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Searching of Phenol-Degrading Bacteria in Raw Wastewater from Underground Coal Gasification Process as Suitable Candidates in Bioaugmentation Approach

Jałowiecki Łukasz, Borgulat Jacek, Strugała-Wilczek Aleksandra, Glaser Mikołaj, Płaza Grażyna

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2024

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Vol. 25, nr 2

62--71

EN

The aim of the conducted study was to isolate, identify and characterize suitable bacterial strains from UCG wastewater as potential candidates for the bioaugmentation approach. For this purpose, the straightforward cultivation procedure and unique biochemical selection were employed to gain insights into the specific properties of bacteria. From the 100 strains isolated from UCG wastewater, three (Paenibacillus pasadensis SAFN-007, Peanibacillus humicus Au34, and Staphylococcus warneri DK131) demonstrated the capacity to degrade phenol and specific biochemical properties. Phenol degradation reached more than 90% for the above-mentioned strains, while the average phenol removal rate for other selected strains was 82.9%, ranging from 66.1% to 90%. The bacterial strains belong to multi-enzyme producers and constitute a possible source of potential technologically important enzymes. Phenotypic microarray plates were used to characterise the metabolic properties of the strains. It was found that 74%, 67.4% and 94.2% of the carbon metabolites tested were utilised by Paenibacillus pasadensis SAFN-007, Peanibacillus humicus Au34 and Staphylococcus warneri DK131, respectively. Among C sources, the strains have the capability to metabolize some substrates appearing in phenol pathways, such as: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, succinic acid, α-hydroxy-glutaric acid-γ-lactone, bromosuccinic acid, mono-methyl succinate, methyl-pyruvate, p-hydroxy-phenyl acetic acid, m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, L-galactonic acid-γ-lactone, D-galactonic acid-γ- lactone, phenylethylamine. Bacteria show different levels of tolerance to pH and osmolality, and they can thrive in different habitats. Another characteristic of these strains is their high resistance to many antibiotics (multi-resistant bacteria). These properties allow the use of the isolated bacterial strains as good candidates for bioremediation of phenol-contaminated environments. The wastewater from the underground coal gasification process is an example of a good extreme environment for the isolation of unique bacteria with specific metabolic properties.

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Ergonomics vs economics in the construction logistics: a case study from the “Hexagon Construction” company in Poland

Matiringe Ronald Kwadzayi, Płaza Grażyna

Production Engineering Archives

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2022

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Vol. 28, Iss. 4

398--406

EN

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between the aspects of ergonomics and economics in the construction industry. Ergonomic cost calculation mainly as a result of down time due to accidents and incidents was evaluated. The impact of ergonomics intervention on construction economic in the logistics network was also determined. This impact was simulated using an annual total of accidents for the year 2021. Organizations, particularly businesses, must implement ergonomics diagnosis measures in order to reduce occupational hazards and accidents in their supply chain. Ergonomics measures are implemented to reduce and eliminate workplace accidents, but most manufacturing companies and employers overlook this aspect because it is seen as an expense. The case study was performed in Hexagon Steel Construction company. This is due to the fact that such a business operative is responsible for a wide range of activities in the logistical network, from manufacturing to warehousing and distribution, and finally to final structure installation on the construction site.

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PN-ISO 37120 Standard – Known or Unknown by Local Administration – Preliminary Study

Midor Katarzyna, Płaza Grażyna, Kuzior Aleksandra, Molenda Michał

Multidisciplinary Aspects of Production Engineering

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2021

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Vol. 4, Iss. 1

489--498

EN

Silesian cities are facing economic changes related, among others, to low-carbon transformation. The PN-ISO 37120 standard, which requires the analysis of a number of indicators that determine the directions of city development in particular areas of its functioning, may become a tool supporting city authorities in those activities. Having the above in mind, the authors of the article attempted to find an answer to the question whether the local administration employees of selected Silesian cities have knowledge of the PN-ISO 37120:2015 standard today, as it is an interesting tool for the implementation of the requirements for modern cities. Therefore, the knowledge of the content of the standard by the local government personnel seems to be necessary in order to decide whether this standard is an appropriate tool for the development of a particular city/municipality or not. The study was a pilot project and it involved two cities located in the Silesian agglomeration.

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Reception of the smart city concept in the opinion of local administration officials – a case study

Midor Katarzyna, Kuzior Aleksandra, Płaza Grażyna, Molenda Michał, Krawczyk Dariusz

Management Systems in Production Engineering

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2021

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nr 4 (29)

320--326

EN

A city based on the sustainable development priorities, friendly to its residents, combines human activity, technology challenges, and environmental requirements. The implementation of the idea of smart city should be discussed with regard to specific areas of activity. In order to identify the way of perceiving the activity conducted under this concept, a survey was carried out among employees of the City Office in Zabrze. The cognitive, competence and informational scope was verified. It was found that the overwhelming majority of officials (79%) are convinced that smart city principles are being implemented. The survey participants also provided specific examples of smart-city initiatives undertaken in the city, and a significant part of the respondents (64%) assigned their professional tasks to them. Moreover, three out of four surveyed officials in Zabrze declared that they know the tools supporting the smart urban development. The results presented in the article constitute pilot studies aimed at understanding the extent to which the Smart City idea is known by local government administration employees. In addition, these results serve as a tool for the authorities of Zabrze to disseminate knowledge about smart city among employees of the city hall.

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Moving to Smart Cities Through the Standard Indicators ISO 37120

Midor Katarzyna, Płaza Grażyna

Multidisciplinary Aspects of Production Engineering

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2020

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Vol. 3, Iss. 1

617--630

EN

In this article the current and most important standards focusing on smart city sector and organizations issuing them were presented. The standard-setting family for smart cities consists of four basic standards: ISO 37101, ISO 37120, ISO 37122 and ISO 37123. The paper also presents the indicators on the basis of which a city can apply for a certificate of ISO 37120 standard and presents the possibilities of a register of different cities from all over the world in the Global Cities RegistryTM, developed by WCCD (World Council on City Data). Thanks to the data contained in the database, city authorities can answer the question: How prosperous is my city? and compare with other cities from around the world. As an example of the use of WCCD data, a comparison of 21 European cities in terms of the amount of renewable energy consumption in relation to the size of population living in the city has been presented.

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The Prevalence of tet(A) and tet(M) Tetracycline Resistance Genes in Municipal Wastewater

Hubeny Jakub, Buta Martyna, Zieliński Wiktor, Harnisz Monika, Korzeniewska Ewa, Nowrotek Monika, Płaza Grażyna

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 10

1--6

EN

Antibiotic resistance is a widespread problem that poses one of the greatest risks to public health around the world. The main cause of antibiotic resistance is the overuse of antibiotics in the human and veterinary medicine and in agriculture. Drugs are released into the environment with treated wastewater, and they can act as stressors that increase the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not equipped with appropriate technologies for eliminating the genetic material from the treated wastewater. In this study, the prevalence of tet(A) and tet(M) genes encoding resistance to tetracycline antibiotics was investigated in the samples of municipal wastewater and sewage sludge collected from two WWTPs and in the water samples collected from rivers which receive the treated wastewater. The samples were collected in two seasons of the year (summer and fall). The presence of ARGs was confirmed by PCR. The study revealed that ARGs were not effectively removed from wastewater by the WWTP in the Region of Silesia. Seasonal variations in the occurrence of the analyzed genes were not observed in the samples collected from the above-mentioned plant. Tetracycline resistance genes were detected in all samples of river water. The tet(A) gene was not removed from the treated wastewater in the WWTP in the Region of Warmia and Mazury, whereas the tet(M) gene was detected on a seasonal basis. The tet(M) gene was not detected in the samples of river water collected upstream and downstream from the WWTP. The study demonstrated that the existing WWTPs lack the means to eliminate ARGs. The wastewater treatment systems have to be modified to effectively remove ARGs from the treated wastewater.

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The Occurrence of Integrase Genes in Different Stages of Wastewater Treatment

Buta Martyna, Hubeny Jakub, Zieliński Wiktor, Korzeniewska Ewa, Harnisz Monika, Nowrotek Monika, Płaza Grażyna

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 10

39--45

EN

The uncontrolled use of antibiotics and the release of drug residuals into the environment contribute to antibiotic resistance and constitute a serious public health threat. The spread of antibiotic resistance can be attributed mainly to the huge amounts of bacteria harboring the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) which are released into the environment with the treated wastewater. The molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, in which the mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as plasmids, transposons, bacteriophages and integrons associated with the transfer of ARGs play the main role, should be broadly investigated to develop effective methods for addressing this problem. This study focused mainly on integrons which: (i) are the simple elements involved in the mobility of gene cassettes, (ii) have a common structure, (iii) can be associated with other MGEs, and (iv) are particularly efficient in trapping ARGs. The aim of the study was to estimate the efficiency of different stages of the wastewater treatment process in removing class 1, 2 and 3 integrase genes in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Poland and to investigate the presence of these genes in river water upstream and downstream from the effluent discharge point. The presence of intI1, intI2 and intI3 genes was analysed by means of standard PCR with specific primers and a thermal cycling profiles. The samples of wastewater and sludge were collected from two WWTPs located in the Polish regions of (a) Warmia and Mazury, and (b) Silesia. The samples of river water were also collected upstream and downstream from the examined WWTPs. In the selected WWTPs, wastewater is treated through the activated sludge process with various modifications. The presence of intI1, intI2 and intI3 genes in different stages of wastewater treatment was characterized by a similar pattern. The results of this study indicate that WWTPs are not highly effective in removing the integrase genes from all three integron classes. The study revealed somewhat unexpected results, which indicate that the recently discontinued monitoring of the intI3 gene in the wastewater treatment process should be reinstated. The existing wastewater treatment systems should be improved and modified to effectively eliminate the integrase genes from wastewater and prevent contamination of the surface water.

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Prevalence of Beta Lactamases Genes in Sewage and Sludge Treated in Mechanical-Biological Wastewater Treatment Plants

Zieliński Wiktor, Buta Martyna, Hubeny Jakub, Korzeniewska Ewa, Harnisz Monika, Nowrotek Monika, Płaza Grażyna

Journal of Ecological Engineering

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2019

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Vol. 20, nr 9

80--86

EN

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a very important link in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to the environment and the formation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The mechanical and biological methods of wastewater treatment in WWTPs do not completely remove the resistance genes from sewage. The genes responsible for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are very common in the family Enterobacteriaceae that colonize the human digestive tract and are abundant in wastewater. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of genes encoding beta-lactamases in the wastewater and sludge samples collected from two WWTPs in the Polish regions of Warmia and Silesia and from the river water upstream and downstream from the WWTPs. The wastewater samples were passed through polycarbonate membrane filters, whereas the sludge samples were homogenized, and genomic DNA was extracted. The blaTEM, blaOXA and blaSHV genes were detected by means of standard PCR. The most prevalent gene was blaTEM which occurred in all samples, including the treated wastewater. The blaOXA gene was also frequently detected in all samples from the WWTP in Silesia. The blaSHV gene was least prevalent in the tested samples. These results indicate that wastewater is a hotspot for resistant bacteria. Beta-lactamase genes are not eliminated through the mechanical-biological wastewater treatment methods, and they can spread to other environments, thus increasing the pool of antibiotic resistance genes around the world and creating epidemiological risks.

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Aerobic biodegradation of norfloxacin and ofloxacin by a microbial consortium

Jałowiecki Łukasz, Płaza Grażyna, Ejhed Helena, Nawrotek Monika

Archives of Environmental Protection

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2019

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Vol. 45, no. 4

40--47

EN

Since fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics are extensively used both in human and veterinary medicine their accumulation in the environment is causing increasing concern. The aim of the study was to isolate a microbial consortium resistant to ofloxacin and norfloxacin and able to biodegrade both antibiotics. Green compost was used as a source of microorganisms. The biodegradation efficiency was monitored by changes of antibiotics concentrations and toxicity. The microbial consortium was composed of two bacterial isolates: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K2) and Achromobacter sp. (K3) and two fungi Candida manassasensis (K1) and Trichosporon asahii (K4). All the isolates were characterized as highly resistant to both antibiotics – ofloxacin and norfloxacin. FQs were supplied individually into the culture medium in the presence of an easily degradable carbon source – glucose. Biodegradation of norfloxacin was much faster than ofloxacin biodegradation. During 20 days of the experiment, the norfloxacin level decreased by more than 80%. Ofloxacin was generally biodegraded thereafter at relatively slow biodegradation rate. After 28 days the ofloxacin level decreased by 60%. Similarly, the toxicity of biodegraded antibiotics decreased 4-fold and 3.5-fold for norfloxacin and ofloxacin, respectively. The ability of the bacterial-fungal consortium to degrade antibiotics and reduce toxicity could help to reduce environmental pollution with these pharmaceutical.

PL

Antybiotyki to zróżnicowana grupa związków, która nie ma konkretnych uregulowań prawnych, dotyczących ich występowania w środowisku, zarówno wodnym jak i glebowym. Farmaceutyki przedostają się do środowiska m.in. wraz ze ściekami oczyszczonymi z oczyszczalni ścieków i jako substancje czynne biologicznie stanowią poważne zagrożenie dla organizmów żywych. Ich akumulacja w środowisku prowadzi do nieodwracalnych zmian w ekosystemach oraz szerzenia się zjawiska oporności wśród mikroorganizmów. Fluorochinolony (FQ) to syntetyczne substancje antybakteryjne o zwiększonym potencjale farmakokinetycznym i szerokim spektrum działania. FQ to jedna z najszybciej rozwijających się klas antybiotyków coraz częściej stosowanych zarówno w szpitalach, jak i w społecznościach lokalnych w leczeniu różnego typu zakażeń. Norfloksacyna i ofloksacyna to FQ II generacji o podobnej budowie strukturalnej wykazujące aktywność głównie wobec bakterii Gram-ujemnych. Ze względu na swoja budowę antybiotyki te w niewielkim stopniu są rozkładane w środowisku, przez długi czas kumulują się w wodzie i w glebie, oddziałując w na organizmy żywe. Celem pracy była ocena toksyczności ofloksacyny i norfloksacyny po biodegradacji przez zespół mikroorganizmów wyizolowany z kompostu. Proces biodegradacji przeprowadzono w bioreaktorach New Brunswick™ BioFlo® 415 o pojemności 5,5 l. Stopień degradacji określono za pomocą chromatografi i cieczowej w odwróconym układzie faz. Do oceny toksyczności wykorzystano test Microtox® oparty na pomiarach aktywności bakterii luminescencyjnych Vibrio fischeri.