Latest news with #EColi
CBC
4 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Lac Leamy deemed safe after mystery spill, NCC says
Social Sharing The National Capital Commission (NCC) says Lac Leamy is safe after a mysterious and unspecified hydrocarbon spill earlier this week, but high E. Coli counts are keeping the beach closed for swimming Friday. On Tuesday, the NCC closed the Gatineau, Que., beach for swimming and recommended against other uses while it investigated and contained what the province called a "hydrocarbon sheen" on the water. Hydrocarbons can include fuels such as gasoline, although motorized boats aren't permitted on Lac Leamy. In a news release Thursday, the NCC said the substance has now been absorbed and investigators believe the spill was not dangerous to humans. "Nothing observed on site allows the source of the product found on the surface of the water to be clearly identified," the commission said. However, regular water quality testing has shown high E. Coli levels, so swimming at Lac Leamy is still prohibited until further notice.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Indian Express
How Paris fixed Seine's ‘poop problem', made river fit for swimmers
For over a century, the River Seine in Paris had a 'poop problem' — untreated sewage frequently made it to the river, making it a breeding ground for E coli and thus unfit for swimmers. But not any more. Parisians on Saturday (July 5) rushed to take a dip in the Seine, with authorities opening up the river to public swimming for the very first time since 1923. This came after an extensive clean-up operation spurred by the Paris Olympics last year, in which the river was used as a venue for certain swimming events. Here's what ailed the Seine, and how authorities cleaned the river up. The Seine has always been a romantic river. It has been the subject of many paintings, sepia-tinted photographs, and ballads. And of course, people love to fall in love on the banks of the Seine. Yet, for more than a century, the Seine was notorious for being filthy. Very filthy. So much so that it was too toxic for most fishes, and swimming in the river was banned since 1923. This was courtesy Paris' aged sewage system in which rainwater and wastewater used to flow in the same pipes. During heavy spells of rain, these pipes reached their capacity and start overflowing, which led to untreated sewage being directly discharged into the Seine, instead of first going to a treatment plant. This contamination sent the concentration of E coli in the river skyrocketing. A bacteria found in the faecal waste of humans and other animals, some strains of E Coli can cause severe illness, including gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is the presence of this bacteria, in many times the safe limit, that made the Seine unsafe for humans and aquatic life alike. To fix the Seine, Paris spent well over a billion dollars to improve its infrastructure: this was a key promise made by organisers after the city won the bid for the 2024 Olympics in 2016. At the heart of Paris' solution for fixing the Seine has been the creation of a giant underground rainwater storage tank in southeastern Paris, capable of holding enough water to fill up 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. This tank is meant to hold most runoff water during heavy rains, and prevent overwhelming the city's sewege systems. Apart from this, the city made major investments to connect tens of thousands of homes to the sewer system, and upgrade water treatment facilities. While heavy rains nonetheless affected a few Olympic training sessions and the men's triathlon event, competitions eventually went ahead in the Seine last year. Now the river has been opened to the public. Authorities say that daily water quality tests will be conducted during the swimming season at designated swimming areas. At the moment, there are three sites along the banks of the Seine in Paris which can accomodate more than 1,000 swimmers daily in the summer. This is an updated version of an explainer first published last year.
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Plastic to paracetamol: Scientists engineer E. coli to turn waste into painkillers, but doubts remain
LONDON, June 29 — Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller, a study said Monday, though outside experts doubted the technique would make a dent in the fight against plastic pollution. Paracetamol, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, is made from the derivatives of fossil fuels, often by Asia-based subcontractors using cheap, polluting methods that contribute to climate change. The world is also facing an escalating crisis of plastic pollution, with countries set for another bruising round of negotiations in August in the hope of sealing an international treaty to reduce plastic waste. The British team of researchers behind the new study sought to find a solution to the two problems by roping in a third — which is normally known for making people sick when they eat contaminated food. First the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic, which is used in bottles and many other plastic products the world over, to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of This created a molecule they called PABA, according to the Nature Chemistry study, which was partly funded by drug firm AstraZeneca. By genetically modifying the bacteria, the chemists were able to transform their molecule into acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. 'This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic — it can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease,' lead study Stephen Wallace said in a statement. Singaporean researchers not involved in the study praised how it combined synthetic and biological chemistry. But 'several practical considerations remain' to take this idea beyond the proof-of-concept stage, they wrote in a linked commentary in the journal Nature Chemistry. The chemical reaction produces only a limited amount of PABA molecules, which 'may be insufficient for industrial applications', they wrote. Melissa Valliant, communications director of the Beyond Plastics project of Bennington College in the United States, expressed scepticism. 'A new 'plastic-eating bacteria' pops up in the news every few months and has been doing so for years,' she told AFP. 'These discoveries never scale up to anything significant enough to tackle the massive plastic pollution problem.' This 'crisis needs to be stopped at the source,' she added, which means 'companies and policymakers must reduce the amount of plastic being produced and used in the first place'. — ETX Studio
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Grey District asked to conserve water after problems with reservoir levels
Grey District Council says water reservoir levels are very low because of a problem at the Coal Creek water treatment plant overnight. Photo: 123rf People in Greymouth and the surrounding areas are being asked to conserve water until further notice. Grey District Council said water reservoir levels were very low because of a problem at the Coal Creek water treatment plant overnight. "This means you may notice reduced water pressure in your home or business today," the council said. "Our team is working hard to rebuild reservoir levels and find solutions as quickly as possible." The council said water quality had not been affected and it was still safe to drink. A boil water notice was in place for Greater Greymouth area for more than two weeks in April after Coliform bacteria and low levels of E Coli were detected in test results. The notice was lifted on 25 April, after checks of the water treatment facility determined the council complied with the requirements. The source of the contamination is still not known, and the council's investigation is continuing. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
National Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
E.coli can turn plastic into painkillers, chemists discover
Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller, a study said Monday, though outside experts doubted the technique would make a dent in the fight against plastic pollution. Article content Paracetamol, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, is made from the derivatives of fossil fuels, often by Asia-based subcontractors using cheap, polluting methods that contribute to climate change. Article content The world is also facing an escalating crisis of plastic pollution, with countries set for another bruising round of negotiations in August in the hope of sealing an international treaty to reduce plastic waste. Article content Article content The British team of researchers behind the new study sought to find a solution to the two problems by roping in a third — which is normally known for making people sick when they eat contaminated food. Article content First the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic, which is used in bottles and many other plastic products the world over, to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of Article content This created a molecule they called PABA, according to the Nature Chemistry study, which was partly funded by drug firm AstraZeneca. Article content By genetically modifying the bacteria, the chemists were able to transform their molecule into acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. Article content Article content 'This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic — it can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease,' lead study Stephen Wallace said in a statement. Article content Article content Singaporean researchers not involved in the study praised how it combined synthetic and biological chemistry. Article content But 'several practical considerations remain' to take this idea beyond the proof-of-concept stage, they wrote in a linked commentary in the journal Nature Chemistry. Article content The chemical reaction produces only a limited amount of PABA molecules, which 'may be insufficient for industrial applications', they wrote. Article content Melissa Valliant, communications director of the Beyond Plastics project of Bennington College in the United States, expressed scepticism. Article content 'These discoveries never scale up to anything significant enough to tackle the massive plastic pollution problem.' Article content
