A segurança dos alimentos nos Centros de Tradições Gaúchas do Rio Grande do Sul / Food safety in the Centros de Tradições Gaúchas of Rio Grande do Sul

Os Centros de Tradições Gaúchas (CTG) são entidades de divulgação e perpetuação da cultura do Rio Grande do Sul. A produção de refeições nessas entidades ocorre nos ensaios dos grupos de danças tradicionais e nos eventos oferecidos à comunidade, como jantares. Sabendo do impacto das doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA) na saúde humana, o objetivo deste trabalho é identificar a adequação dos CTG às boas práticas para manipulação de alimentos (BPM), explorar quem são os responsáveis pelas atividades de manipulação de alimentos e identificar a frequência e o número da produção de refeições servidas nessas instituições. A Portaria SES-RS nº 78/2009 e um questionário de coleta de dados dos grupos de dança e da produção de refeições foram aplicados em 5 CTG do Rio Grande do Sul. Outros 17 CTG do estado responderam a um segundo questionário, semelhante ao primeiro, com adição de perguntas sobre controle sanitário. Obteve-se uma média de adequação às BPM de 38% entre os CTG. Verificou-se que são servidas, em média, 4 refeições por semana entre os ensaios das invernadas artísticas próximos a competições. Em 36% dos CTG, ocorrem de 2 a 3 eventos por trimestre com produção de refeições. Em 45% dos CTG, são servidas de 100 a 200 pessoas nos eventos. Em relação aos trabalhos na cozinha, apenas 23,5% dos CTG têm como responsáveis dessas atividades pessoas devidamente capacitadas. Sendo os CTG instituições sem fins lucrativos, a criação de programas para a garantia do alimento seguro nesses espaços se faz necessária.

Centros de Tradições Gaúchas (CTG) are entities for the dissemination and perpetuation of Rio Grande do Sul culture. The production of meals in these entities takes place in the rehearsals of traditional dance groups and in events offered to the community, such as dinners. Knowing the impact of the foodborne diseases in human health, the objective of this work is to identify the adequacy of CTG to good food handling practices, to explore who are responsibles for food handling activities and identify the frequency and number of meals served in these institutions. The Portaria SES-RS No. 78/2009 and a questionnaire for data collection from dance groups and meals production were applied in 5 CTG in Rio Grande do Sul. Another 17 CTG in the state answered a second questionnaire, similar to the first, with the addition of questions about sanitary control. The average compliance with good practices was 38% among the CTG. It was found that, on average, 4 meals are served per week between rehearsals of the dance groups close to competitions. In 36% of the CTG, 2 to 3 events are held per quarter with production of meals. In 45% of the CTG, the number of people served at the events varies from 100 to 200. Regarding the work in the kitchen, only 23.5% of the CTG have duly trained people for these activities. Given that CTG are non-profit institutions, the creation of programs to ensure food safety in these spaces is necessary.

Application of Sanitation Safety Planning in the Usage of Wastewater for Agriculture in Bangalore Urban District, India.

Context: Due to water scarcity, wastewater is used in agriculture in peri-urban areas. Aims and Settings: We aimed to assess the hazards associated with wastewater farming and develop an incremental improvement plan for the sanitation system of wastewater use for agriculture using Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP) in Bangalore urban district, India. Methods: Interviews and observations were conducted among 100 farmers in the Mugalur Gram Panchayat area. Results: Direct ingestion and ingestion after contact with wastewater due to inadequate hand hygiene are the routes of contact with wastewater. The control measures followed in the community are the cultivation of crops, which do not have direct contact with wastewater, furrow and drip irrigation, and restricted irrigation. Methods to mitigate the hazards are the provision of interval between final irrigation and consumption,washing of produce with freshwater before transportation to market, and hygienic cooking. Conclusion: Occupational hazards and risks associated with wastewater farming can be mitigated through the adoption of locally acceptable preventive measures.

Biochar from co-pyrolysis of biological sludge and woody waste followed by chemical and thermal activation: end-of-waste procedure for sludge management and biochar sorption efficiency for anionic and cationic dyes.

Nine biochars were produced by co-pyrolysis of sawdust and biological sludge following the "design of experiment" approach. Two kinds of sludge (both deriving from the treatment of mixed industrial-municipal wastewater) and two types of woody waste were selected as categorical predicting variables, while contact time, pyrolysis temperature, and sludge percentage were used as quantitative variables. Biochars were analysed for their product characteristics and environmental compatibility based on the European Standards (EN 12915-1:2009) for materials intended for water treatment (i.e. ash content, water leachable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and elements), as well as for specific surface area (SSA), using them as response variables of a multivariate partial least square multiple regression, whose results provided interesting insights on the relationships between pyrolysis conditions and biochar characteristics. Biochars produced with sludge and/or providing the highest SSA values (258-370 m2 g-1) were selected to undergo a sustainable chemical treatment using a by-product of the gasification of woody biomass, complying in all cases with European Standards and achieving therefore the end-of-waste status for sewage sludge. The biochar deriving from the highest percentage of sludge (30% by weight) and with the highest SSA (390 m2 g-1) was thermally activated achieving SSA of 460 m2 g-1 and then tested for the sorption of direct yellow 50 and methylene blue in ultrapure water and real wastewater, compared to a commercial activated carbon (AC). The biochar showed Langmuir sorption maxima (Qm) 2-9 times lower than AC, thus highlighting promising sorption performances. Qm for methylene blue in wastewater (28 mg‧g-1) was confirmed by column breakthrough experiments.

Study on efficiency and mechanism of ultrasonic controlling membrane fouling in ceramic membrane bioreactors.

In recent years, ceramic membranes have been increasingly used in membrane bioreactors (MBRs). However, membrane fouling was still the core issue restricting the large-scale engineering application of ceramic MBRs. As a novel and alternative technology, ultrasonic could be used to control membrane fouling. This research focused on the efficiency and mechanism of ultrasonic controlling membrane fouling in ceramic MBRs. The results showed that ultrasonic reduced the sludge concentration in MBR, and the average particle size of sludge was always in a high range. The sludge activity of the system was stable at 6-9 (mg O2·(g MLSS·h)-1), indicating that ultrasonic did not destroy the activity of microorganisms in the system. The extracellular polymer substance (EPS) of the ultrasonic group was slightly higher than that of the control group, while the soluble microbial product (SMP) content was relatively stable. The ceramic membrane of the ultrasonic group has a partial retention effect on the organic components. The application of ultrasonic slowed down the decrease of the hydrophilicity of the ceramic membrane. The main pollutants on the membrane surface exist in the form of aromatic and heteroaromatic rings, alkynes, and so forth. Ultrasonic removes the amide substances from the membrane surface. Membrane fouling resistance is mainly due to membrane pore blockage, accounting for 75.53%. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Enrich the research on the mechanism of ultrasonic technology in membrane fouling control. The MBR can still operate normally with ultrasonic applied. The time for the ceramic membrane to reach the fouling end point is 2.4 times that without ultrasonic. The main cause of membrane fouling was pore blocking, accounting for 75.53%.

Sustainable use of composted sewage sludge: Metal(loid) leaching behaviour and material suitability for application on degraded soils.

Composted sewage sludge was investigated as a promising material for the reclamation or remediation of degraded sites. Using sewage sludge as soil amendment provides environmental benefits and risks while supporting circularity and waste minimisation. This study aims to comprehensively assess the suitability of locally available low-cost sludge treatment for sustainable and environmentally safe topsoil disposal in a brownfield area affected by coal mining. A nine-month composting was conducted before field application to the soil environment. The objectives were to assess: (i) composting time-dependent and pH-dependent metal(loid) leachability from composted sludges, (ii) the effect of sludges on metal(loid) leachability from soil over the first six months, and (iii) metal(loid) plant uptake during the first vegetation season as well as the bioaccumulation and translocation factors. The set of standardised leaching experiments confirmed the positive effect of compost maturity, i.e. despite some fluctuations over time, metal(loid) availability from the final composts was very low. Some metals showed unusual pH-dependent behaviour with the highest leachability at pH 8 due to excessive release of dissolved organic matter from the not-yet-stabilised matrix. Ecotoxicity testing confirmed the safety of the final composts for further soil application. The sludge-amended plots displayed similar metal(loid) leaching and pH evolution in time compared to the control biomass-amended plot. However, plant species (Artemisia vulgaris L.) that formed the natural vegetation cover of the experimental plots showed cumulative metal(loid) uptake. Cadmium and zinc were identified as the critical metals possibly related to the applied sludges, yielding high bioaccumulation and translocation factors. Yet, the quality of the compost feedstock, heterogeneity, and background values of the brownfield site need to be considered. Nevertheless, soil respiration indicated no adverse effects on soil health six months after sludge application. Overall, the composted material demonstrated potential suitability for remediation application in the studied area.

Sustainable Development Goals' health-related indicators for Brazil and Ecuador: an analysis for the period of 1990-2019.

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to analyse the evolution of 40 Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) health-related indicators in Brazil and Ecuador from 1990 to 2019. STUDY DESIGN: Epidemiological study of long-term trends in 40 SDGs' health-related indicators for Brazil and Ecuador from 1990 to 2019, using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study. METHODS: Forty SDGs' health-related indicators and an index from 1990 to 2017 for Brazil and Ecuador, and their projections up to 2030 were extracted from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Global Burden of Disease website and analysed. The percent annual change (PC) between 1990 and 2019 was calculated for both countries. RESULTS: Both countries have made progress on child stunting (Brazil: PC = -38%; Ecuador: PC = -43%) and child wasting prevalences (Brazil: PC = -42%; Ecuador: PC = -41%), percent of vaccine coverage (Brazil: PC = +215%; Ecuador: PC = +175%), under-5 (Brazil: PC = -75%; Ecuador: PC = -60%) and neonatal mortality rates (Brazil: PC = -69%; Ecuador: PC = -51%), health worker density per 1000 population (Brazil: PC = +153%; Ecuador: PC = +175%), reduction of neglected diseases prevalences (Brazil: PC = -40%; Ecuador: PC = -58%), tuberculosis (Brazil: PC = -27%; Ecuador: PC = -55%) and malaria incidences (Brazil: PC = -97%; Ecuador: PC = -100%), water, sanitation and hygiene mortality rates (Brazil and Ecuador: PC = -89%). However, both countries did not show sufficient improvement in maternal mortality ratio to meet SDGs targets (Brazil: PC = -37%; Ecuador: PC = -40%). Worsening of indicators were found for violence, such as non-intimate partner violence for both countries (Brazil: PC = +26%; Ecuador: PC = +18%) and suicide mortality rate for Ecuador (PC = +66%), child overweight indicator for Brazil (PC = -67%), disaster mortality rates (Brazil: PC = +100%; Ecuador: PC = +325%) and alcohol consumption (Brazil: PC = +46%; Ecuador: PC = +35%). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvements are necessary in both countries requiring the strengthening of health and other policies, particularly concerning the prevention and management of violence and alcohol consumption, and preparedness for dealing with environmental disasters.

Comparison of the efficiency of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and manual therapy in children with cerebral palsy with lower urinary system dysfunction- a randomized prospective trial.

INTRODUCTION: Neurological defects in children with cerebral palsy (CP) not only affect their motor skills but also lead to bladder and bowel problems. Although most children with CP have achieved urinary control, more than 50% of cases experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Common LUTS complaints observed in CP include delayed toilet training, urinary incontinence, increased frequency of urination, urgency, urinary hesitancy, and recurrent urinary tract infections. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to prospectively evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two different physiotherapy approaches, sacral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and massage, on lower urinary tract dysfunction in children with CP. METHOD: A total of 54 children with CP who had the Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVISS) of 8.5 or higher were included in the study. Children were randomized to the TENS (TG; n = 27) and Manual Therapy (MG; n = 27) groups. TENS application was performed 2 sessions in a week for 20 min for a total of 12 weeks. The electrodes used during the application were adhered bilaterally to the parasacral region (S2-S4). 4 electrodes of 5 × 5 cm were used. Classical bowel massage was applied to the MG with the friction massage technique twice a week for 12 weeks. Manual therapy applications were performed in the form of abdominal, colon, and friction massage, twice a week for 20 min by the physiotherapist. Massage was applied to the abdominal region between the lower subcostal border and the anterior superior iliac spine. Questionnaires were applied before and after treatment interventions: DVISS, functional bladder capacity (FBC), frequency of voiding, and urinary incontinence episodes evaluated by bladder diary, Bristol Gaita Scale, and Pediatric Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (PIN-Q) used. RESULTS: The decrease in the episodes of incontinence was higher in the TG (p = 0.037; p < 0.05). FBC increased after treatment in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.683; p > 0.05). Manual therapy was more effective in improving constipation symptoms. In both groups, DVISS and PIN-Q values decreased after treatment, but the decrease in TG was statistically significant in the evaluation made between groups (p = 0.001; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Both parasacral TENS and massage provided a significant improvement in LUTS, constipation, and quality of life but TENS showed a bigger improvement. We suggest adding these interventions to the treatment of bladder and bowel problems in CP children.

Synergistic consideration of co-treatment of sewage sludge, low-rank coal, and straw for sustainable resource utilization and enhanced energy efficiency: a review.

This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the imperative necessity for coupling the utilization of low-rank coal, sewage sludge, and straw. It studies the challenges and limitations of individual utilization methods, addressing the unique hurdles associated with feedstocks. It focused on achieving integrated and sustainable resource management, emphasizing efficient resource utilization, waste minimization, and environmental impact reduction. The investigation extends to the intricate details of reaction processes in co-processing, with a specific emphasis on the drying of raw materials to enhance combustion characteristics. The molding and preparation of feedstock are dissected, encompassing raw material selection, mixing, and the crucial addition of additives and binders. The proportions and homogenization of these feedstocks are intricately examined for uniformity and effectiveness. Furthermore, it presents theoretical approaches for investigating the co-combustion of these diverse feedstocks, contributing a solid foundation for future studies in this dynamic field. The findings presented in it offer valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking sustainable solutions in the co-disposal technology of these feedstocks. Therefore, it provides a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in coupling the utilization of these selected feedstocks. By addressing individual limitations and emphasizing integrated resource management, the article establishes the groundwork for sustainable and efficient co-processing practices. The exploration of reaction processes gives a comprehensive framework for future research and application in the field of co-combustion technology. The insights gleaned from this study contribute significantly to advancing knowledge in the sustainable utilization of diverse feedstocks, guiding efforts towards environmentally responsible and resource-efficient practices.

Food safety and dietary diversity in African urban cities: evidence from Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Food safety is integral to food security and is increasingly becoming a significant concern in the urban areas of Africa, which are rapidly growing in population. In the case of Ghana, many urban households depend on traditional open-air markets for most of their food needs. However, these urban food markets also depend on domestic food supply chains, which are prone to risks, including poor hygiene and sanitation and weather seasonality. Food safety compliance has associated costs which increase the unit cost of food products. Thus, higher food price is a risk factor to food availability and accessibility-fundamental pillars of food security. METHOD: We use food microbial data and food retail data from food market surveys in major cities in Ghana to assess the safety of selected fresh food commodities and how retailers handle the food products they sell. Additionally, based on a two-wave balanced panel household data, we used fixed effects Poisson and Correlated Random Effects (CRE) Probit models to estimate the effect of weather seasonality on the incidence of diarrhoea and urban household dietary diversity score (HDDS). A final sample of 609 households and 565 market respondents participated in the study. RESULTS: Our findings show that selected food samples tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus and E.coli and had aflatoxin B1 levels above 5.0 ppb. Additionally, the household incidence of diarrhoea/vomiting, a proxy for food safety status, is higher in the dry season. In the dry season, the household incidence of diarrhoea/vomiting increases on average by a probability of 38% points compared to the rainy season. Regarding HDDS, the average HDDS is 7.3; however, we did not find the effect of seasonality on HDDS to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although urban food availability and household dietary diversity are not challenges for many urban households, food safety is a challenge in the major food markets in Ghanaian cities and is associated with weather seasonality. Foods available in traditional open-air markets are not always safe for consumption, undermining households' food security. Weak enforcement of food safety regulations contributes to the food safety challenges in Ghanaian urban food markets.

Cotton-derived three-dimensional carbon fiber aerogel with hollow nanocapsules and ultrahigh adsorption efficiency in dynamic sewage treatment system.

An ultralight 3D carbon fiber aerogel with good flexibility is developed via soaking cotton in water and then calcinating at a high temperature. This cotton-derived carbon material is constituted by amorphous carbon and retains slight oxygen-containing groups. Besides, a lot of hollow carbon nanocapsules are yielded on the inside surface, resulting in abundant micropores and mesopores. Systemic investigations explore the molecular transformation from cotton to carbon fiber, and the formation of carbon nanocapsules. In the adsorption process for methyl orange (MO), this carbon fiber aerogel exhibits both a rapid adsorption rate and the ultrahigh adsorbability of 862.9 mg/g, outclassing most of carbon materials reported. Therefore, a dynamic sewage treatment system is built and consecutively removes hydrosoluble pollution for a long-term running time. For the cotton-derived carbon fiber aerogel, the good mechanical flexibility, excellent adsorption property, and high stability jointly provide a vast application prospect in future industrial wastewater remediation.

Enhancing wastewater treatment efficiency: A hybrid technology perspective with energy-saving strategies.

The study aimed to investigate how hybrid technology, combined with various intermittent aeration (IA) strategies, contributes to reducing the energy costs of wastewater treatment while simultaneously ensuring a high treatment efficiency. Even with IA subphases lasting half as long as those without aeration, and oxygen levels reduced from 3.5 to 1.5 mg O2/L, pollutants removal efficiency remains robust, allowing for a 1.41-fold reduction in energy consumption (EO). Hybrid technology led to a 1.34-fold decrease in EO, along with improved denitrification efficiency from 74.05 ± 4.71 to 81.87 ± 2.43 % and enhanced biological phosphorus removal from 35.03 ± 4.25 to 87.32 ± 3.64 %. The high nitrification efficiency may have been attributed to the abundance of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Rhodococcus, which outcompeted the genera of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, suggesting that the hybrid system is favorable for the growth of heterotrophic nitrifiers.

Enhanced aerobic granular sludge with micro-electric field for sulfamethoxazole degradation: Efficiency, mechanism, and microbial community.

In this study, an aerobic granular sludge electrochemical system (AGES) was established by applying the micro-electric field to an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) reactor for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). Under the stimulation of the micro-electric field, the granulation of sludge was improved and the degradation rate of SMZ was enhanced. The features of granular sludge were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The optimal degradation rate of SMZ (88%) was obtained at the voltage of 3 V and the effective electrode area of 800 mm2. The results of kinetics analyses revealed that the degradation of SMZ by AGES can be fitted with the second-order kinetic equation, showing a degradation rate constant (k) of 0.001 L mol-1·min-1. The degradation products of SMZ in the AGES system were detected by LC-MS and their possible degradation routes were elucidated. The micro-electric field in the AGES system played a selective role in microbes' enrichment and growth, changing the diversity of the microbial community. Pseudomonas, Tolumonas, and Acidovorax were the dominant bacteria in the AGES system, which is accountable for the abatement of SMZ and nutrients. This work provides a green means for improving AGS and paves the way for applying the AGS process to real-world wastewater treatment.

Excess sludge-based biochar loaded with manganese enhances catalytic ozonation efficiency for landfill leachate treatment.

This study developed an efficient and stable landfill leachate treatment process, which was based on the combination of biochar catalytic ozonation and activated sludge technology for intensive treatment of landfill leachate, aiming to achieve the standard discharge of leachate. The focus is to investigate the effect of manganese loading on the physicochemical properties of biochar and the mechanism of its catalytic ozonation. It was found that more surface functional groups (CO, Mn-O, etc.) and defects (ID/IG = 1.27) were exposed via the change of original carbon structure by loading Mn, which is conducive to the generation of lattice oxygen. Meanwhile, generating different valence states of Mn metal can improve the redox properties and electron migration rate, and encourage the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the reaction process and enhance the catalytic efficiency. The synergistic action of microorganisms, especially denitrifying bacteria, was found to play a key role in the degradation of nitrogenous pollutants during the activated sludge process. The concentration of NH+4-N was reduced from the initial 1087.03 ± 9.56 mg/L to 9.05 ± 1.91 mg/L, while COD was reduced from 2290 ± 14.14 mg/L to 86.5 ± 2.12 mg/L, with corresponding removal rates of 99.17% and 99.20%, respectively. This method offers high efficiency and stability, achieving discharge standards for leachate (GB16889-2008). The synergy between Mn-loaded biochar and microorganisms in the activated sludge is key to effective treatment. This study offers a new approach to solving the challenge of waste leachate treatment.

Development of an environmentally sustainable technique to minimize the sludge production in the textile effluent sector through an electrokinetic (EK) coupled with electrooxidation (EO) approach.

This study presents an environmentally sustainable method for minimizing sludge production in the textile effluent sector through the combined application of electrokinetic (EK) and electrooxidation (EO) processes. AAS and XRF analyses reveal that utilizing acidic electrolytes in the EK method successfully eliminates heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, and Cr) from sludge, demonstrating superior efficiency compared to alkaline conditions. In addition, the total removal efficiency of COD contents was calculated following the order of EK-3 (60%), EK-1 (51%) and EK-2 (34%). Notably, EK-3, leveraging pH gradient fluctuations induced by anolyte in the catholyte reservoir, outperforms other EK systems in removing COD from sludge. The EK process is complemented by the EO process, leading to further degradation of dye and other organic components through the electrochemical generation of hypochlorite (940 ppm). At an alkaline pH of 10.0, the color and COD removal were effectively achieved at 98 and 70% in EO treatment, compared to other mediums. In addition, GC-MS identified N-derivative residues at the end of the EO. This study demonstrates an integrated approach that effectively eliminates heavy metals and COD from textile sludge, combining EK with EO techniques.

Surface reconstructed Fe@C1000 for enhanced Fenton-like catalysis: Sustainable ciprofloxacin degradation and toxicity reduction.

The Fe-based catalysts typically undergo severe problems such as deactivation and Fe sludge emission during the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, which commonly leads to poor operation and secondary pollution. Herein, an S-doped Fe-based catalyst with a core-shell structure (Fe@CT, T = 1000°C) was synthesized, which can solve the above issues via the dynamic surface evolution during the reaction process. Specifically, the Fe0 on the surface of Fe@C1000 could be consumed rapidly, leaving numerous pores; the Fe3C from the core would subsequently migrate to the surface of Fe@C1000, replenishing the consumed active Fe species. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses demonstrated that the reaction surface reconstructed during the PMS activation, which involved the FeIII in-situ reduction by S species as well as the depletion/replenishment of effective Fe species. The reconstructed Fe@C1000 achieved near-zero Fe sludge emission (from 0.59 to 0.08-0.23 mg L-1) during 5 cycles and enabled the dynamic evolution of dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) from SO4·- to FeIVO, sustainably improving the oxidation capacity (80.0-92.5% in following four cycles) to ciprofloxacin (CIP) and reducing the toxicity of its intermediates. Additionally, the reconstructed Fe@C1000/PMS system exhibited robust resistance to complex water matrix. This study provides a theoretical guideline for exploring surface reconstruction on catalytic activity and broadens the application of Fe-based catalysts in the contaminants elimination.

Characterization of a novel high-efficiency cracking Burkholderia gladiolus phage vB_BglM_WTB and its application in black fungus.

Burkholderia gladiolus (B. gladiolus) is foodborne pathogenic bacteria producing bongkrekic acid (BA), which causes food poisoning and has a mortality rate of up to 40 % or more. However, no drugs have been reported in the literature for the prevention and treatment of this infection. In this study, a phage was identified to control B. gladiolus. The novel phage vB_BglM_WTB (WTB), which lyse B. gladiolus with high efficiency, was isolated from sewage of Huaihe Road Throttle Well Sewage Treatment Plant in Hefei. Transmission electron microscopy showed that WTB had an icosahedral head (69 ± 2 nm) and a long retractable tail (108 ± 2 nm). Its optimal temperature and pH ranges to control B. gladiolus were 25 °C -65 °C and 3-11 respectively. The phage WTB was identified as a linear double-stranded DNA phage of 68, 541 bp with 60.04 % G + C content, with a long latent period of 60 min. Phylogenetic analysis and comparative genetic analysis indicated that phage WTB has low identity (<50 %) with other phages, with the highest similarity to Burkholderia phage Maja (25.7 %), which showed that it does not belong to any previous genera recognized by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and was a candidate for a new genus within the Caudoviricetes. We have submitted a new proposal to ICTV to create a new genus, Bglawtbvirus. No transfer RNA (tRNA), virulence associated and antibiotic resistance genes were detected in phage WTB. Experimental results indicated that WTB at 4 °C and 25 °C had excellent inhibition activity against B. gladiolus in the black fungus, with an inhibition efficiency of over 99 %. The amount of B. gladiolus in the black fungus was reduced to a minimum of 89 CFU/mL when treated by WTB at 25 °C for 2 h. The inhibition rate remained at 99.97 % even after 12 h. The findings showed that the phage WTB could be applied as a food-cleaning agent for enhancing food safety and contributed to our understanding of phage biology and diversity.

Value chain hygiene practices and microbial contamination of street and market vended ready-to-eat grasshopper, Ruspolia differens in Uganda: Implications for food safety and public health.

Food safety is a major public health issue particularly in developing countries. Ready-to-eat street-vended foods contribute significantly to dietary intake in urban and peri-urban areas, but with elevated public health risk. In this study, hygiene and food safety practices as well as the microbial contamination in Uganda's edible grasshopper value chain were evaluated."A total of 29 grasshopper-processing households participated, and grasshopper samples collected. Indicator pathogens were analyzed using standard microbiological methods. In Kampala 50% and in Masaka 12% households had earth floors. All households in Kampala were one or two-roomed dwellings with no separate room as a kitchen, and shared a toilet. In contrast, 59% of households in Masaka had three or more rooms, 35% had a separate room for a kitchen and 47% did not share a toilet. 83% households in Kampala and 56% in Masaka obtained drinking water from public taps. Handwashing was inadequate and none of the actors was observed to wash their hands after taking a break or handling waste. For vendors, wearing protective clothing was not common, with only 28.5% in Kampala and 30.8% in Masaka wearing an apron. Containers for vending grasshoppers were largely uncovered and the utensils for measuring the grasshoppers were left mainly uncovered. Indicator organisms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, were detected. E. coli was the most common contaminant, but with lower levels in Masaka compared to Kampala. S. typhimurium was mainly a burden in Kampala. Our findings demonstrate that there are enormous contributors to poor hygiene and sanitation along the edible grasshopper value chain. The existence of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli in ready-to-eat foods imply that their consumption poses a health risk.

Occurrence, removal efficiency, and emission of antibiotics in the sewage treatment plants of a low-urbanized basin in China and their impact on the receiving water.

Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are primary sources of antibiotics in aquatic environments. However, limited research has been conducted on antibiotic attenuation in STPs and their downstream waters in low-urbanized areas. This study analyzed 15 antibiotics in the STP sewage and river water in the Zijiang River basin to quantify antibiotic transport and attenuation in the STPs and downstream. The results showed that 14 target antibiotics, except leucomycin, were detected in the STP sewage, dominated by amoxicillin (AMOX), ofloxacin, and roxithromycin. The total antibiotic concentration in the influent and effluent ranged from 158 to 1025 ng/L and 99.9 to 411 ng/L, respectively. The removal efficiency of total antibiotics ranged from 54.7 % to 75.7 % and was significantly correlated with total antibiotic concentration in the influent. The antibiotic emission from STPs into rivers was 78 kg/yr and 4.6 g/km2yr in the Zijiang River basin. The total antibiotic concentration downstream of the STP downstream was 23.6 to 213 ng/L and was significantly negatively correlated with the transport distance away from the STP outlets. Antibiotics may pose a high ecological risk to algae and low ecological risk to fish in the basin. The risk of AMOX and ciprofloxacin resistance for organisms in the basin was estimated to be moderate. This study established antibiotic removal and attenuation models in STPs and their downstream regions in a low-urbanized basin, which is important for simulating antibiotic transport in STPs and rivers worldwide.

Comparison of different sewage sludge pretreatment technologies for improving sludge solubilization and anaerobic digestion efficiency: A comprehensive review.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge reduces organic solids and produces methane, but the complex nature of sludge, especially the difficulty in solubilization, limits AD efficiency. Pretreatments, by destroying sludge structure and promoting disintegration and hydrolysis, are valuable strategies to enhance AD performance. There is a plethora of reviews on sludge pretreatments, however, quantitative comparisons from multiple perspectives across different pretreatments remain scarce. This review categorized various pretreatments into three groups: Physical (ultrasonic, microwave, thermal hydrolysis, electric decomposition, and high pressure homogenization), chemical (acid, alkali, Fenton, calcium peroxide, and ozone), and biological (microaeration, exogenous bacteria, and exogenous hydrolase) pretreatments. The optimal conditions of various pretreatments and their impacts on enhancing AD efficiency were summarized; the effects of different pretreatments on microbial community in the AD system were comprehensively compared. The quantitative comparison based on dissolution degree of COD (DDCOD) indicted that the sludge solubilization performance is in the order of physical, chemical, and biological pretreatments, although with each below 40 % DDCOD. Biological pretreatment, particularly microaeration and exogenous bacteria, excel in AD enhancement. Pretreatments alter microbial ecology, favoring Firmicutes and Methanosaeta (acetotrophic methanogens) over Proteobacteria and Methanobacterium (hydrogenotrophic methanogens). Most pretreatments have unfavorable energy and economic outcomes, with electric decomposition and microaeration being exceptions. On the basis of the overview of the above pretreatments, a full energy and economy assessment for sewage sludge treatment was suggested. Finally, challenges associated with sludge pretreatments and AD were analyzed, and future research directions were proposed. This review may broaden comprehension of sludge pretreatments and AD, and provide an objective basis for the selection of sludge pretreatment technologies.

Characterizing the Opportunity Space for Sustainable Hydrothermal Valorization of Wet Organic Wastes.

Resource recovery from wet organic wastes can support circular economies by creating financial incentives to produce renewable energy and return nutrients to agriculture. In this study, we characterize the potential for hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)-based resource recovery systems to advance the economic and environmental sustainability of wastewater sludge, FOG (fats, oils, and grease), food waste, green waste, and animal manure management through the production of liquid biofuels (naphtha, diesel), fertilizers (struvite, ammonium sulfate), and power (heat, electricity). From the waste management perspective, median costs range from -193 $·tonne-1 (FOG) to 251 $·tonne-1 (green waste), and median carbon intensities range from 367 kg CO2 eq·tonne-1 (wastewater sludge) to 769 kg CO2 eq·tonne-1 (green waste). From the fuel production perspective, the minimum selling price of renewable diesel blendstocks are within the commercial diesel price range (2.37 to 5.81 $·gal-1) and have a lower carbon intensity than petroleum diesel (101 kg CO2 eq·MMBTU-1). Finally, through uncertainty analysis and Monte Carlo filtering, we set specific targets (i.e., achieve wastewater sludge-to-biocrude yield >0.440) for the future development of hydrothermal waste management system components. Overall, our work demonstrates the potential of HTL-based resource recovery systems to reduce the costs and carbon intensity of resource-rich organic wastes.