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The built environment and water • Between 1831 and 1854 tens of thousands of people in England died of cholera. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. • An 1854 cholera epidemic in Soho (London) killed 500 people within 250 yards of the spot where Cambridge Street joins Broad Street, the location of this water pump. John Snow (1813-1858) QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. • Determined that cholera was a water transmitted disease • First used a “GIS” to track an infectious disease QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Vibrio cholerae -- the cholera bacterium Source: http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow.html Snow’s observations: Forever changed how cities obtain drinking water MWRA Distribution System • Seasonal flooding, waterborne pathogens caused widespread disease and death. • Bangladeshi government, Unicef and other aid groups, began tube well installations in 1970’s. Currently, • 10 million tube wells installed • 130 million people (97% of population) obtain drinking water from groundwater wells • Early 1990’s - High levels of Arsenic (As) found in groundwater. MYANMAR Bangladesh • Other regions - e.g. West Bengal, Taiwan, Vietnam, US (e.g. New Hampshire), Chile... Groundwater tube well use and irrigation Irrigation greatly increased food supply and helped fuel a tripling of the Bangladeshi population during the last 40 years Harvey et al, 2005 What is causing the mass poisoning of drinking water in West Bengal and Bangladesh? • 50% of wells (46 million people) have As > 10 ug/L • 28% of wells (28 million people) have As > 50 ug/L Yu et al., 2002 [As] in groundwater Lessons learned: Water pollution • • • • Cities have long experienced water pollution Environmental health effects: acute to chronic illnesses Access to clean drinking water still a major issue for a large percentage of the Earth’s population Massive water distribution systems are expensive and are not necessarily the solution for every situation Lake Waban has a complex history Boston and Worcester RR: 1834 – present Pb, Cu, Zn, As Algaecide applications: 1950s – 1980s Wellesley Apple Orchards: 1850s – 1950s NaAsO2, As2O3, CuSO4 Pesticides: PbHAsO4, CaHAsO4, Pb5OH(AsO4)3 1850 1900 Henry Woods Sons & Co.: 1848 – 1928 1950 2000 Leaded gasoline: peak usage 1970s Paint pigments:PbCrO4, BaSO4, Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 Pb, V, S Methods Outlet: Lower Waban Brook Inlet: Upper Waban Brook Ekman Dredge 2004 Freeze Cores 2006 Freeze Cores Russian Cores Sediment samples were analyzed using XRF, ICP-MS, and SEM-EDS. Distribution of Pb in surface sediments LEGEND [Pb] (µg/g) 500 – 1500 µg/g 10000 – 15000 µg/g 15000 – 20000 µg/g Significantly elevated [Pb] are observed in surface sediments.