Browsing by Author "Fawell, John"

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    Clarifying the absence of evidence regarding human health risks to microplastic particles in drinking-water: High quality robust data wanted
    (Elsevier, 2020-10-07) Gouin, Todd; Cunliffe, David; De France, J.; Fawell, John; Jarvis, Peter; Koelmans, A. A. (Bart); Marsden, Peter; Testai, Emanuela E.; Asami, Mari; Bevan, Ruth; Carrier, R.; Cotruvo, Joseph; Eckhardt, Alexander; Ong, ‪Choon Nam
    In a recently published article, Leslie and Depledge (2020) raise concerns regarding statements on the risk that microplastic particles represent to human health and which have been attributed to reports published by both the Science Academies’ Group, Science Advice for Policy (SAPEA) (part of the European Commission’s Science Advice Mechanism) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (SAPEA. Science Advice for Policy by European Academies, 2019, WHO, 2019). Leslie and Depledge (2020), for instance, suggest that WHO (2019) conclude that there is ‘no evidence to indicate a human health concern.’ This statement, taken out of context from the WHO report (WHO, 2019), is then used to imply that the WHO conclude there is ‘no risk’ related to the exposure of microplastic particles (Leslie and Depledge, 2020). While, Leslie and Depledge (2020) highlight the importance of debate and systematic assessment of claims related to the assessment of risk, observations that we agree are important to highlight, there are a number of points raised in the article that require clarification.
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    Common or independent? The debate over regulations and standards for water reuse in Europe
    (Elsevier, 2016-02-10) Fawell, John; Le Corre Pidou, Kristell; Jeffrey, Paul
    Although unplanned water reuse has been practised across Europe for decades, multiple stresses on water supply and demand over recent years have led to the development of many planned reuse schemes. Despite this development, the legislative and regulatory regimes required to underpin a growing water reuse sector have arguably failed to emerge. The reasons for this and the cases for and against pan-European water reuse regulations are explored and debated. The conclusions highlight several challenges for politicians and policy makers if appropriate regulatory systems and water quality standards are to be provided which support the embryonic European water reuse sector.
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    Lead in drinking water – an ongoing public health concern?
    (Elsevier, 2021-03-03) Jarvis, Peter; Fawell, John
    Lead remains a problem in drinking water in many parts of the world, with millions of properties served by distribution systems containing leaded components. This review considers the latest information on lead in drinking water and presents perspectives on solving the lead problem. Strong links have been established between human exposure to lead and health impacts, both in adults and children. As a result, permissible levels of lead in drinking water have generally become lower. However, achieving these regulations is challenging with the controls available. Future recommendations for aspiring to zero lead in drinking water are i) improved sampling, monitoring and modelling; ii) wider application of point of use devices in the short term; iii) replacement of all lead pipes and plumbing through enforceable regulation and heightened public awareness.
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    Understanding the impact of crop and food production on the water environment ‐using sugar as a model
    (Wiley, 2013-09-19) Hess, Tim M.; Aldaya, Maite; Fawell, John; Franceschini, Helen; Ober, Eric; Schaub, Ruediger; Schulze-Aurich, Jochen
    The availability of fresh water and the quality of aquatic ecosystems are important global concerns, and agriculture plays a major role. Consumers and manufacturers are increasingly sensitive to sustainability issues related to processed food products and drinks. The present study examines the production of sugar from the growing cycle through to processing to the factory gate, and identifies the potential impacts on water scarcity and quality and the ways in which the impact of water use can be minimised. We have reviewed the production phases and processing steps, and how calculations of water use can be complicated, or in some cases how assessments can be relatively straightforward. Finally, we outline several ways that growers and sugar processors are improving the efficiency of water use and reducing environmental impact, and where further advances can be made. This provides a template for the assessment of other crops.
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    A validated reverse-phase LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of haloacetic acids in drinking water: supporting the transition from HAA5 to HAA9
    (IWA Publishing, 2024-04-16) Grundy, Polly L.; Jarvis, Peter R.; Jefferson, Bruce; Fawell, John; Haley, John A.; Goslan, Emma H.
    Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are potentially toxic by-products formed from interactions between organic matter and chlorine during disinfection of drinking water, with brominated HAAs forming when bromide is present. Some countries require monitoring of drinking water for five HAAs, but there is increasing health concern related to the more toxic brominated HAAs and monitoring of nine HAAs (HAA9) is becoming more widespread. However, existing methods of analysis for HAA9 are often sub-optimal, involving complex derivatisation steps and/or long analytical run times. This article presents an improved methodology utilising reverse-phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for which sample preparation involves simple pH adjustment and the analytical run takes 10 min. The efficacy of the method was demonstrated by a full validation across four drinking water matrices with good sensitivity (<0.8 μg/L), precision (<7%), and bias (<10%) observed. A direct comparison using real water samples was performed against the widely used existing gas chromatography method. The new LC-MS/MS method was significantly quicker and easier and demonstrated improved performance in terms of accuracy and precision. This has implications for understanding the risk posed by HAAs in chlorinated water by eliminating the possible historical under-estimates of the levels of the more toxic brominated compounds.