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Use of molecular approaches in hydrogeological studies: the case of carbonate aquifers in southern Italy

Utilisation des approches moléculaires dans les études hydrogéologiques: le cas des aquifères calcaires dans le sud de l’Italie

Uso de enfoques moleculares en estudios hidrogeológicos: el caso de los acuíferos carbonáticos en el sur de Italia

水文地质研究中分子方法的使用:意大利南部碳酸盐岩含水层的研究实例

Uso de abordagens moleculares em estudos hidrogeológicos: o caso dos aquíferos carbonáticos do sul da Itália

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Abstract

Waterborne pathogens represent a significant health risk in both developed and developing countries with sensitive sub-populations including children, the elderly, neonates, and immune-compromised people, who are particularly susceptible to enteric infections. Annually, approximately 1.8 billion people utilize a faecally contaminated water source, and waterborne diseases are resulting in up to 2.1 million human mortalities globally. Although groundwater has traditionally been considered less susceptible to contamination by enteric pathogens than surface water due to natural attenuation by overlying strata, the degree of microbial removal attributable to soils and aquifers can vary significantly depending on several factors. Thus, accurate assessment of the variable presence and concentration of microbial contaminants, and the relative importance of potentially causative factors affecting contaminant ingress, is critical in order to develop effective source (well) and resource (aquifer) protection strategies. “Traditional” and molecular microbiological study designs, when coupled with hydrogeological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical methods, have proven useful for analysis of numerous aspects of subsurface microbial dynamics. Accordingly, this overview paper presents the principal microbial techniques currently being employed (1) to predict and identify sources of faecal contamination in groundwater, (2) to elucidate the dynamics of contaminant migration, and (3) to refine knowledge about the hydrogeological characteristics and behaviours of aquifer systems affected by microbial contamination with an emphasis on carbonate aquifers, which represent an important global water supply. Previous investigations carried out in carbonate aquifers in southern Italy are discussed.

Résumé

Les agents pathogènes d’origine hydrique représentent un risqué important pour la santé aussi bien dans les pays développés que dans les pays en développement avec des sous-populations sensibles notamment les enfants, les personnes âgées, les nouveaux nés, et les personnes immunodéprimées, qui sont particulièrement sensibles aux infections entériques. Chaque année, environ 1.8 milliard de personnes utilisent une source d’eau contaminée par des déchets fécaux, et les maladies transmises par l’eau entrainent jusqu’à 2.1 millions de décès de personnes dans le monde. Bien que les eaux souterraines aient traditionnellement été considérées comme moins sensibles à la contamination par les pathogènes entériques que les eaux de surface en raison de l’atténuation naturelle lors de l’infiltration au sein des couches géologiques supérieures, le degré d’élimination microbienne attribuable au sol et aux aquifères peut varier de manière significative selon plusieurs facteurs. Ainsi, une évaluation précise de la présence et de la concentration variable des contaminants microbiens, et de l’importance relative des potentiels facteurs de causalité qui influent sur la pénétration des contaminants, est essentielle pour développer des stratégies efficaces de protection des sources (puits) et des ressources (aquifères). Les méthodologies « traditionnelles » et de microbiologie moléculaire, associées aux méthodes hydrogéologiques, hydrochimiques, isotopiques, et géophysiques, se sont révélées utiles pour l’analyse de nombreux aspects de la dynamique microbienne souterraine. Par conséquent, cet article présente les principales techniques microbiennes actuellement utilisées (1) pour prédire et identifier les sources de contamination fécale dans les eaux souterraines, (2) pour élucider la dynamique de migration des contaminants, et (3) pour affiner les connaissances relatives aux caractéristiques hydrogéologiques et aux comportements des systèmes aquifères affecté par une contamination microbienne, en mettant l’accent sur les aquifères carbonatés, qui représentent une importante source d’approvisionnement en eau potable à l’échelle mondiale. Des recherches antérieures réalisées dans les aquifères carbonatés du Sud de l’Italie sont discutées.

Resumen

Los patógenos transmitidos por el agua representan un riesgo significativo para la salud en países desarrollados y en desarrollo con subpoblaciones sensibles que incluyen niños, ancianos, neonatos y personas inmunocomprometidas, que son particularmente susceptibles a las infecciones entéricas. Anualmente, aproximadamente 1.8 billones de personas utilizan una fuente de agua contaminada por contaminantes fecales, y las enfermedades transmitidas por el agua están causando hasta 2.1 millones de muertes humanas en todo el mundo. Aunque el agua subterránea ha sido tradicionalmente considerada menos susceptible que el agua superficial a la contaminación por patógenos entéricos debido a la atenuación natural por los estratos suprayacentes, el grado de eliminación microbiana atribuible a los suelos y acuíferos puede variar significativamente dependiendo de varios factores. Por lo tanto, una evaluación precisa de la presencia y la concentración variable de contaminantes microbianos, y la importancia relativa de factores potencialmente causales que influyen en la entrada de contaminantes, es crítica para desarrollar estrategias efectivas de protección de fuentes (pozos) y recursos (acuíferos). Los diseños de estudios microbiológicos “tradicionales” y moleculares, junto con métodos hidrogeológicos, hidroquímicos, isotópicos y geofísicos, han demostrado ser útiles para el análisis de numerosos aspectos de la dinámica microbiana subterránea. En este trabajo se presentan las principales técnicas microbianas utilizadas actualmente (1) para predecir e identificar fuentes de contaminación fecal en agua subterránea, (2) para dilucidar la dinámica de la migración de contaminantes, y (3) para refinar el conocimiento sobre las características y comportamientos hidrogeológicos de los sistema acuíferos afectados por la contaminación microbiana con un énfasis en los acuíferos carbonáticos, que representan un importante suministro de agua a nivel mundial. Se discuten investigaciones previas realizadas en acuíferos carbonáticos en el sur de Italia.

摘要

水生病原体在发达国家和发展中国家对特别容易受到肠道感染的敏感亚群体包括儿童、老人、新生儿以及缺乏免疫的人群具有很大的健康风险。每年大约18亿人在使用粪便污染的水源,每年水传播疾病导致全球210万人死亡。尽管传统上认为,由于上伏地层的自然稀释,地下水与地表水相比不容易受到污染,但土壤和含水层中的微生物消除程度变化非常大,取决于好几个因素。因此,精确评价微生物污染物存在的变化情况及其含量、以及影响污染物进入的潜在因素的相对重要性至关重要,为的就是提出有效的水源(井)和资源(含水层)保护策略。“传统的”和分子微生物研究设计与水文地质、水化学、同位素以及地球物理方法结合一起时,就能证明对于分析地表之下微生物动力学的众多方面非常有用。因此,本篇综述性文章展示了目前采用的主要微生物技术:(1)预测和确认地下水中的粪便污染源;(2)阐明污染物运移的动力学;(3)提炼受到微生物污染的含水层系统水文地质特征和习性方面的知识,重点放在代表全球重要供水水源的碳酸盐岩含水层上。还论述了先前在意大利南部对碳酸盐岩含水层进行的调查。

Resumo

Patógenos transmitidos pela água representam um risco à saúde significante tanto em países desenvolvidos quanto em desenvolvimento com subpopulações sensíveis incluindo crianças, idosos, neonatos, e pessoas com imunidade comprometida, que são particularmente susceptíveis a infecções entéricas. Anualmente, aproximadamente 1.8 bilhão de pessoas utilizam fontes de água contaminadas por organismos fecais, e doenças de vinculação hídrica tem resultado em mais de 2.1 milhões de mortes globalmente. Apesar das águas subterrâneas terem sido consideradas tradicionalmente menos susceptíveis à contaminação por patógenos entéricos que as águas superficiais devido à atenuação natural dos estratos de cobertura, o grau de remoção microbiana atribuível ao solo e aos aquíferos pode variar significativamente dependendo de diversos fatores. Consequentemente, a avaliação precisa da presença variável e da concentração de contaminantes microbianos, e a importância relativa de fatores potencialmente causais que afetam a entrada de contaminantes, é crítica para desenvolver estratégias eficazes de proteção de fontes (poço) e recursos (aquíferos). Os projetos de estudos microbiológicos “tradicionais” e moleculares, quando combinados com métodos hidrogeológicos, hidroquímicos, isotópicos e geofísicos, têm se mostrado úteis para a análise de vários aspectos da dinâmica microbiana subterrânea. Assim, este artigo de síntese apresenta as principais técnicas microbianas atualmente utilizadas (1) para prever e identificar fontes de contaminação fecal em águas subterrâneas, (2) para elucidar a dinâmica de migração de contaminantes, e (3) para aperfeiçoar o conhecimento sobre as características e comportamentos hidrogeológicos de sistemas aquíferos afetados pela contaminação microbiana, com ênfase nos aquíferos carbonáticos, que representam um importante suprimento de água global. Investigações anteriores realizadas em aquíferos de carbonatos no sul da Itália são discutidas.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Paul Dylan Hynds and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions, which contributed to the improvement of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090, Pesche (IS), Italy

    Antonio Bucci & Gino Naclerio

  2. Department of Physics and Earth Sciences “Macedonio Melloni”, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Emma Petrella & Fulvio Celico

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  1. Antonio Bucci
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  2. Emma Petrella
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Correspondence to Antonio Bucci.

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Bucci, A., Petrella, E., Celico, F. et al. Use of molecular approaches in hydrogeological studies: the case of carbonate aquifers in southern Italy. Hydrogeol J 25, 1017–1031 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-017-1562-8

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