Environmental Health Commons^™

Moderate-Temperature Hydrothermal Treatment Removes Detectable Dna And Antibiotic Resistance Genes From Municipal Sludge While Preserving Resource Value, R Sean Norman M.Sc., Ph.D., Mirza Isanovic, Gabrielle Kartzmark, Nicole Berge

Faculty Publications

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with municipal sludge containing high bacterial densities and diverse ARGs that may spread through land application. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is a process that inactivates pathogens and stabilizes biomass, but its performance at moderate temperatures is less understood. We evaluated HT (100°C–250°C; 2–24 h) for degrading bacterial DNA and ARGs in dewatered municipal sludge. DNA was quantified by fluorometry, bacterial presence confirmed by 16S rRNA gene PCR, and ARGs profiled by qPCR targeting 84 clinically and environmentally relevant genes. HT up to 250°C produced modest carbon densification, high solids …

Moderate-Temperature Hydrothermal Treatment Removes Detectable Dna And Antibiotic Resistance Genes From Municipal Sludge While Preserving Resource Value, R. Sean Norman, Mirza Isanovic, Gabrielle Kartzmark, Nicole Berge

Faculty Publications

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with municipal sludge containing high bacterial densities and diverse ARGs that may spread through land application. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is a process that inactivates pathogens and stabilizes biomass, but its performance at moderate temperatures is less understood. We evaluated HT (100°C–250°C; 2–24 h) for degrading bacterial DNA and ARGs in dewatered municipal sludge. DNA was quantified by fluorometry, bacterial presence confirmed by 16S rRNA gene PCR, and ARGs profiled by qPCR targeting 84 clinically and environmentally relevant genes. HT up to 250°C produced modest carbon densification, high solids …

Mineral-Associated Organic Nitrogen Pool Size, Composition, And Accessibility Mediated By Agricultural Management And Soil Geochemical Characteristics, Gabriella M. Griffen, Andrew H. Whitaker, Emma L. Bergh, Marian Carrell, Erik Knatvold, Aniko Konya, A. Stuart Grandy, Andrea Jilling Ph.D., Marco Keiluweit, Rachel Hestrin

Faculty Publications

Mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) contains a substantial portion of soil nitrogen (N). MAOM-N could serve as an important N source for crops, but its availability and response to agricultural management across different soil types remains largely unknown. We characterized MAOM-N isolated from nine paired soils spanning a range of geochemical characteristics and maintained under two land uses—more intensively managed annual cropping systems or less intensively managed grasslands. On average, we found that MAOM contained approximately two-thirds of total soil N. Across all soil types, more intensive agricultural management resulted in a 50% decline in MAOM-N stocks, as well as a …

Compost Grinder For The University Of South Carolina Office Of Sustainability, Rori E. Pumphrey, Grace Yaegel, Aaron R. Sawyer, Bradley White

Senior Theses

This project originates from a collaboration with the USC Office of Sustainability, which seeks to improve the handling and processing of food waste generated on campus. The primary challenge is the difficulty in composting certain types of food waste, such as avocado pits, pumpkin rinds, and other dense or fibrous organic materials that are not easily broken down using conventional methods. Existing commercial solutions are often too large and expensive, or electrically powered, and are thus not well suited for the volume or nature of USC's food waste. To address these limitations, our team designed a manually operated food waste …

Investigation Of Metals And Incidental Nanomaterials In Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Ashes And Their Impacts On Marine Phytoplankton, Talal Abdullah Alshehri

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfires are natural processes that have played a vital role in ecosystems for millions of years. However, with increasing anthropogenic activities and climate change, wildfires' frequency and intensity have increased. A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns forests, grasses, and savannas. In addition to vegetation combustible materials, wildfire burn structure items such as homes, stores, and storage sheds in areas where the transition zone between urban and wildland is defined as the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Moreover, wildfires in WUI can burn vehicles, including automobiles, tractors, and boats on trails. Recently, there have been concerns regarding the metals, metalloids, and …

A 12,800-Year-Old Layer With Cometary Dust, Microspherules, And Platinum Anomaly Recorded In Multiple Cores From Baffin Bay, Christopher R. Moore, Vladimir A. Tselmovich, Malcolm A. Lecompte, Allen West, Stephen J. Culver, David J. Mallinson, Mohammed Baalousha M.Sc, Ph.D., James P. Kennett, William M. Napier, Michael Bizimis, Victor Adedeji, Seth R. Sutton, Gunther Kleteschka, Kurt A. Langworthy, Jesus P. Perez, Timothy Witwer, Marc D. Young, Jordan Jeffreys, Richard C. Greenwood, James A. Malley

Faculty Publications

The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis (YDIH) posits that ~12,800 years ago Earth encountered the debris stream of a disintegrating comet, triggering hemisphere-wide airbursts, atmospheric dust loading, and the deposition of a distinctive suite of extraterrestrial (ET) impact proxies at the Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB). Until now, evidence supporting this hypothesis has come only from terrestrial sediment and ice-core records. Here we report the first discovery of similar impact-related proxies in ocean sediments from four marine cores in Baffin Bay that span the YDB layer at water depths of 0.5–2.4 km, minimizing the potential for modern contamination. Using scanning electron microscopy …

Harvesting Health: The Role Of City Policy In Urban Agriculture And The Downstream Effects On Youth, Lesley Leake

Theses and Dissertations

Contextualizing environmental health within the socio-ecological framework, acknowledges the diverse factors at play in the environment-human dynamic. The research design, methods, and study populations of each chapter vary to match the socio-ecological level(s) of focus and reinforce the translational and interdisciplinary nature of this research. Chapter 2 examines the policy-supports for urban agriculture using a mixed-methods case-study of the City of Charleston, SC to understand how municipal policy (societal) impacts urban agriculture implementation (community) and what impact this has on residents (relationship and individual). Chapter 3 centers on the potential impact of urban farms (community) and their programming (community and …

Investigation Of The Environmental Factors Regulating The Biomass And Toxin Production Of The Benthic Cyanobacterium Microseira Wollei In Lake Wateree, South Carolina, Kara Clyburn

Theses and Dissertations

Impacts from anthropogenic activities and climate change are significantly altering nitrogen (N) cycling processes and biological productivity along the freshwater to marine continuum, and the acceleration rate of excessive N and phosphorus (P) concentrations entering aquatic environments is unprecedented. As a result, nutrient pollution is contributing to the increasing magnitude and duration of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs), oxygen (O2) depletion, loss of biodiversity, and impacts to human and ecosystem health. Lake Wateree, South Carolina (SC) is a freshwater drinking and contact recreational water resource with elevated symptoms of eutrophication, including the increasing prevalence of the N2 fixing benthic cyanobacterium …

Optimization Of A Nanotechnology-Based System For The Treatment Of Electroplating Wastewater, Madeleine Mary Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

To protect humans and the environment, human actions that may expose living organisms to toxic metals are heavily regulated in developed countries. The use and production of toxicants in commercial applications is tightly controlled in the United States of America by federal and state laws. Due to this fact, United States manufacturing companies are required to control the amount of regulated toxicants that leave their facilities. Toxic metals in wastewater are heavily regulated by federal and state law, with manufacturing facilities permitted individually for the concentrations of metals they are allowed to discharge via their wastewater. From previous research conducted …

Viability Of Elutriation For The Extraction Of Microplastics From Environmental Soil Samples, Kyle Forsythe, Mason Egermeier, Marcus Garcia, Rui Liu, Matthew Minghetti, Andrea Jilling Ph.D., Jorge Gonzalez-Estrella

Faculty Publications

In this study, we evaluated the suitability of elutriation, a method successfully employed in the extraction of microplastics from marine sediments, for the extraction of microplastics from freshwater and terrestrial soils. Five soils were sampled throughout Oklahoma, USA in order to capture a range of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter composition. Each soil was subjected to microplastic extraction with and without elutriation, followed by digestion in 7.5% NaOCl, and then flotation in 6 M ZnCl₂. The mass of each soil was measured after elutriation to determine sample mass reduction, and multiple methods including fluorescence imaging and automated …

From Oceans To Public Health: Impact Of Climate Change And Socioecological Factors On Non-Cholera Vibrio Spp., Karlen Enid Correa Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change-induced stressors, such as temperature, salinity, pH, and wildfire, are contributing factors to the increase in frequency of Vibrio infections, altering Vibrio geographical constraints. At the same time, the expansion of the coastal population is resulting in increased input of treated municipal wastewater into areas that are also experiencing Vibrio proliferation. Given that increases in ocean temperature and sea level coupled with increases in human activity in coastal waters support greater Vibrio-human interactions, it is important to examine factors and mechanisms within this socio-ecological coupled system that may further strengthen this interaction. This study aimed to better understand the …

Replenishment Of Essential Natural Resources: An Assessment Of The Ability Of Freshwater Algae To Enhance Crop Quality And Soil Health, Lala Christina Ek

Theses and Dissertations

Disregard for soil, an essential natural resource, hinders global food production. Food insecurity is a major concern for both public health officials and environmental scientists due to soil quality decline, pollution, and climate change. Alternatives or targeted additions to chemical fertilizers can bolster soil quality, improve crop yields, lengthen crop shelf life, and mitigate environmental pollution. One potential alternative to chemical fertilizers is replacement of them with biological soil amendments, including algae, to enhance crop growth and improve soil health. Research was conducted at the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus garden to determine impacts of non-toxic freshwater algae on crop …

Quantification Of The Internalization Of A Commercially Available Silver Nanoparticle To The Bacterium Escherichia Coli, Samantha Mcneal Case

Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles (NPs), materials with dimensions ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, are widely used in various consumer products, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) being the most prominent. Exposure to AgNPs occurs through multiple sources, including food packaging, supplements, and disinfectants, owing to their antimicrobial properties. Prior research has identified adverse health effects, such as cytotoxicity, toxicity, and Ag bioaccumulation resulting from AgNP exposure to bacteria in biological systems and the environment. However, most studies employ pristine, highly concentrated NPs, which may not accurately represent realistic exposure scenarios at environmentally relevant concentrations. This project investigates the fate and internalization of AgNPs, found …

Infection Intensity And Prevalence From Perkinsus Marinus In The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin 1791) And Their Association With Salinity, Temperature, And Sex In South Carolina Estuaries, Deja E. Best

Theses and Dissertations

This project aimed to identify the associations between the infection intensity and prevalence of Perkinsus marinus infection (i.e., Dermo ) in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), with extrinsic environmental factors such as changes in salinity and temperature along with oyster host factors such as sex ratio. The objectives of the study were to: (1) identify significant associations between the dependent variables, P. marinus prevalence and infection intensity, in relation to salinity and water temperature which may be affected by climate change; and (2) identify any intrinsic factors related to sex (i.e., male, female, intersex, and indeterminant) that may affect …

Transdisciplinary Approaches To Community Engagement, Research Translation And Science Communication Through Application Of The Socio-Environmental Report Card Process And Product In Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, Ekaterina Negodyaeva Altman

Theses and Dissertations

Public health and environmental sustainability are interlinked. Three pillars of sustainable development are society, environment, and economy are supported and reinforced by healthy populations. Balancing these values in a long-term vision and application requires active involvement of communities and stakeholders in decision-making process of management of environmental resources and personal health choices. Transdisciplinary sustainability science provides a framework for addressing complex issues in sustainability and generates actionable knowledge to link science and policy and involved stakeholders in the scientific process. Transdisciplinary research processes use co-design, co-production, and co-implementation framework to create and re-integrate useful knowledge into practice on a local …

Integrated Wastewater Surveillance For Sars-Cov-2 And Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria: Implications For Public Health And Environmental Management, Mirza Isanovic

Theses and Dissertations

While current technologies have inadvertently resulted in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) becoming major sources of global antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination, wastewater can be leveraged to provide vital community-level health information. This project examined both of these aspects through wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and metagenomic analysis of specific ARGs collected from both activated sludge and bioaerosols. In this study, we investigated treatment steps between the influent and final treated effluent to identify the point at which viral RNA is below detection. Additionally, we examined air surrounding high turbulence treatment steps to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in WWTP-generated …

Using Podcasts To Bring National Estuarine Research Reserves Into The Classroom For Grades 6-12, Kaitlyn M. Dirr

Senior Theses

In a typical classroom setting, there are significant challenges to exposing students to concepts related to earth sciences and the environment. These challenges are exacerbated when conveying lessons about geographic areas with limited access, such as oceans and coastlines (Louv, 2010). It is now more important than ever for environmental education to improve and adapt to our changing world. Educators may have the opportunity to bring these subjects to life by using media content such as podcasts to introduce students to new places and the scientists, managers and educators that work in those spaces. In the United States, there exists …

Parent Perspectives On Barriers And Facilitators To Optimal Healthcare And Medical Screenings For Children With Down Syndrome In South Carolina, Vinita Oberoi Leedom

Theses and Dissertations

Children with Down syndrome (DS) often have co-occurring conditions affecting vision, hearing, sleeping, and more. Screenings, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), can help prevent secondary disability, and allow children to thrive. Studies have evaluated the receipt of recommended screenings, but barriers and facilitators surrounding access to screenings and care have not been described.

Parents of 24 children with DS in SC were recruited through schools and family support groups. One-hour long interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. Information was collected on health, healthcare quality, respiratory concerns, pandemic effects, access to care, and knowledge about AAP …

Customer Discovery And Applied Research And Development For An Environmental Nanotechnology, Paul Michael Vecchiarelli

Theses and Dissertations

Technology transfer is a process by which an innovative technology, typically produced in a non-commercial setting such as academia, is developed into a potential market opportunity. The first phase of technology transfer, once a technology has been developed, is to identify a customer segment and determine a value proposition that describes what need the technology will fulfill for them. This phase has been systematized into a framework known as customer discovery. Success in customer discovery will indicate technological gaps, such as scale-up, prototyping, and realistic testing, that are needed to deliver the value proposition to the initial customer. Both phases …

Potential Use Of Engineered Nanoparticles In Ocean Fertilization For Large-Scale Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Removal, Peyman Babakhani, Tanapon Phenrat, Mohammed Baalousha M.Sc, Ph.D., Kullapa Soratana, Caroline L. Peacock, Benjamin S. Twining, Michael F. Hochella Jr.

Faculty Publications

Artificial ocean fertilization (AOF) aims to safely stimulate phytoplankton growth in the ocean and enhance carbon sequestration. AOF carbon sequestration efficiency appears lower than natural ocean fertilization processes due mainly to the low bioavailability of added nutrients, along with low export rates of AOF-produced biomass to the deep ocean. Here we explore the potential application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to overcome these issues. Data from 123 studies show that some ENPs may enhance phytoplankton growth at concentrations below those likely to be toxic in marine ecosystems. ENPs may also increase bloom lifetime, boost phytoplankton aggregation and carbon export, and address …

Subchronic Oral Cylindrospermopsin Exposure Alters The Host Gut Microbiome And Is Associated With Progressive Hepatic Inflammation, Stellate Cell Activation, And Mild Fibrosis In A Preclinical Study, Punnag Saha, Macayla Upright, Dipro Bose, Subhajit Roy, Ayushi Trivedi, Madhura More, Geoff Scott Ph.D., Bryan W. Brooks, Saurabh Chatterjee

Faculty Publications

Epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between liver injury and incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma in sections of humans globally. Several preclinical studies have shown a strong link between cyanotoxin exposure and the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a precursor of hepatocellular carcinoma. Among the emerging threats from cyanotoxins, new evidence shows cylindrospermopsin release in freshwater lakes. A known hepatotoxin in higher concentrations, we examined the possible role of cylindrospermopsin in causing host gut dysbiosis and its association with liver pathology in a mouse model of toxico-pharmacokinetics and hepatic pathology. The results showed that oral exposure to cylindrospermopsin caused decreased diversity …

Response Of Soil Bacterial Diversity, Predicted Functions And Co-Occurrence Patterns To Nanoceria And Ionic Cerium Exposure, Jie Zhang, Hui Sheng, Yan-Meng Shang, Jamie Lead, Zhang-Zhen Guo, Jian-Ping Hong

Faculty Publications

Release of nanoceria (nCeO₂) into the environment has caused much concern about its potential toxicity, which still remains poorly understood for soil microorganisms. In this study, nanoceria and cerium (III) nitrate at different doses (10, 100 and 500 mg/kg) were applied to bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), grown in potting soil, to investigate the responses of soil bacterial communities to nanoceria (NC) and ionic cerium (IC) applications. The results showed that bacterial richness was slightly increased in all cerium treatments relative to the negative control without cerium amendment (CK), but a significant increase was only found in …

Coastal Stormwater Pond Pollutants And The Potential For Development Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Vibrio And Enterococcus Bacteria, Cassandra L. Horton

Theses and Dissertations

The Southeastern coastal plain is the most rapidly urbanizing region in the United States. Associated landscape changes which increase imperviousness lead to hydrological cycle alterations, increasing runoff of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Urban and agricultural NPS runoff is generally discharged into stormwater ponds, which sequester chemical contaminants, nutrients, and microbes to reduce loading into coastal ecosystems. Studies of these ponds have indicated elevated levels of trace metals, antimicrobial compounds, and bacterial contamination (SCSGC 2018).

Interactions of aquatic pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Enterococcus faecium with trace metals (arsenic, copper, zinc) and clinically relevant antimicrobials (triclosan, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline) commonly found in coastal …

Monitoring Titanium Dioxide Engineered Particles In Rural And Urban Surface Waters, Md Mahmudun Nabi

Theses and Dissertations

Quantifying and characterizing engineered particles in environmental systems is key for assessing their risk but remains challenging and requires the distinction between natural and engineered particles. The Ph.D. dissertation research described in this thesis contributes to the current attempts to improve environmental nanoparticle analysis and better understand nanoparticle behavior in natural systems, with the focus being on natural streams, and the application of single particle inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS) for distinguishing and tracing the origins of environmental nanoparticles. The objective of this dissertation is to characterize and quantify the concentrations of titanium dioxide engineered particles in urban …

Participatory And Spatial Analyses Of Environmental Justice Communities' Concerns About A Proposed Storm Surge And Flood Protection Seawall, Judith Taylor, Norman S. Levine, Ernest Muhammad, Dwayne E. Porter, Annette M. Watson, Paul A. Sandifer

Faculty Publications

In response to increasing threats from sea-level rise and storm surge, the City of Charleston, South Carolina, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) propose constructing a seawall around the Charleston peninsula. The proposed seawall will terminate close to lower wealth, predominantly minority communities. These communities are identified as environmental justice (EJ) communities due to their history of inequitable burdens of industrial and urban pollution and proximity to highways and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Superfund sites. The present study documents community concerns and opinions related to the proposed seawall, existing flooding problems, and other issues. The project …

Prior Exposure To Microcystin Alters Host Gut Resistome And Is Associated With Dysregulated Immune Homeostasis In Translatable Mouse Models, Punnag Saha, Dipro Bose, Vitalii Stebliankin, Trevor Cickovski, Ratanesh K. Seth, Dwayne E. Porter Ph.D., Bryan W. Brooks, Kalai Mathee, Giri Narashimhan, Rita Colwell, Geoffry Ivan Scott Ph.D., Saurabh Chatterjee Ms., Ph.D

Faculty Publications

A strong association between exposure to the common harmful algal bloom toxin microcystin and the altered host gut microbiome has been shown. We tested the hypothesis that prior exposure to the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR may alter the host resistome. We show that the mice exposed to microcystin-LR had an altered microbiome signature that harbored antibiotic resistance genes. Host resistome genotypes such as mefA, msrD, mel, ant6, and tet40 increased in diversity and relative abundance following microcystin-LR exposure. Interestingly, the increased abundance of these genes was traced to resistance to common antibiotics such as tetracycline, macrolides, glycopeptide, and aminoglycosides, crucial for modern-day …

Environmental And Biological Controls On Sedimentary Bottom Types In The Puquios Of The Salar De Llamara, Northern Chile, Erica P. Suosaari, Amanda M. Oehlert, Ioan Lascu, Alan W. Decho, Alan M. Piggot, Alvaro T. Palma, Paul F. Machabee, R. Pamela Reid

Faculty Publications

The Puquios of the Salar de Llamara in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, is a system of small lakes that is characterized by evaporitic mineral deposition and that commonly hosts microbial communities. This region is known for its extreme aridity, solar irradiance, and temperature fluctuations. The Puquios are a highly diverse ecosystem with a variety of sedimentary bottom types. Our previous results identified electrical conductivity (EC) as a first-order environmental control on bottom types. In the present paper, we extend our analysis to examine the effects of additional environmental parameters on bottom types and to consider reasons for the importance …

Host Gut Resistome In Gulf War Chronic Multisymptom Illness Correlates With Persistent Inflammation, Dipro Bose, Somdatta Chatterjee, Ethan Older, Ratanesh Seth, Patricia Janulewicz, Punnag Saha, Ayan Mondal, Jeffrey M. Carlson, Alan W. Decho, Kimberly Sullivan, Nancy Kilmas, Stephen Lasley, Jie Li, Saurabh Chatterjee

Faculty Publications

Chronic multisymptom illness (CMI) affects a subsection of elderly and war Veterans and is associated with systemic inflammation. Here, using a mouse model of CMI and a group of Gulf War (GW) Veterans’ with CMI we show the presence of an altered host resistome. Results show that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are significantly altered in the CMI group in both mice and GW Veterans when compared to control. Fecal samples from GW Veterans with persistent CMI show a significant increase of resistance to a wide class of antibiotics and exhibited an array of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) distinct from normal …

Comparative Assessment Of The Fate And Toxicity Of Chemically And Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Toward Juvenile Clams, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Amar Yasser Al-Rshim

Theses and Dissertations

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with unique nanoscale properties, including novel optical behavior and superparamagnetic, are continually being developed for biomedical and industrial applications. In specific biomedical applications, ENMs are surface-functionalized using polymers, proteins, and other stabilizing agents to facilitate their resistance to salt-induced aggregation. Since their colloidal stability in high ionic-strength matrices, functionalized ENMs are anticipated to be persistent aquatic contaminants. Despite their potential environmental significance, the persistence of surface-functionalized ENMs as individually stabilized nanoparticles in marine environments is largely unknown. Further, few studies have investigated the fundamental factors that influence ENMs uptake and fate/transport processes in ecologically susceptible aquatic biota, …

Superfund And Society Benumbed: An In-Depth Look At Environmental Justice In South Carolina, Sydney A. Hampton

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between superfund sites in minority communities and their public health through the lens of social vulnerability. Various demographic parameters were used to assess the risk associated with minority communities and exposure to hazardous waste. After investigating the history of the Environmental Justice movement, three superfund sites of interest in South Carolina, and demographic and public health data; each community was analyzed to determine association between exposure to hazardous waste and minority status. Each examined community exhibited characteristics contributing to heightened social vulnerability, potentially causing increased susceptibility to negative health outcomes from exposure to hazardous waste.