Escherichia coli contamination and health aspects of soil and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) subsurface drip irrigated with on-site treated domestic wastewater

Forslund, Anita; Ensink, Jeroen H. J.; Markussen, Bo; Battilani, A.; Psarras, Georgios; Gola, S.; Sandei, L.; Fletcher, Tony; Dalsgaard, Anders

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.08.011

Cited by 67 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 84 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…The reason for these inconsistent sporadic relationships was unclear but is likely associated with the use of groundwater and perforated hoses for irrigation, both of which reduce contamination risk (43,44). Although microbial indicators were found in water, levels were below U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Final Rule on Produce Safety standard limits (28,31,45); this is consistent with other studies demonstrating that groundwater carries a relatively low risk of pathogen detection, compared to that of surface water (9,46). Regardless, our results do not support a positive relationship between indicator detection or concentration on produce and that in source (i.e., groundwater) and irrigation (drip) water.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Contamination of Fresh Produce by Microbial Indicators on Farms and in Packing Facilities: Elucidation of Environmental Routes

Bartz

Lickness

Heredia

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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To improve food safety on farms, it is critical to quantify the impact of environmental microbial contamination sources on fresh produce. However, studies are hampered by difficulties achieving study designs with powered sample sizes to elucidate relationships between environmental and produce contamination. Our goal was to quantify, in the agricultural production environment, the relationship between microbial contamination on hands, soil, and water and contamination on fresh produce. In 11 farms and packing facilities in northern Mexico, we applied a matched study design: composite samples (n ϭ 636, equivalent to 11,046 units) of produce rinses were matched to water, soil, and worker hand rinses during two growing seasons. Microbial indicators (coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and somatic coliphage) were quantified from composite samples. Statistical measures of association and correlations were calculated through Spearman's correlation, linear regression, and logistic regression models. The concentrations of all microbial indicators were positively correlated between produce and hands ( range, 0.41 to 0.75; P Ͻ 0.01). When E. coli was present on hands, the handled produce was nine times more likely to contain E. coli (P Ͻ 0.05). Similarly, when coliphage was present on hands, the handled produce was eight times more likely to contain coliphage (P Ͻ 0.05). There were relatively low concentrations of indicators in soil and water samples, and a few sporadic significant associations were observed between contamination of soil and water and contamination of produce. This methodology provides a foundation for future field studies, and results highlight the need for interventions surrounding farmworker hygiene and sanitation to reduce microbial contamination of farmworkers' hands.IMPORTANCE This study of the relationships between microbes on produce and in the farm environment can be used to support the design of targeted interventions to prevent or reduce microbial contamination of fresh produce with associated reductions in foodborne illness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Contamination of Fresh Produce by Microbial Indicators on Farms and in Packing Facilities: Elucidation of Environmental Routes

Bartz

Lickness

Heredia

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…In fact, reports from around the world indicate that irrigation with TWW presents no greater risk than irrigation with potable water (Bichai et al, 2012;Christou et al, 2014;Cirelli et al, 2012;Forslund et al, 2012Forslund et al, , 2010Jang et al, 2013;Martínez et al, 2013;Shuval, 2010). However, these reports rely either on epidemiological data (reviewed in Shuval, 2010) or mainly on fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as coliforms or Escherichia coli to assess possible health risks (Bichai et al, 2012;Christou et al, 2014;Forslund et al, 2012Forslund et al, , 2010Jang et al, 2013), neglecting major pathogen groups such as viruses and protozoa. The lack of correlation between pathogens and FIB, currently used in microbiological monitoring standards (Bitton, 2011;Edberg et al, 2000;WHO, 2006), is well established (Harwood et al, 2005;Ottoson et al, 2006;Payment et al, 2001) and may lead to under-or over-estimation of the risks to public health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparable levels of microbial contamination in soil and on tomato crops after drip irrigation with treated wastewater or potable water

Orlofsky

Bernstein

Sacks

et al. 2016

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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“…The fact that some studies assume a fully-saturated wastewater soil and substitute wastewater quality for soil quality could, however, lead to bias results, as other contaminants have been identified to contribute to soil quality. The results from experimental studies in Italy and Serbia corroborated this argument by concluding that other environmental sources such as wild animals and birds affected the soil quality, rather than irrigation water or factors linked to irrigation practice [125,126]. The study found that soil samples taken before irrigation harboured higher concentrations of E. coli than in soil during irrigation with treated wastewater or channel water, which had low E. coli levels.…”

Section: Health Risks and The Who Guidelines And Policy Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Wastewater use in urban agriculture: an exposure and risk assessment in Accra, Ghana

Agyei

Ensink

2016

Jnl Sci Tech

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In order to minimize the health risks to agricultural workers, and consumers of wastewater irrigated produce, the World Health Organisation has developed guidelines for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture. This study sought to test the appropriateness of the current Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment model and the multiple-barrier approach advocated by the WHO guidelines.Over a one year period, over 500 produce and ready-to-eat salad samples were collected from fields, markets, and kitchens in Accra, Ghana, and over 300 soil and irrigation water samples were collected. All samples were analysed for E. coli, human adenovirus and norovirus using standard microbiological procedures. In addition, almost 700 participants including farmers, food vendors, and consumers were interviewed and observed to assess critical exposures associated with the transmission of faecal pathogens.The results showed that irrigation water was significantly more contaminated than farm soil, though exposure to soil was found to pose the key risk to farmers due to hand-to-mouth events. Over 80% of produce samples were found contaminated with E. coli, with street food salad being the most contaminated (4.23 Log E. coli/g), and that consumption of salads did not meet health standards. Risk factors identified for produce contamination included farm soil contamination, wastewater use for irrigation, poor hygiene, and operating with a hygiene permit. Awareness of the source of irrigation water was low, but despite the high awareness of health risk, consumers did not prioritize health indicators when buying produce from vendors. Similarly, farmers' awareness of health risk did not influence their adoption of safer farm practices. The study recommends the promotion of interventions that would result in more direct benefits to producers and vendors, together with hygiene education and inspection, hygiene certification and enforcement of food safety byelaws in order to increase the uptake of the multi-barrier approach. 4PhD related documents 2014:

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Escherichia coli contamination and health aspects of soil and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) subsurface drip irrigated with on-site treated domestic wastewater

Cited by 67 publications

References 84 publications

Contamination of Fresh Produce by Microbial Indicators on Farms and in Packing Facilities: Elucidation of Environmental Routes

Contamination of Fresh Produce by Microbial Indicators on Farms and in Packing Facilities: Elucidation of Environmental Routes

Comparable levels of microbial contamination in soil and on tomato crops after drip irrigation with treated wastewater or potable water

Wastewater use in urban agriculture: an exposure and risk assessment in Accra, Ghana

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