Climate change-induced increases in precipitation are reducing the potential for solar ultraviolet radiation to inactivate pathogens in surface waters

Williamson, Craig E.; Madronich, S.; Lal, Aparna; Zepp, Richard G.; Lucas, Robyn; Overholt, Erin P.; Rose, Kevin C.; Schladow, S. Geoffrey; Lee-Taylor, J.

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13392-2

Cited by 61 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…3); this effect has been observed in many natural waters. 12 Consequently, enhancements in CDOM concentrations caused by runoff tend to reduce inactivation by UVB whereas droughts that reduce runoff result in deeper UVB penetration that enhances inactivation.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sunlight-mediated inactivation of health-relevant microorganisms in water: a review of mechanisms and modeling approaches

Nelson

Boehm

Davies‐Colley

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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197

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Health-relevant microorganisms present in natural surface waters and engineered treatment systems that are exposed to sunlight can be inactivated by a complex set of interacting mechanisms. The net impact of sunlight depends on the solar spectral irradiance, the susceptibility of the specific microorganism to each mechanism, and the water quality; inactivation rates can vary by orders of magnitude depending on the organism and environmental conditions. Natural organic matter (NOM) has a large influence, as it can attenuate radiation and thus decrease inactivation by endogenous mechanisms. Simultaneously NOM sensitizes the formation of reactive intermediates that can damage microorganisms via exogenous mechanisms. To accurately predict inactivation and design engineered systems that enhance solar inactivation, it is necessary to model these processes, although some details are not yet sufficiently well understood. In this critical review, we summarize the photo-physics, -chemistry, and -biology that underpin sunlight-mediated inactivation, as well as the targets of damage and cellular responses to sunlight exposure. Viruses that are not susceptible to exogenous inactivation are only inactivated if UVB wavelengths (280-320 nm) are present, such as in very clear, open waters or in containers that are transparent to UVB. Bacteria are susceptible to slightly longer wavelengths. Some viruses and bacteria (especially Gram-positive) are susceptible to exogenous inactivation, which can be initiated by visible as well as UV wavelengths. We review approaches to model sunlightmediated inactivation and illustrate how the environmental conditions can dramatically shift the inactivation rate of organisms. The implications of this mechanistic understanding of solar inactivation are discussed for a range of applications, including recreational water quality, natural treatment systems, solar disinfection of drinking water (SODIS), and enhanced inactivation via the use of sensitizers and photocatalysts. Finally, priorities for future research are identified that will further our understanding of the key role that sunlight disinfection plays in natural systems and the potential to enhance this process in engineered systems. Environmental signicanceThe manuscript provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current understanding of the mechanisms by which sunlight causes damage to microorganisms, ultimately leading to inactivation. This topic is important for understanding the fate and transport of microbiological contaminants in all sunlit surface waters, including fresh and marine ecosystems, as well as engineered treatment systems.

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Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sunlight-mediated inactivation of health-relevant microorganisms in water: a review of mechanisms and modeling approaches

Nelson

Boehm

Davies‐Colley

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

Self Cite

197

221

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“…In addition, potential increases in dissolved organic matter and browning of water bodies during heavy precipitation events has the potential to reduce solar UV inactivation of pathogens (Williamson et al. ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Associated high streamflow volumes could also resuspend and mobilize microorganisms stored in river and lake bed sediments (Wu et al 2009;Garzio-Hadzick et al 2010;Soupir and Pandey 2016). In addition, potential increases in dissolved organic matter and browning of water bodies during heavy precipitation events has the potential to reduce solar UV inactivation of pathogens (Williamson et al 2017).…”

Section: Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Water Quality Responses to Air Temperature and Precipitation Changes 2: Nutrients, Algal Blooms, Sediment, Pathogens

Coffey

Paul

Stamp

et al. 2018

J American Water Resour Assoc

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In this paper we review the published, scientific literature addressing the response of nutrients, sediment, pathogens, and cyanobacterial blooms to historical and potential future changes in air temperature and precipitation. The goal is to document how different attributes of water quality are sensitive to these drivers, to characterize future risk, to inform management responses, and to identify research needs to fill gaps in our understanding. Results suggest that anticipated future changes present a risk of water quality and ecosystem degradation in many United States locations. Understanding responses is, however, complicated by inherent high spatial and temporal variability, interactions with land use and water management, and dependence on uncertain changes in hydrology in response to future climate. Effects on pollutant loading in different watershed settings generally correlate with projected changes in precipitation and runoff. In all regions, increased heavy precipitation events are likely to drive more episodic pollutant loading to water bodies. The risk of algal blooms could increase due to an expanded seasonal window of warm water temperatures and the potential for episodic increases in nutrient loading. Increased air and water temperatures are also likely to affect the survival of waterborne pathogens. Responding to these challenges requires understanding of vulnerabilities, and management strategies to reduce risk.

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“…In lakes such as Tovel, with a water residence time <1 year, the effects of less precipitation will be quickly noticed (Pace & Cole, ). Less runoff reduces the input of organic matter, leading to subsequently higher water transparency to both UV radiation and visible light while also permitting increased heat build‐up (Williamson et al, , ). Reduced DO in A35 could be an effect of reduced DO renewal linked to higher water column stability in 2017, as evidenced by Flaim et al ().…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifaceted aspects of synchrony between freshwater prokaryotes and protists

2019

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Community composition of freshwater prokaryotes and protists varies through time. Few studies contemporarily investigate temporal variation of these freshwater communities for more than 1 year. We compared the temporal patterns of prokaryotes and protists in three distinct habitats for 4 years (2014–2017) in Lake Tovel, a cold‐water lake. This lake showed a marked temperature increase in 2017 linked to altered precipitation patterns. We investigated whether microbial communities reflected this change across habitats and whether changes occurred at the same time and to the same extent. Furthermore, we tested the concept of hydrological year emphasizing the ecological effect of water renewal on communities for its explanatory power of community changes. Microbe diversity was assessed by Illumina sequencing of the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and 18S rRNA gene, and we applied co‐inertia analysis and asymmetric eigenvector maps modelling to infer synchrony and temporal patterns of prokaryotes and protists. When considering community composition, microbes were invariable in synchrony across habitats and indicated a temporal gradient linked to decreasing precipitation; however, when looking at temporal patterns, the extent of synchrony was reduced. Small‐scale patterns were similar across habitats and microbes and linked to seasonally varying environmental variables, while large‐scale patterns were different and partially linked to an ecosystem change as indicated by increasing water transparency and temperature and decreasing dissolved oxygen. Our advanced statistical approach outlined the multifaceted aspect of synchrony when linked to community composition and temporal patterns.

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Climate change-induced increases in precipitation are reducing the potential for solar ultraviolet radiation to inactivate pathogens in surface waters

Cited by 61 publications

References 73 publications

Sunlight-mediated inactivation of health-relevant microorganisms in water: a review of mechanisms and modeling approaches

Sunlight-mediated inactivation of health-relevant microorganisms in water: a review of mechanisms and modeling approaches

A Review of Water Quality Responses to Air Temperature and Precipitation Changes 2: Nutrients, Algal Blooms, Sediment, Pathogens

Multifaceted aspects of synchrony between freshwater prokaryotes and protists

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