Kirstin Ross
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View article: Efficacy of physical and chemical disinfection against clinically relevant free-living amoebae isolated from drinking water and plumbing biofilms
Efficacy of physical and chemical disinfection against clinically relevant free-living amoebae isolated from drinking water and plumbing biofilms Open
Introduction Free-living amoebae (FLA) are commonly found in drinking water systems and biofilms, posing public health risks both as pathogens and as hosts for opportunistic bacteria such as Legionella spp. and Mycobacterium spp. Current w…
View article: Public Health Risks Associated with Aerosolised Pathogens from Non-potable Applications of Recycled Water
Public Health Risks Associated with Aerosolised Pathogens from Non-potable Applications of Recycled Water Open
Water scarcity threatens global health and development, prompting increased adoption of recycled water. However, recycled water introduces potential health risks due to pathogenic microorganisms. Aerosol-generating applications of recycled…
View article: Assessing the impact of fluctuating viral loads on virus recovery from electronegative membrane filters used for wastewater surveillance of biologicals
Assessing the impact of fluctuating viral loads on virus recovery from electronegative membrane filters used for wastewater surveillance of biologicals Open
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 hastened the adoption of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for public health surveillance. While passive sampling results for SARS-CoV-2 appeared to agree with clinical sampling and infection numbers within th…
View article: Decoding Tattoo Inks: Multiple Analysis Techniques Reveal Discrepancies in Ingredient Composition and Elemental Content When Compared Against Label Claims
Decoding Tattoo Inks: Multiple Analysis Techniques Reveal Discrepancies in Ingredient Composition and Elemental Content When Compared Against Label Claims Open
Permanent body art has grown in popularity in recent years, with millions of individuals having black/monochrome or colorful tattoos. With this decision to get a tattoo comes risk: Injecting coloring compounds into the skin has been report…
View article: Microbial risks in drinking water systems: persistence and public health implications of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens
Microbial risks in drinking water systems: persistence and public health implications of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens Open
Introduction The persistence of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) in drinking water plumbing systems poses a significant public health risk that is receiving increasing attention yet remains poorly understood. This study inv…
View article: Drinking water plumbing systems are a hot spot for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
Drinking water plumbing systems are a hot spot for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens Open
These findings underscore the critical role of plumbing biofilms as hotspots for diverse AMR pathogens, amplifying risks for vulnerable populations, particularly in home healthcare settings. This study highlights an urgent need for enhance…
View article: Handwashing basins and healthcare associated infections: Bacterial diversity in biofilms on faucets and drains
Handwashing basins and healthcare associated infections: Bacterial diversity in biofilms on faucets and drains Open
This study demonstrated that biofilms from hospital and residential handbasins contain complex and diverse microbial communities that differ significantly by building type. It also showed biofilms formed on the faucet and drain of a hospit…
View article: Efficacy of chlorine-based disinfectants to control Legionella within premise plumbing systems
Efficacy of chlorine-based disinfectants to control Legionella within premise plumbing systems Open
Legionella is an opportunistic waterborne pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease. It poses a significant public health risk, especially to vulnerable populations in health care facilities. It is ubiquitous in manufactured water systems…
View article: Overview of waste bank application in Indonesian regencies
Overview of waste bank application in Indonesian regencies Open
Managing municipal solid waste (MSW) is a critical for Indonesia, as the country produces a substantial amount of waste annually. However, Indonesia’s recycling rate remains limited, less than 25% of its waste, with the rest ending up in l…
View article: An Investigation into the Prevalence of Methamphetamine Related Enquiries to Local Government Environmental Health Officers
An Investigation into the Prevalence of Methamphetamine Related Enquiries to Local Government Environmental Health Officers Open
Methamphetamine contamination of residential properties remains a serious public health concern for members of the public. External stakeholders including Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and testing and remediation technicians are eng…
View article: Using staged teaching and assessment approaches to facilitate inter-university collaboration and problem-based learning
Using staged teaching and assessment approaches to facilitate inter-university collaboration and problem-based learning Open
This article describes the segmented module design and problem-based learning approaches employed to enable parts of a higher education environmental health module (course) to be shared between universities in Wales, Northern Ireland, and …
View article: January 2024
January 2024 Open
Based in Creswick, north of Ballarat, Kevin's death was a shock to friends and colleagues.His loss will be deeply felt by many in our
View article: Laboratory Analysis of Passive Samplers Used for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Using F-RNA Bacteriophage MS2 as a Model Organism
Laboratory Analysis of Passive Samplers Used for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Using F-RNA Bacteriophage MS2 as a Model Organism Open
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an emerging public health tool that was used worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the challenges with WBE is sample collection. Many countries have used passive sampling techniques f…
View article: Performing food safety inspections
Performing food safety inspections Open
Food safety inspections are a health protection measure employed globally to reduce the public health threat presented by foodborne illness. Despite the prevalent application of food safety inspections in the regulation of food businesses,…
View article: Locally acquired strongyloidiasis in remote Australia: why are there still cases?
Locally acquired strongyloidiasis in remote Australia: why are there still cases? Open
In Australia, strongyloidiasis primarily affects returned travellers, Vietnam veterans and refugees or asylum seekers, and First Nations people. Non-overseas acquired cases are seen almost exclusively in Australian First Nations remote com…
View article: <i>Strongyloides</i> questions—a research agenda for the future
<i>Strongyloides</i> questions—a research agenda for the future Open
The Strongyloides genus of parasitic nematodes have a fascinating life cycle and biology, but are also important pathogens of people and a World Health Organization-defined neglected tropical disease. Here, a community of Strongyloides res…
View article: Evaluation of commercially available methamphetamine presumptive tests for site contamination
Evaluation of commercially available methamphetamine presumptive tests for site contamination Open
Presumptive tests or lateral flow immunoassay testing kits are increasingly being utilised as a fast, portable, cost-effective method to detect an array of analytes, particularly illicit drugs. In Australia, the methamphetamine and deconta…
View article: Climate Change and Health: Challenges to the Local Government Environmental Health Workforce in South Australia
Climate Change and Health: Challenges to the Local Government Environmental Health Workforce in South Australia Open
Climate change is the most urgent and significant public health risk facing the globe. In Australia, it has been identified that Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners (EHOs/EHPs, hereafter EHOs) are a currently underutilized source o…
View article: The composition of planktonic prokaryotic communities in a hospital building water system depends on both incoming water and flow dynamics
The composition of planktonic prokaryotic communities in a hospital building water system depends on both incoming water and flow dynamics Open
In recent years, the frequency of nosocomial infections has increased. Hospital water systems support the growth of microbes, especially opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens. In this study, planktonic prokaryotic communities present in…
View article: Utilising tourist-generated citizen science data in response to environmental challenges: A systematic literature review
Utilising tourist-generated citizen science data in response to environmental challenges: A systematic literature review Open
There has been a proliferation of studies that have examined the impacts of public participation in Citizen Science (CS) that respond to environmental challenges and the recovery of ecosystems, endangered species or other important natural…