Responses of indicator bacteria to forest soil amended with municipal sewage sludge from aerated and non-aerated ponds

Vasseur, Liette; Cloutier, Caroline; Labelle, A.; Duff, J.; Beaulieu, Carole; Ansseau, Colette

doi:10.1016/0269-7491(95)00079-8

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…There were lower temperatures during the Autumn/Winter application and a significant rainfall event early after application, this resulted in lower rates of desiccation of the sewage sludge, which together may have resulted in longer survival times of the E. coli bacteria. Survival times of sludge‐borne bacteria have generally been found to be longer at cooler (above freezing) temperatures (Vasseur et al. 1996; Cools et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Survival ofEscherichia coliandSalmonellaspp. after application of sewage sludge to aPinus radiataforest

Horswell

Ambrose

Clucas

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: This study investigated the survival of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in sewage sludge applied to young and old Pinus radiata forest in Spring and Autumn/Winter. Methods and Results: Large numbers of E. coli were present in sludge applied to the forest blocks but Salmonella spp. numbers were low or nondetectable. In the mature stand in Spring, numbers of E. coli returned to back‐ground after 3 weeks and die‐off was significantly correlated with per cent solids of sludge. E. coli survived longer in mature and young stands in Autumn/Winter where numbers did not significantly decrease until weeks 5 and 13, respectively. Salmonella spp. was detectable in the mature stand until week 4 and in the young stand until week 11 in Autumn/Winter. Conclusions: Microbial die‐off was related to desiccation of the sewage sludge, and was faster in warmer, drier conditions. Significance and Impact of the Study: In many countries, environmental and health risks associated with the application of sewage sludge to land are minimized by ‘best management practice’ guidelines, where risks are managed by restriction of public access to these sites. This study provides supporting evidence that withholding periods of greater than 6 months are sufficient to reduce microbial contaminants to background levels.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, the sludge is stabilized, frequently by anaerobic digestion, which considerably reduces, but does not eliminate the pathogen load. Faecal coliform counts in stabilized sludge can still be high, up to 10 5 g −1 dry sludge (Vasseur et al. 1996; Davies et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival ofEscherichia coliandSalmonellaspp. after application of sewage sludge to aPinus radiataforest

Horswell

Ambrose

Clucas

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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“…Field data reported persistence rates (T 90 ) on pasture for these organisms in the intervals of 7-27 and 2-20 days, respectively. When investigating the persistence of total and fecal coliforms as well as fecal streptococci in experimental forest plots receiving municipal sewage sludge, Vasseur et al (1996) found a significant variation over time which was related to environmental factors such as temperature, moisture or nutrient level conditions but did not further elucidate their relative importance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…Similar differences between vegetation habitats will probably occur when applying wastewater in forest vegetation. Vasseur et al (1996) found that the persistence of indicator organisms was dependent on the types of sewage sludge and forest habitat. The light may have a higher influence on the organism than indicated from our results since the biologically effective sunlight irradiance at high summer conditions may be in the order of 0.027 J s −1 m −2 , thus about double the irradiance from the lamps, 0.016 J s −1 m −2 (Sliney, 1972).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fecal Indicator and Pathogen Reduction in Vegetation Microcosms

Åström

Carlander

Sahlén

et al. 2006

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Municipal wastewater has been applied as a fertilizer to coniferous forest in northern Sweden with the additional aims to purify the wastewater and reduce the treatment costs. This practice has the potential to introduce pathogenic microorganisms from the applied wastewater or sludge to the environment, with a subsequent risk of transmission to exposed humans or animals. Seasonality and climatological conditions, in particular low temperature, humidity and low sun intensity will furthermore affect the persistence of pathogens in the forest in northern Scandinavia and may therefore enhance the survival and thereby the exposure risk. The survival of two pathogens (Salmonella senftenberg and Campylobacter coli) and four fecal indicator organisms; bacteria strains (E. coli and E. fecalis) and bacteriophages (S. typhimurium phage 28 B and ϕx174), used here as viral models, was evaluated in microcosms (60 Litre terrariums) with two vegetation regimes (characterized as moss and lichen) at selected temperatures (+3 • C to +27 • C) and artificial light exposure (light and dark). Salmonella persisted in high numbers after 35 days in the vegetation, indicating a potential risk for further transmission. Neither the vegetation regime nor temperature or light exposure as independent factors governed the reduction of the indicator bacteria and the bacteriophages. The persistence of the indicator organisms was generally best supported in the moss vegetation at low temperature in the dark, where the time for a 90% reduction (T 90 ) was in the range from 8 days (E. coli) to 31 days (Salmonella phage). The die-off characteristics found in this study provide baseline values for further validations in the field and verify that the purification and reuse of municipal wastewater in coniferous forest could potentially be responsible for transmission of fecal pathogens to humans and animals.

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“…Class or Grade A and B indicator organisms and/or pathogen limit concentrations are shown in Table 1. Faecal coliform counts in Grade or Class B sludges can be high, up to 10 5 g −1 dry sewage sludge (Vasseur et al. 1996; Davies et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobility and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and human adenovirus from spiked sewage sludge applied to soil columns

Horswell¹,

Hewitt²,

Prosser³

et al. 2010

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: This study investigated the survival and transport of sewage sludge‐borne pathogenic organisms in soils. Methods and Results: Undisturbed soil cores were treated with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium‐lux (STM‐lux) and human adenovirus (HAdV)‐spiked sewage sludge. Following an artificial rainfall event, these pathogens were analysed in the leachate and soil sampled from different depths (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10–20 cm) after 24 h, 1 and 2 months. Significantly more STM‐lux and HAdV leached through the soil cores when sewage sludge was present. Significantly more STM‐lux were found at all soil depths, at all time periods in the sewage sludge treatments, compared to the controls. The rate of decline of STM‐lux in the controls was more rapid than in the sewage sludge treatments. Survival and transport of HAdV were minimal. Conclusions: The presence of sewage sludge can significantly influence the transport and survival of bacterial pathogens in soils, probably because of the presence of organic matter. Environmental contamination by virus is unlikely because of strong soil adsorption. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests that groundwater contamination from vertical movement of pathogens is a potential risk and that it highlights the importance of the treatment requirements for biosolids prior to their application to land.

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Responses of indicator bacteria to forest soil amended with municipal sewage sludge from aerated and non-aerated ponds

Cited by 15 publications

References 8 publications

Survival ofEscherichia coliandSalmonellaspp. after application of sewage sludge to aPinus radiataforest

Survival ofEscherichia coliandSalmonellaspp. after application of sewage sludge to aPinus radiataforest

Fecal Indicator and Pathogen Reduction in Vegetation Microcosms

Mobility and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and human adenovirus from spiked sewage sludge applied to soil columns

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