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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 46932

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Soon-Jin Hwang

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
Interests: nutrient dynamics; harmful algae; biological water quality assessment; ecosystem health; lake and river management; periphyton; plankton food web; cyanobacterial akinete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Young-Seuk Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Ecology and Ecological Informatics, Department of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
Interests: ecological modeling; community ecology; ecosystem monitoring and assessment; invasion biology; aquatic ecosystem management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Ihn-Sil Kwak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Ocean Integrated Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Interests: biological stress response; molecular biomarker; food chain flow; benthos; chironomids; ecotoxicology; benthos risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is a complex environmental medium in which a variety of factors interact and thereby determine the condition. Poor water quality can not only pose a health risk for humans but also poses risks for ecosystems. Water quality monitoring is a fundamental tool in the management of water resources and provides crucial information characterizing the chemical, physical, and biological status of water, identifying emerging water quality problems. Therefore, it is important to understand water quality problems in the framework of water body integrity. Monitoring, analysis, and management of water quality are old but long-lasting themes in environmental disciplines. Moreover, emerging water quality problems have been increasingly recognized with intensifying land use, increasing water demand, eutrophication, chemical pollution, and climate change. Therefore, it is important to approach water quality and ecosystem management from a sustainability perspective.

This Special Issue focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding water quality and ecosystem monitoring, analysis, and management with respect to related subjects such as land use, eutrophication, chemical and heavy metal pollution, harmful microscopic organisms and their metabolites, ecosystem health, and climate change. We welcome submissions of research papers, systematic reviews, and technical and methodological papers to the Special Issue. We will also accept relevant manuscripts from different disciplines including toxicology, epidemiology, environmental risk and health impact assessment, and policy and intervention science.

The following are examples of topics that could be addressed in this Special Issue:

1. Contaminants at the source of ambient and drinking water:

Natural and anthropogenic contaminants
Microorganisms and harmful secondary metabolites (toxins and off-flavor substances)

2. Eutrophication and its effects:

Point and non-point sources of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and organic matter
Harmful cyanobacterial blooms

3. Meteoro-hydrological impacts:

Flooding and drought effects
Climate change

4. Water quality monitoring and assessment:

Chemical, physical, and biological water quality
Molecular indicators (e.g., environmental DNA)

5. Modeling and meta-analysis:

Water quality and ecosystem modeling
Long-term monitoring and meta-analysis

6. Interactions between chemicals and (micro)organisms

Pollutants of (micro)organisms
Water quality on human and ecosystem health

7. Land use and water quality

8. Freshwater restoration and management

9. Water policy, governance, and intervention

Prof. Dr. Soon-Jin Hwang
Prof. Dr. Young-Seuk Park
Prof. Dr. Ihn-Sil Kwak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

water quality
contaminants
eutrophication
land use
harmful organisms
ecosystem integrity
monitoring and assessment
modeling and meta-analysis
meteoro-hydrology

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

7 pages, 993 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Passability of Chironomid Larvae in Granular Activated Carbon

by Cha Young Lee, Jinseok Byeon, Min Kyung Kim, Tae-gwan Lee and Dong Gun Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 1005; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19021005 - 17 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1550

Abstract

We conducted an experiment to confirm the passability of chironomid larvae (Glyptotendipes tokunagai) in granular activated carbon (GAC) used in water treatment plants. After injecting larvae at different growth stages (first through fourth instars) into circular columns filled with GAC, the number of individuals and their locations within the GAC columns were recorded after 168 h. We found that more than 80% of the injected larvae in the first instar and 3.3% in the second instar passed, whereas none from the third and fourth instars had passed through the column. The second instar larvae were evenly distributed within the column, whereas the third and fourth instar larvae were mostly distributed within 10 cm of the upper layer of the GAC. Our results demonstrate the passability of chironomid larvae in GAC and can be used as basic information for water quality management in water treatment plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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10 pages, 2235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Expression of the Apolipoprotein AI Gene in Spotnape Ponyfish (Nuchequula nuchalis) Inhabiting Different Salinity Ranges at the Top of the Estuary and in the Deep-Bay Area of Gwangyang Bay, South Korea

by Kiyun Park, Won-Seok Kim, Bohyung Choi and Ihn-Sil Kwak

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010960 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

Spotnape ponyfish (Nuchequula nuchalis) is a dominant species that is broadly distributed from estuarine to deep-bay areas, reflecting a euryhaline habitat. Apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI) is a main component of plasma lipoproteins and has crucial roles in lipid metabolism and the defense immune system. In this study, we characterized the N. nuchalis ApoAI gene and analyzed the expression of the ApoAI transcript in N. nuchalis collected at various sites in the estuary and the deep-bay area which have different salinities. Owing to the fish’s mobility, we conducted stable isotope analyses to confirm the habitat characteristics of N. nuchalis. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) from N. nuchalis indicated different feeding sources and trophic levels in the estuarine and deep-bay habitats. The characterized N. nuchalis ApoAI displayed residual repeats that formed a pair of alpha helices, indicating that the protein belongs to the apolipoprotein family. In the phylogenetic analysis, there was no sister group of N. nuchalis ApoAI among the large clades of fish species. The transcriptional expression level of ApoAI was higher in N. nuchalis inhabiting the deep-bay area with a high salinity (over 31 psu) than in N. nuchalis inhabiting the top of the estuary with a low salinity (6~15 psu). In addition, the expression patterns of N. nuchalis ApoAI were positively correlated with environmental factors (transparency, pH, TC, and TIC) in the high salinity area. These results suggest that ApoAI gene expression can reflect habitat characteristics of N. nuchalis which traverse broad salinity ranges and is associated with functional roles of osmoregulation and lipid metabolism for fish growth and development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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11 pages, 2946 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences of Gut Microbiota in the Freshwater Blackworm (Lumbriculus variegatus: Oligochaeta) in Two Different Habitat Conditions

by Pil Soo Kim, Yeo-Rang Lee, Yong-Su Kwon, Jin-Woo Bae, Sung-Jae Lee and Young-Seuk Park

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10298; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910298 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1914

Abstract

The distribution of organisms is governed by their habitat condition. We analyzed bacterial communities in the gut of the blackworm Lumbriculus variegatus by pyrosequencing of the extracted intestinal metagenomic DNA. Blackworms were collected from two sampling sites with differences in irradiance and riparian vegetation, where site GP7 was covered by riparian vegetation and site GP8 was exposed to sunlight. We obtained the filtered 6414 reads from three samples of each site. At GP7, 271 OTUs were identified, including 32 OTUs unique to the site, whereas at GP8, 238 OTUs were identified, including 22 unique OTUs. Among them, 18 OTUs were shared between both sites. The phylum Proteobacteria was a major component contributing 67.84% and 64.05% of sequences at sites GP7 and GP8, respectively, while each remaining phylum contributed less than 10% at both sites. The two sites differed in microbial community composition and KEGG-indicated biochemical pathways. Community indices such as species richness and Shannon diversity were higher at site GP7 than at GP8. Meanwhile, the abundance of Cyanobacteria was significantly higher at site GP8, while site GP7 showed a greater proportion of genes for membrane transport and carbohydrate metabolism, reflecting differences in food resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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24 pages, 3665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Assessment of Surface Water Quality in a Highly Managed Estuary Basin

by Angelica M. Moncada, Assefa M. Melesse, Jagath Vithanage and René M. Price

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179417 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2216

Abstract

Anthropogenic developments in coastal watersheds cause significant ecological changes to estuaries. Since estuaries respond to inputs on relatively long time scales, robust analyses of long-term data should be employed to account for seasonality, internal cycling, and climatological cycles. This study characterizes the water quality of a highly managed coastal basin, the St. Lucie Estuary Basin, FL, USA, from 1999 to 2019 to detect spatiotemporal differences in the estuary’s water quality and its tributaries. The estuary is artificially connected to Lake Okeechobee, so it receives fresh water from an external basin. Monthly water samples collected from November 1999 to October 2019 were assessed using principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and the Seasonal Kendall trend test. Nitrogen, phosphorus, color, total suspended solids, and turbidity concentrations varied seasonally and spatially. Inflows from Lake Okeechobee were characterized by high turbidity, while higher phosphorus concentrations characterized inflows from tributaries within the basin. Differences among tributaries within the basin may be attributed to flow regimes (e.g., significant releases vs. steady flow) and land use (e.g., pasture vs. row crops). Decreasing trends for orthophosphate, total phosphorus, and color and increasing trends for dissolved oxygen were found over the long term. Decreases in nutrient concentrations over time could be due to local mitigation efforts. Understanding the differences in water quality between the tributaries of the St. Lucie Estuary is essential for the overall water quality management of the estuary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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17 pages, 6094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Future Water Yield and Water Purification Services in Data Scarce Region of Northwest China

by Xu Yang, Ruishan Chen, Guangxing Ji, Chao Wang, Yuanda Yang and Jianhua Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 8960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18178960 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1996

Abstract

Water shortage and pollution have become prominent in the arid regions of northwest China, seriously affecting human survival and sustainable development. The Bosten Lake basin has been considered as an example of an arid region in northwest China, and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model has been used to quantitatively evaluate the future water yield and water purification services for four representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios. The results show that for the four RCP scenarios, the annual average precipitation in 2020–2050 decreases compared to that in 1985–2015; the area of cultivated land and unused land decreases, and the area of other land-use types increases from 2015 to 2050. The water yield service reduces, while the water purification service increases from 2015 to 2050 in the Bosten Lake basin. In 2050, the water yield and water purification services are the best for the RCP6.0 scenario, and are the worse for the RCP4.5 scenario and RCP8.5 scenario, respectively. The distribution of the water yield and water purification services show a gradual decline from northwest to southeast. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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31 pages, 3294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Water Quality of Lake Hawassa Ethiopia—Trophic State and Suitability for Anthropogenic Uses—Applying Common Water Quality Indices

by Semaria Moga Lencha, Jens Tränckner and Mihret Dananto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 8904; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18178904 - 24 Aug 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3768

Abstract

The rapid growth of urbanization, industrialization and poor wastewater management practices have led to an intense water quality impediment in Lake Hawassa Watershed. This study has intended to engage the different water quality indices to categorize the suitability of the water quality of Lake Hawassa Watershed for anthropogenic uses and identify the trophic state of Lake Hawassa. Analysis of physicochemical water quality parameters at selected sites and periods was conducted throughout May 2020 to January 2021 to assess the present status of the Lake Watershed. In total, 19 monitoring sites and 21 physicochemical parameters were selected and analyzed in a laboratory. The Canadian council of ministries of the environment (CCME WQI) and weighted arithmetic (WA WQI) water quality indices have been used to cluster the water quality of Lake Hawassa Watershed and the Carlson trophic state index (TSI) has been employed to identify the trophic state of Lake Hawassa. The water quality is generally categorized as unsuitable for drinking, aquatic life and recreational purposes and it is excellent to unsuitable for irrigation depending on the sampling location and the applied indices. Specifically, in WA WQI, rivers were excellent for agricultural uses and Lake Hawassa was good for agricultural uses. However, the CCME WQI findings showed rivers were good for irrigation but lake Hawassa was marginal for agricultural use. Point sources were impaired for all envisioned purposes. The overall category of Lake Hawassa falls under a eutrophic state since the average TSI was 65.4 and the lake is phosphorous-deficient, having TN:TP of 31.1. The monitored point sources indicate that the city of Hawassa and its numerous industrial discharges are key polluters, requiring a fast and consequent set-up of an efficient wastewater infrastructure, accompanied by a rigorous monitoring of large point sources (e.g., industry, hospitals and hotels). In spite of the various efforts, the recovery of Lake Hawassa may take a long time as it is hydrologically closed. Therefore, to ensure safe drinking water supply, a central supply system according to World Health organization (WHO) standards also for the fringe inhabitants still using lake water is imperative. Introducing riparian buffer zones of vegetation and grasses can support the direct pollution alleviation measures and is helpful to reduce the dispersed pollution coming from the population using latrines. Additionally, integrating aeration systems like pumping atmospheric air into the bottom of the lake using solar energy panels or diffusers are effective mitigation measures that will improve the water quality of the lake. In parallel, the implementation and efficiency control of measures requires coordinated environmental monitoring with dedicated development targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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15 pages, 3470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Zooplankton and Environmental Factors on Clear-Water Phase in Lake Paldang, South Korea

by Younbo Sim, Myeong Seop Byeon, Keonhee Kim, Soon Ju Yu and Jong Kwon Im

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 7205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137205 - 05 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1896

Abstract

Lake Paldang is a complex water system with both fluvial and lacustrine characteristics and the largest artificial dam lake in South Korea. In this study, the different occurrence patterns and causes of the clear-water phase (CWP) were investigated using water quality and hydrological factors at four sites in Lake Paldang. Among the environmental and other factors associated with CWP occurrence, secchi depth and turbidity exhibited significant correlations with precipitation, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and individual and relative abundance (RA) of zooplankton (Cladocera) (p < 0.01). Hence, a change in the HRT because of precipitation could alter the CWP. The Cladocera individuals and RA showed significant correlations with the water temperature, indicating that the emergence of Cladocera in spring as the water temperature rises could cause the CWP. Sensitivity assessments conducted using Bayesian models demonstrated different CWP occurrence sensitivity relationships for the river-type, lake-type, and shallow and deep sites. Turbidity, secchi depth, and zooplankton factors also showed sensitive relationships with CWP occurrence for all sites. The sensitivity to precipitation and HRT was higher in the river-type sites. The lake-type sites, with common Cladocera emergence and long HRT, favored CWP occurrence. Thus, CWP occurrence was dependent on the site characteristics and climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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19 pages, 3590 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regression Tree Analysis for Stream Biological Indicators Considering Spatial Autocorrelation

by Mi-Young Kim and Sang-Woo Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5150; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105150 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2343

Abstract

Multiple studies have been conducted to identify the complex and diverse relationships between stream ecosystems and land cover. However, these studies did not consider spatial dependency inherent from the systemic structure of streams. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the relationship between green/urban areas and topographical variables with biological indicators using regression tree analysis, which considered spatial autocorrelation at two different scales. The results of the principal components analysis suggested that the topographical variables exhibited the highest weights among all components, including biological indicators. Moran′s I values verified spatial autocorrelation of biological indicators; additionally, trophic diatom index, benthic macroinvertebrate index, and fish assessment index values were greater than 0.7. The results of spatial autocorrelation analysis suggested that a significant spatial dependency existed between environmental and biological indicators. Regression tree analysis was conducted for each indicator to compensate for the occurrence of autocorrelation; subsequently, the slope in riparian areas was the first criterion of differentiation for biological condition datasets in all regression trees. These findings suggest that considering spatial autocorrelation for statistical analyses of stream ecosystems, riparian proximity, and topographical characteristics for land use planning around the streams is essential to maintain the healthy biological conditions of streams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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18 pages, 5866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Retrieval and Evaluation of Chlorophyll-a Concentration in Reservoirs with Main Water Supply Function in Beijing, China, Based on Landsat Satellite Images

by Yuequn Lai, Jing Zhang, Yongyu Song and Zhaoning Gong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4419; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094419 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2294

Abstract

Remote sensing retrieval is an important technology for studying water eutrophication. In this study, Guanting Reservoir with the main water supply function of Beijing was selected as the research object. Based on the measured data in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and Landsat-8 remote sensing images, the concentration and distribution of chlorophyll-a in the Guanting Reservoir were inversed. We analyzed the changes in chlorophyll-a concentration of the reservoir in Beijing and the reasons and effects. Although the concentration of chlorophyll-a in the Guanting Reservoir decreased gradually, it may still increase. The amount and stability of water storage, chlorophyll-a concentration of the supply water, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentration change are important factors affecting the chlorophyll-a concentration of the reservoir. We also found a strong correlation between the pixel values of adjacent reservoirs in the same image, so the chlorophyll-a estimation model can be applied to each other. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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10 pages, 1438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Combined Analyses of Stable Isotopes and Stomach Contents for Understanding Ontogenetic Niche Shifts in Silver Croaker (Pennahia argentata)

by Bohyung Choi, Won-Seok Kim, Chang Woo Ji, Min-Seob Kim and Ihn-Sil Kwak

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084073 - 13 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2146

Abstract

Stable isotope analysis (SIA) and stomach content analysis (SCA) were conducted to understand ontogenetic niche shifts in silver croaker Pennahia argentata inhabiting the southern coastal waters of the Korean peninsula. Sampled P. argentata were classified into three groups based on their total length (TL; 60–80 mm TL, 80–120 mm TL, and 120–210 mm TL). Carbon isotope (δ¹³C) ratios were distinguishable, whereas nitrogen isotope (δ¹⁵N) ratios were not significantly different among size classes, and Standard Ellipse Area (SEA), estimated by δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, was expanded with increasing TL from 0.2 ‰² (60–80 mm TL) to 2.0 ‰² (120–210 mm TL). SCA results showed variable contribution of dietary items to each size class. In particular, higher dietary contribution of Polychaeta to P. argentata of 80–120 mm TL than 120–210 mm TL mirrored variation in δ¹³C values of P. argentata in those size classes. Based on the combined analyses involving SIA and SCA, we concluded that P. argentata underwent ontogenetic niche shifts, particularly dietary shifts, with growth stages. Ontogenetic niche shifting is a representative survival strategy in fish, and, therefore, represents essential information for managing fisheries. The present study demonstrated applicability of combined SIA and SCA analyses, not only for dietary resource tracing, but also for ecological niche studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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14 pages, 2206 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Relationships between Riparian Land Cover Characteristics and Biological Integrity of Streams Using Random Forest Algorithms

by Se-Rin Park, Suyeon Kim and Sang-Woo Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063182 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2164

Abstract

The relationships between land cover characteristics in riparian areas and the biological integrity of rivers and streams are critical in riparian area management decision-making. This study aims to evaluate such relationships using the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI), Benthic Macroinvertebrate Index (BMI), Fish Assessment Index (FAI), and random forest regression, which can capture nonlinear and complex relationships with limited training datasets. Our results indicate that the proportions of land cover types in riparian areas, including urban, agricultural, and forested areas, have greater impacts on the biological communities in streams than those offered by land cover spatial patterns. The proportion of forests in riparian areas has the greatest influence on the biological integrity of streams. Partial dependence plots indicate that the biological integrity of streams gradually improves until the proportion of riparian forest areas reach about 60%; it rapidly decreases until riparian urban areas reach 25%, and declines significantly when the riparian agricultural area ranges from 20% to 40%. Overall, this study highlights the importance of riparian forests in the planning, restoration, and management of streams, and suggests that partial dependence plots may serve to provide insightful quantitative criteria for defining specific objectives that managers and decision-makers can use to improve stream conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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21 pages, 8524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics of Nutrients in the Drowned Tidal Inlet under the Influence of Tides: A Case Study of Zhanjiang Bay, China

by Shuangling Wang, Fengxia Zhou, Fajin Chen, Yafei Meng and Qingmei Zhu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2089; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042089 - 21 Feb 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1977

Abstract

The tidal dynamics and the characteristics of pollutant migration in the drowned-valley tidal inlet, a typical unit of coastal tidal inlets, are strongly influenced by geomorphological features. Along with the development of society and the economy, the hydrodynamic and water quality environment of the tidal inlet is also becoming more disturbed by human activities, such as reclamation of the sea and the construction of large bridges. In this study, a typical drowned-valley tidal inlet, Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB), was selected for the establishment of a model via coupling of a tidal hydrodynamic model and water quality numerical model. This model can be used to simulate the migration and diffusion of pollutants in ZJB. The spatial and temporal variation processes of water quality factors of the bay under the influence of special geomorphic units was simulated at the tidal-inlet entrance, the flood/ebb tidal delta, and the tidal basin. The results show that ZJB has strong tidal currents that are significantly affected by the terrain. Under the influence of the terrain and tidal currents, the phosphorus and nitrogen concentration at the flood-tide and ebb-tide moments showed obvious temporal and spatial differences in the ebb-tide delta, tidal-inlet entrance, flood-tide delta, and tidal basin. In this study, we analyzed the response mechanism of the water quality environment to the drowned-valley tidal inlet, and this can provide theoretical guidance and a basis for decision-making toward protecting the ecology and water security of ZJB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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16 pages, 7057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Trends in Water Quality Indices in the Lower Danube and Tributaries in Romania (1996–2017)

by Rodica-Mihaela Frîncu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041665 - 09 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2416

Abstract

The Danube River is the second longest in Europe and its water quality is important for the communities relying on it, but also for supporting biodiversity in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, a site with high ecological value. This paper presents a methodology for assessing water quality and long-term trends based on water quality indices (WQI), calculated using the weighted arithmetic method, for 15 monitoring stations in the Lower Danube and Danube tributaries in Romania, based on annual means of 10 parameters for the period 1996–2017. A trend analysis is carried out to see how WQIs evolved during the studied period at each station. Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied on sub-indices to highlight which parameters have the highest contributions to WQI values, and to identify correlations between parameters. Factor analysis is used to highlight differences between locations. The results show that water quality has improved significantly at most stations during the studied period, but pollution is higher in some Romanian tributaries than in the Danube. The parameters with the highest contribution to WQI are ammonium and total phosphorus, suggesting the need to continue improving wastewater treatment in the studied area. The methodology and the results of the study may be very useful instruments for specialists and decision makers in updating river basin management plans and prioritising intervention measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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Review

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15 pages, 710 KiB

Open AccessReview

Pesticides in Drinking Water—A Review

by Muhammad Syafrudin, Risky Ayu Kristanti, Adhi Yuniarto, Tony Hadibarata, Jongtae Rhee, Wedad A. Al-onazi, Tahani Saad Algarni, Abdulhadi H. Almarri and Amal M. Al-Mohaimeed

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020468 - 08 Jan 2021

Cited by 264 | Viewed by 17001

Abstract

The ubiquitous problem of pesticide in aquatic environment are receiving worldwide concern as pesticide tends to accumulate in the body of the aquatic organism and sediment soil, posing health risks to the human. Many pesticide formulations had introduced due to the rapid growth in the global pesticide market result from the wide use of pesticides in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The occurrence of pesticides in the water body is derived by the runoff from the agricultural field and industrial wastewater. Soluble pesticides were carried away by water molecules especially during the precipitation event by percolating downward into the soil layers and eventually reach surface waters and groundwater. Consequently, it degrades water quality and reduces the supply of clean water for potable water. Long-time exposure to the low concentration of pesticides had resulted in non-carcinogenic health risks. The conventional method of pesticide treatment processes encompasses coagulation-flocculation, adsorption, filtration and sedimentation, which rely on the phase transfer of pollutants. Those methods are often incurred with a relatively high operational cost and may cause secondary pollution such as sludge formation. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are recognized as clean technologies for the treatment of water containing recalcitrant and bio-refractory pollutants such as pesticides. It has been adopted as recent water purification technology because of the thermodynamic viability and broad spectrum of applicability. This work provides a comprehensive review for occurrence of pesticide in the drinking water and its possible treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring, Analysis, and Management)

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