Efficacy of point source legislation quantified for a 64-year river water quality trajectory of phosphorus loading.

Changes in river water quality often follow typical trajectories characterized by sequential phases of degradation and recovery induced by management measures, typically achieved with combinations of legislative and technological interventions. However, the key question about the effectiveness of the different types of legal interventions - source control, use-related, and end-of-pipe - remains poorly understood. With the case of phosphorus (P), which is a valuable indicator of surface water quality and a widespread target of legislation at various governance levels in order to control eutrophication of water bodies, we quantified the relation between point source loading of P and resulting river water quality for a multidecadal trajectory of the river Ruhr (Germany). In particular, we analysed P-related legislation targeting point source pollution enforced at EU, national, state, and local level and linked their development with measured total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the river Ruhr (Germany). To this end, we combined archival data with information in the literature and conducted interviews with contemporary witnesses to describe and quantify the efficacy of each legislative approach. Although not specifically targeted at P reduction, end-of-pipe measures (sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP)) reduced TP inputs to surface waters already in the 1960s and 1970s, curbing TP inputs to the Ruhr by 38% in 1980. The first targeted source control legislation - the banning of phosphates in textile detergents in 1981 - effectively reduced TP concentrations in WWTP influents by 36% since 1990. In combination with stronger end-of-pipe legislation focusing on P elimination in WWTP since the 1990s, TP concentrations in WWTP effluents were reduced by 86% at the end of the 1990s and by 92% in 2021. Complete and successful source control for textile detergents made use-related legislation redundant. Our study demonstrates that source control measures should be prioritized, because they are the fastest way to curb emissions. These findings provide insights that can inform efficient decision-making regarding water quality in a trajectory perspective of hierarchical governance and technological needs, as well as effective policy-making and management for other pollutants requiring control from point sources.

Can conventional forages be replaced with cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum) wastes in fattening lambs? Laboratory and animal studies.

The cotton plant (Gossypium hirsutum) is a shrub native to many arid and semi-arid regions around the world, while the nutritional value of its wastes has been less scientifically investigated. Different components of whole cotton plant wastes (WCPW) including leaf blade, cotton pod, stem, root, bract, petiole, and cottonseed were evaluated for their nutritional values by standard laboratory methods. After that, we tested the WCPW for partial substitution (0, 20, 40, and 60% substitution or 0, 10, 20, and 30% of dietary dry matter (DM)) with dietary common forage in a completely randomized design with 32 feedlot male lambs for 90 days. A diverse range of chemical and mineral compositions was found among the different WCPW's components. The cottonseed had the highest crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) contents, while the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were observed in the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). The highest contents of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, and iron were also observed in the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). Higher potential gas production, in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD), in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) were also related to the leaf blade (P < 0.0001). Bract had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (P < 0.0001). The lambs fed on 30% of dietary DM with WCPW exhibited lower final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), CP or NDF digestibility, ruminal TVFA, propionate, plasma total protein, and higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group. Generally, WCPW can be substituted up to 40% of common forages (or 20% of diet DM) without any adverse effect on growth performance and blood metabolites of feedlot lambs, especially during feed shortages.

Can dietary magnesium sources and buffer change the ruminal microbiota composition and fermentation of lactating dairy cows?

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is one of the most used Mg supplements in livestock. However, to avoid relying upon only one Mg source, it is important to have alternative Mg sources. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the interaction of two Mg sources with buffer use on the ruminal microbiota composition, ruminal fermentation, and nutrient digestibility in lactating dairy cows. Twenty lactating Holstein cows were blocked by parity and days in milk into five blocks with four cows each, in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Within blocks, cows were assigned to one of four treatments: 1) MgO; 2) MgO + Na sesquicarbonate (MgO+); 3) calcium-magnesium hydroxide (CaMgOH); 4) CaMgOH + Na sesquicarbonate (CaMgOH+). For 60 d, cows were individually fed a corn silage-based diet, and treatments were top-dressed. Ruminal fluid was collected via an orogastric tube, for analyses of the microbiota composition, volatile fatty acids (VFA), lactate, and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). The microbiota composition was analyzed using V4/16S rRNA gene sequencing, and taxonomy was assigned using the Silva database. Statistical analysis was carried out following the procedures of block design analysis, where block and cow were considered random variables. Effects of Mg source, buffer, and the interaction between Mg Source × Buffer were analyzed through orthogonal contrasts. There was no interaction effect of the two factors evaluated. There was a greater concentration of NH3-N, lactate, and butyrate in the ruminal fluid of cows fed with CaMg(OH)2, regardless of the buffer use. The increase in these fermentation intermediates/ end-products can be explained by an increase in abundance of micro-organisms of the genus Prevotella, Lactobacillus, and Butyrivibrio, which are micro-organisms mainly responsible for proteolysis, lactate-production, and butyrate-production in the rumen, respectively. Also, dietary buffer use did not affect the ruminal fermentation metabolites and pH; however, an improvement of the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral fiber detergent (NDF), and acid fiber detergent (ADF) were found for animals fed with dietary buffer. In summary, there was no interaction effect of buffer use and Mg source, whereas buffer improved total tract apparent digestibility of DM and OM through an increase in NDF and ADF digestibility and CaMg(OH)2 increased ruminal concentration of butyrate and abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is extensively used as a dietary magnesium (Mg) source in dairy cow diets. However, dairy operations can benefit from other Mg sources. Thus, we evaluated the replacement of dietary MgO with calcium­magnesium hydroxide (CaMg(OH)2) in diets with and without ruminal buffer and their effects on the ruminal microbiota composition, ruminal fermentation, and nutrient digestibility in lactating dairy cows. The study used 20 lactating Holstein cows that were blocked in groups of four and randomly assigned to one of the four treatments. The ruminal content, feed, feces, and urine were collected for analysis of the microbiota composition, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen metabolism, and apparent nutrient digestibility. There was no interaction effect of dietary buffer use and Mg source, while buffer improved total tract apparent digestibility of the dry matter and fiber components; CaMg(OH)2 increased the ruminal concentration of butyrate and the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria. In summary, we conclude that using CaMg(OH)2 can improve ruminal fermentation regardless of buffer use, which indicates that we can take advantage of the mineral formulation in the diet to modulate the ruminal microbiota composition.

Prediction of methane per unit of dry matter intake in growing and finishing cattle from the ratio of dietary concentrations of starch to neutral detergent fiber alone or in combination with dietary concentration of ether extract.

Previous research demonstrated that a fixed value of 0.2433 (SE = 0.0134) Mcal of CH4/kg of dry matter intake (DMI) could be used to predict CH4 production with accuracy and precision on par with similar equations in the literature. Slope bias was substantially less for the fixed-coefficient equation than noted for the other DMI- or gross energy intake (GEI)-based equations, but mean bias was substantially greater, presumably reflecting the failure of the fixed-coefficient approach to account for dietary factors that affect CH4 production. In this article, we report on the use of the dietary ratio of concentrations of starch to neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dietary ether extract (EE) concentration to improve the accuracy and precision of the fixed-coefficient equation. The same development data set used to create the fixed-coefficient equation was used in the present study, which included 134 treatment means from 34 respiration calorimetry studies. Based on stepwise regression with dietary NDF, starch, crude protein, EE, and the starch:NDF ratio as possible dependent variables, the starch:NDF ratio and EE were the only dietary variables selected (P ≤ 0.15). The study-adjusted relationship with the starch:NDF ratio (r2 = 0.673; root mean square error [RMSE] = 0.0327) was: Mcal of CH4/kg of DMI = 0.2883 - 0.03474 × starch:NDF; whereas the relationship with a model that included both starch:NDF ratio and dietary EE (r2 = 0.738; RMSE = 0.0315) was: Mcal of CH4/kg of DMI = 0.3227 - 0.0334 × starch:NDF - 0.00868 × % EE. A previously published independent data set with 129 treatment means from 30 respiration calorimetry studies was used to evaluate these two equations, along with two additional equations in which g/d of CH4 was predicted directly from DMI, starch:NDF ratio, and/or dietary EE. The two Mcal of CH4/kg of DMI equations had superior fit statistics to the previously published 0.2433 Mcal of CH4/kg of DMI equation, with a substantial decrease in mean bias and improved concordance correlation coefficients. Moreover, the Mcal of CH4/kg of DMI equations resulted in improved fit relative to direct prediction of g/d of CH4 from DMI, the starch:NDF ratio, and % EE. Based on these results, further evaluation of the dietary ratio of starch-to-NDF concentrations and EE concentration to predict methane production per unit DMI in beef cattle is warranted.

Accurate and precise equations to predict enteric methane production are an important tool as the beef industry works to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. We predicted the megacalories of methane per unit of dry matter intake using data from growing and finishing beef and dairy steers and heifers. The predicted value was then multiplied by dry matter intake to estimate methane production. The most important predictor variables were the ratio of dietary starch to neutral detergent fiber concentrations and dietary ether extract concentration. When tested with an independent data set, predicting methane per unit dry matter intake from the ratio of starch to neutral detergent fiber, with or without the addition of dietary ether extract as a predictor variable, yielded better fits to the independent data set than equations in which the daily production of methane was predicted directly from dry matter intake, the ratio of starch to neutral detergent fiber, and/or dietary ether extract. Predictions could potentially be further refined by adjusting the starch component of the ratio for degradability in the rumen (e.g., degree of gelatinization or processing) and the neutral detergent fiber content for the contributions from roughage vs. grains and grain byproducts.

Effects of detergents on natural ecosystems and wastewater treatment processes: a review.

Among the different contaminants, detergent as an important pollutant has serious risks to natural ecosystems. Furthermore, detergents can pass into the wastewater treatment plants and have bad effect on their performance. They are part of human life and consumed for different aims especially hygienic purposes. Therefore, detergent components can enter to soil and water bodies from different sources. Detergents affect fauna and flora, and they have direct and indirect effects on ecosystems. Eutrophication, foaming, and altering parameters such as temperature, salinity, turbidity, and pH are more important, and their effects need to be managed and controlled. Researchers confirmed that aerobic processes are able to degrade the most of detergents but anaerobic degradation is not possible because of restricted metabolic pathways and toxicity of them. Therefore, production of environment-friendly detergent is an important issue around the world. Graphical abstract.

Influence of different acid and alkaline cleaning agents on the effects of irrigation of synthetic dairy factory effluent on soil quality, ryegrass growth and nutrient uptake.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of replacement of phosphoric acid with nitric or acetic acid, and replacement of NaOH with KOH, as cleaning agents in dairy factories, on the effects that irrigation of dairy factory effluent (DFE) has on the soil-plant system. A 16-week greenhouse study was carried out in which the effects of addition of synthetic dairy factory effluent containing (a) milk residues alone or milk residues plus (b) H(3)PO(4)/NaOH, (c) H(3)PO(4)/HNO(3)/NaOH or (d) CH(3)COOH/KOH, on soil's chemical, physical and microbial properties and perennial ryegrass growth and nutrient uptake were investigated. The cumulative effect of DFE addition was to increase exchangeable Na, K, Ca, Mg, exchangeable sodium percentage, microbial biomass C and N and basal respiration in the soil. Dry matter yields of ryegrass were increased by additions of DFE other than that containing CH(3)COOH. Plant uptake of P, Ca and Mg was in the same order as their inputs in DFE but for Na; inputs were an order of magnitude greater than plant uptake. Replacement of NaOH by KOH resulted in increased accumulation of exchangeable K. The effects of added NaOH and KOH on promoting breakdown of soil aggregates during wet sieving (and formation of a < 0.25 mm size class) were similar. Replacement of H(2)PO(4) by HNO(3) is a viable but CH(3)COOH appears to have detrimental effects on plant growth. Replacement of NaOH by KOH lowers the likelihood of phytotoxic effects of Na, but K and Na have similar effects on disaggregation.

Quantifying the anthropogenic fraction of fatty alcohols in a terrestrial environment.

Fatty alcohols are naturally produced hydrocarbons present in all living organisms. They are also used in detergent and cosmetic formulations, may be sourced from either petroleum or biological materials, and are typically disposed of down the drain. This study was conducted on the Luray catchment, Virginia, USA, where sales data indicate that approximately 2 kg of fatty alcohols from detergent enter the wastewater every day. Reconstructing fatty alcohols in the influent on the basis of sales data indicated a mix of odd and even chain compounds, with C(12) being dominant. This profile was influenced strongly by liquid laundry detergents (69%). Sediment and soil samples from the catchment were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry to determine the δ(13)C and δ(2)H signatures. The long-chain components in agricultural soils and river sediments were distinguishable clearly from the algal fatty alcohols produced within the river system. The wastewater was a mixture of fecal and detergent sources of fatty alcohols in a ratio of 75:25%. The fatty alcohols in the effluent had different stable isotopic signatures and chain-length profiles from the influent, indicating that these compounds are not the same as those that entered the treatment plant. The total quantity of fatty alcohols leaving the treatment plant through the effluent pipe was low compared with the input. Analysis of the contributions based on the stable isotopes and profiles suggests that of the fatty alcohols present in the river system downstream of the treatment plant, 84% were derived from terrestrial plant production, 15% came from in situ algal synthesis, and 1% were derived from the effluent.

Corn steep liquor as a nutrition adjunct for the production of Aspergillus niger lipase and hydrolysis of oils thereof.

Corn steep liquor (CSL) has been used as a nutrition adjunct for the production of an extracellular lipase from Aspergillus niger, which has immense importance as an additive in laundry detergent formulations. A five-level four-factorial central composite design was chosen to determine the optimal medium components with four critical variables, namely, CSL, NH4H2PO4, Na2HPO4, and sesame oil, that were found to be influential for lipase production by the classical one-factor-at-a-time method. The model suggested that all of the factors chosen had a significant impact on lipase production, and the optimum values of the influential parameters were CSL, 2.0%, w/v; NH4H2PO4, 0.05%, w/v; Na2HPO4, 0.75%, w/v; and sesame oil, 2.0%, w/v, with an activity of 26.7 U/mL at 48 h and 30 degrees C, which was 2.16-fold higher than the initial activity (12 U/mL) obtained by the conventional one-factor-at-a-time method. Furthermore, the enzyme has good potential for the hydrolysis of vegetable oils and fish oils, and a hydrolytic ratio of 88.73% was obtained with palm oil at 48 h. The utilization of CSL and sesame oil for lipase production from A. niger makes the process green, because both are renewable substrates and economically viable at an industrial scale.

Olive stone an attractive source of bioactive and valuable compounds.

The olive stone and seed are an important byproduct generated in the olive oil extraction and pitted table olive industries. As a lignocellulosic material, the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin are the main components of olive stone as wells as protein, fat, phenols, free sugars and poliols composition. The main use of this biomass is as combustion to produce electric energy or heat. Other uses such as activated carbon, furfural production, plastic filled, abrasive and cosmetic or other potential uses such as biosorbent, animal feed or resin formation have been cited. In this article, an overview of the characterization and main uses of olive stone and seed are described for the first time. Also, this review discusses the potential use of this material based on each component. In this way, a new approach to the olive stone and seed by pretreating with a steam explosion followed by chemical fractionation is described.

Wastewater quality relationships with reuse options.

The trend towards reuse of effluent for land application of domestic and industrial wastewater is driven by the need to maximise limited water resources and benefit from the plant nutrients available in the effluent. Of significant impact upon the value of the wastewater for reuse is its chemical properties as well as biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids. While the sewage treatment plant is expected to treat all wastewater received to a minimum environmental standard, no efforts are given to reducing the chemical load derived from uses of chemicals in the domestic household. That the regulation of industry and commerce far exceeds those of the combined effects of thousands of household is remiss of environmental regulators. This paper examines the results of research into the more common sources of chemical additives to the wastewater stream. Twenty five potable water supplies are examined for their salt load, 20 liquid and 40 powder laundry detergents and five dishwashing products were used to simulate discharges to the sewer, measured for their phosphorus, salt and sodium concentrations. The results of the research indicate that choices in the products available for general use within the house can be made only where product labelling and consumer education is improved. Technical improvements in wastewater treatment are not the answer. The improvement in effluent quality will have significant beneficial effects upon land application areas and expand the range of reuse options available for commercial operations.

The choice of controls in toothpaste studies. The effect of a number of commercially available toothpastes compared to water on 4-day plaque regrowth.

Toothpastes have been shown to have an antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in vivo; this activity variably translates into a plaque inhibitory effect in vivo. Commercially available toothpastes have a complex chemical make-up and some contain additional chemicals for which improved effects against plaque have been claimed. The aim of this study was to assess the plaque inhibitory properties of 5 commercially available toothpastes compared to a rinse of water over 4 days. The study was a randomised, single-blind, cross-over design balanced for residual effects. Volunteers were rendered plaque-free at each baseline and rinsed for 1 min, under the supervision of an assistant, 2x a day with the allocated mouthrinse or toothpaste slurry. At the end of the 4-day test period, the plaque was disclosed and measured by plaque index and plaque area. The plaque measurements indicated a significant difference between the toothpastes. The order of efficacy was Colgate Total, Crest regular, Crest Tartar, Colgate regular, Colgate 0-6 gel and water. This confirms previously reported data confirming the plaque inhibitory properties of certain toothpastes compared to water. These data indicate that the choice of control toothpaste with which to compare toothpastes formulated for plaque control is important and could influence conclusions drawn from clinical trials of such products.