Viruses in River Water and Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

The construction of the Marchfeldkanalsystem (Austria) creates irreversible environmental changes which could have an impact on environmental health. Virological investigations of the river Danube have been carried out as a part of the environmental impact assessment procedure. The repeated detection of viruses in 61% of all water samples with a mean level of 0.762 MPN/l suggests that a permanent viral contamination of Danube is occurring and that the self-purifying capacity of the river is relatively inefficient. Strains of some virus families not hitherto detected in water (toga-(bunya) viridae) could be found. Provided the proposed treatment facilities are as effective as to remove the virus load to an extent of 99.99% the Marchfeldkanalsystem project will not endanger public health.