These dataset files show the calibration of a sensor for mercury (II) ions using a Fluorimeter and either HgCl2 or HgNO3. A range of different sample conditions are tested, including sensor concentrations and relative proportions of water and a methanol co-solvent (required for solubility of the probe). Also tested was the ability of acid to affect the probes sensitivity to mercury as nitric acid is needed for the stability of HgNO3 as an analyte. File names listed show the concentration of sensor and the ratio of water to methanol tested. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) data are also given these are used to validate the sensors calibration and also to monitor the levels of soluble mercury content of dental amalgam samples held at either (11⁰C or 37⁰C) in water and saliva. The supernatant of these suspensions is filtered and measured using ICP-MS to give the data as reported. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/bc82f15b-8db6-4398-bfec-655a1eecf2d7

This dataset contains experimental survival rate and transfer potential measurements of two known human pathogens, bacteria Salmonella Typhimurium and Vibrio cholerae, on plastic mulch and ready-to-eat crop plants. Colony forming units (CFUs) were used to measure persistence time of each pathogen on the mulch, and quantify the transfer of each pathogen from the plastic mulch to the surface of spinach and basil leaves. Samples were measured on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 and 14, over a total period of 14 days. Destructive sampling methods were used to collect samples from the plastic and leaf surface, with negative control leaves also sampled at each time point. This dataset was created as part of a study investigating the risk of pathogen growth in agricultural environments using plastic mulch, and is supported by the National Environmental Research Council (NE/V005847/1). Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/a514a386-18d7-4925-a3d4-fb5a2922e135

This dataset contains information about the number of bacterial colonies recovered from plastics beads that were incubated in a 96-well plate for 24 hours at 37 degrees Celsius. Each well in the plate had 1 bead composed of polycaprolactone in it and 150 microlitres of Isopropyl β- d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induced bacterial cell culture. Three replicates were performed. The bacterial cells had been modified to harbour plasmids that encoded genes to trigger the cells to form biofilms, the expression of these genes was induced using IPTG. An empty plasmid was used as the control. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/X010902/1), as part of an experiment looking into using synthetic biology to manipulate bacterial social behaviours to maximise the microbial degradation of environmental waste plastics. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/eef3a20c-cb4c-415f-b4be-4d1c31fb6015

This dataset contains information relating to the survival and persistence of Salmonella spp. on plastic and glass, under conditions simulant of a peri-urban waste pile. The data encompass bacterial strain identity, material type, timepoints (days), temperature (°C), bacterial concentration (CFU/ml), survival percentages, and regression parameters. Data were sampled over a 28-day period using culture-based approaches; and the ability of isolates to cause disease following their recovery was determined through the use of a Galleria mellonella model. This work was supported by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the GCRF SPACES project [grant number NE/V005847/1] and the Plastic Vectors project, “Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: the survival, persistence & ecology of microbial communities in the ‘Plastisphere’” [grant number NE/S005196/1]. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9c3a1ae5-65d7-45c6-b6f3-1a955b17abff

Concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and physichochemical data on wastewater samples collected from six sites across England and Wales between March and July 2020. Also included are the number of COVID-19 positive tests and COVID-19 related deaths for the same period collated from publicly available records. COVID-19 data relate to the lower tier local authority that the wastewater treatment plant was located within. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/ce40e62a-21ae-45b9-ba5b-031639a504f7

This dataset contains mesocosm experimental data quantifying the ability of the bacterium Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) to persist on microplastic beads in podzol and loamy soil. Persistence was determined through measuring surviving colony forming units (CFUs) of S. Typhimurium on the plastics after destructive sampling of the mesocosm jars. The results of a flooding and leachate experiment are also included, containing transfer potential and leachate gradients of S. Typhimurium in each soil under ambient, and flooding conditions. Water was added to soil columns containing the microbeads to simulate flooding, and the CFUs in the water and on virgin plastics were measured to determine transfer potential. In the persistence experiment samples were measured on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35, and in the transfer and leachate experiments samples were measured after 7, 14 and 21 days, with four replicates being taken at each time point. This dataset was created as part of a study investigating how human pathogens enter agricultural environments via flooding or contaminated irrigation, and to determine the survivability of S. Typhimurium in these soils. This work is supported by the National Environmental Research Council (NE/V005847/1). Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/0bfdfa23-15f8-4ffd-b1dc-e77178af0304

This dataset contains the answers gathered from the 806 participants who successfully finished an on-line survey on risk perception of environment-associated risks. The survey was launched on the 15th of February 2018 and ran for five days. The survey contained best worst scaling (BWS) to understand people's perceptions to certain risks. In this study sixteen risks were included in the BWS including four air-, food- and waterborne illnesses and twelve other hazards. The BWS was run in two blocks to consider two factors: first the respondents selected which risk they fear the most/least and in the second block they selected the risk they believed they had the most/least control. The survey also contained a detailed questionnaire on the participants eating habits and health status. Participants were also asked about their knowledge on enteric pathogens and whether they have ever sought or would consider seeking advice on the symptoms. Respondents were also asked whether they have experienced the hazards described in the BWS and whether they have done anything to reduce the risks in their life. The data were collected to gather information on people perceptions on environment-associated risks. This was done to understand the common knowledge on environment-associated pollutants and enlighten issues regarding risk management and mitigation. The data were collected as part of the VIRAQUA project was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) under the Environmental Microbiology and Human Health (EMHH) Programme (NE/M010996/1). Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/0869d961-99ca-4946-9192-f35afccdda38

This dataset contains pH, turbidity and viral concentration information in untreated and treated wastewater samples at wastewater discharge points and wastewater treatment plants along the Conwy River. The aim of the data collection was to investigate diurnal changes in enteric virus concentrations in wastewater and to investigate any correlation with wastewater pH and turbidity. Untreated wastewater samples were collected at one wastewater treatment plant for two events. Treated wastewater samples were collected at two wastewater discharge points for two and three sampling events, respectively. All the sampling took place between July 2016 and March 2017. During a sampling events, samples were collected every two hours for 72 hours using autosamplers. Samples were collected by trained members of staff from Bangor University and Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). The data were collected as part of the VIRAQUA project was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) under the Environmental Microbiology and Human Health (EMHH) Programme (NE/M010996/1). Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/61640ba9-ffdd-4eda-9e83-dafc01ba8cc7

This dataset contains information relating to the survival and persistence of clinically relevant strains of E. coli on plastic and cotton, under environmentally relevant conditions. The data encompass bacterial strain identity, material type, timepoints (days), bacterial concentration (CFU/ml) and survival percentages. Data were sampled over a 28-day period using culture-based approaches; and the ability of isolates to cause disease following their recovery was determined through the use of a Galleria mellonella model. This work was supported by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the GCRF SPACES project [grant number NE/V005847/1] and the Plastic Vectors project, “Microbial hitch-hikers of marine plastics: the survival, persistence & ecology of microbial communities in the ‘Plastisphere’” [grant number NE/S005196/1]. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/268cab8c-459c-4bf8-9b90-838c4d18efb2

This dataset contains the annual flow data of organic waste and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in the region of Leicester City and Leicestershire Country in the UK, for the year of 2019. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/df329c40-cd4d-48d9-90d7-968f69df2279