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. 1976 May;31(5):705–710. doi: 10.1128/aem.31.5.705-710.1976

Airborne coliphages from wastewater treatment facilities.

K F Fannin, J C Spendlove, K W Cochran, J J Gannon
PMCID: PMC291180  PMID: 1275492

Abstract

The emission (from wastewater treatment plants) of airborne coliphages that form plaques on two strains of Escherichia coli was investigated. Two activated-sludge and two trickling-filter plants were studied. Field sampling procedures used large-volume air samplers with recirculation devices. Coliphages were enumerated by a most-probable-number (MPN) procedure. Temperature, relative humidity, windspeed, and presence of sunlight were monitored. Concurrent samples of sewage were taken during each air-sampling run. Average coliphage levels in the airborne emissions of trickling-filter beds and activated-sludge units were 2.84 X 10(-1) and 3.02 X 10(-1) MPN/m3, respectively, for all positive observations, and sewage liquor concentrations from the sources were 4.48 X 10(5) and 2.94 X 10(6) plaque-forming units/liter, respectively, depending upon the E. coli host used for assay. This work establishes minimal airborne-coliphage concentrations from the plants studied. The procedures employed will be useful in evaluating the animal virus levels in these emissions.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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