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]]>Ribbed mussels can remove nitrogen and other excess nutrients from an urban estuary and could help improve water quality in other urban and coastal locations, according to a study for New York City’s Bronx River. The findings, published in Environmental Science and Technology, are part of long-term efforts to improve water quality in the Bronx River Estuary.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Milford Laboratory in Milford, Connecticut began the two-year pilot project in June 2011. They used a 6 x 6-metre raft with mussel growing lines hanging below as their field location in an industrial area in the South Bronx, not far from a sewage treatment plant. The waters were closed to shellfish harvesting because of bacterial contamination.
“Ribbed mussels live in estuarine habitats and can filter bacteria, microalgae, nutrients and contaminants from the water,” said Julie Rose, a research ecologist at the Milford Laboratory, part of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and co-author of the study. “They are native to the [US] East Coast so there are no concerns about invasive species disturbing the ecosystem, and they are efficient at filtering a variety of particles from the water. Ribbed mussels are not sold commercially, so whatever they eat will not be eaten by humans.”
Researchers found that the Bronx River mussels were generally healthy, and their tissues had high amounts of a local nitrogen isotope, indicating that they removed nitrogen from local waters. They also had lower amounts of trace metals and organic contaminants than blue mussels collected from the seafloor nearby.
The researchers estimate that a fully populated mussel raft similar to the one used in the study would clean an average of 11 million litres of water and remove about 63 kilogrammes of particulate matter, like dust and soot, daily. When harvested, the mussels could be used for fertiliser or as feed for some animals, recycling nutrients back into the land.
Gary Wikfors, Milford Laboratory Director and co-author of the study said: “Nutrient bioextraction using shellfish is becoming more common, and this study demonstrated that it could be an additional tool for nitrogen management in the coastal environment.”
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]]>Ryan Thorpe and Rachel Chang developed the system over two years at their high school in Long Island, New York. The concept works by using biosensors that detect specific bacterial analytes that generate an electric signal. A purification unit using an Arduino microprocessor controls a motor that then pushes forward a rail to eject chemicals to eliminate bacterial presence in the water.
“I had been reading a journal article about the conventional methods of bacterial detection and realised that methods like PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction] can take one to two days,” Chang told The Source. “I personally wanted to create a system that would be able to improve upon the standard methods of detection to expand access to clean water.”
The cost of using one of the biosensors with enzymes mobilised is around US$20.
“[It’s far cheaper than] PCR which just for the machine costs upwards of US$1,000,” explained Thorpe. “And then in order to purchase the primers associated with detecting bacteria, it’s hundreds of dollars for each trial.”
The pair said that the system could be used in developed and developing countries but requires further field tests to see if it can handle large sources of water like wells and lakes in developing countries.
In the developed world, Thorpe said that it can be formatted into a cylinder and implemented in piping systems to test the success of pipe sealant and prevent bacterial flow of larger water sources.
“We’ve been able to create [a network with other Stockholm Junior Water Prize finalists] and are hoping that they can become involved to create a global effort to bring awareness to bacterial pathogens,” added Thorpe.
Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of Stockholm International Water Institute said: “This is a very inspiring project that takes on one of the world’s biggest challenges, providing clean drinking water for all. Methods like these can unlock huge human potential, when access to safe drinking water, and by extension health, improves among hundreds of millions of people.”
Thousands of young scientists from all over the world competed in national competitions for the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during World Water Week in Stockholm. Teams from 33 countries competed in this year’s finals.
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