic
What’s it like at the start of a career working with bacteriophages? Applied Microbiology International intern Helen Kinchin, who recently began a PhD at the University of Warwick, reveals her experiences.
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Wastewater monitoring can detect foodborne illness
Results of a new study suggest sewage monitoring could provide early warning of foodborne disease outbreaks to public health authorities.
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Origami paper sensors could help early detection of infectious diseases in low-cost test
Researchers have developed an innovative new method for identifying biomarkers in wastewater using origami-paper sensors, enabling the tracking of infectious diseases using the camera in a mobile phone.
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Scientists develop new method to analyze sewage data for epidemic monitoring
Researchers across Europe have developed a new method for analyzing data from wastewater which can help identify whether disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and antimicrobial resistance come from humans, animals, industry, or the environment.