Presence of pathogenic microorganisms in power-plant cooling waters. Final report, October 1, 1981-June 30, 1983

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5838429

Tyndall, R L

Air was sampled at the point of discharge and at short distances downwind and upwind from industrial and power-plant cooling towers. Both high-volume electrostatic and impinger type samplers were used. Concentrates of the air samples were analyzed for Legionnaires' Disease Bacteria (LDB). In some cases, the samples were also tested for the presence of free-living amoebae. The concentrations of LDB in the air samples were well below the minimal infectious dose for guinea pigs and precluded testing of the samples for infectious LDB. Results of LDB analysis were related to the meteorological conditions at the time of sampling. Generally, the concentrations of LDB in the air at the discharge of the cooling towers were 1 x 10/sup -6/ to 1 x 10/sup -7/ of that found in comparable volumes of tower basin water. During periods of high humidity and wind speed, LDB was detected in a few downwind samples and one upwind sample. One site with extensive construction and excavation activity had higher LDB concentrations in air samples relative to other sites. Nonpathogenic Naegleria were present in one of two air samples taken in the mist at the base of a natural-draft cooling tower.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5838429
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3364; ORNL/TM-8809; ON: DE83015981
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AIR
AMOEBA
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
COOLING TOWERS
DATA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROORGANISMS
NUMERICAL DATA
POWER PLANTS
PROTOZOA
SAMPLING
SARCODINA
SURFACE AIR
TOWERS