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Title: Pathogens in drinking water: Are there any new ones

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6918503

Since 1976 three newly recognized human pathogens have become familiar to the drinking water industry as waterborne disease agents. These are: the legionnaires disease agent, Legionella pneumophila and related species; and two protozoan pathogens, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum, both of which form highly disinfectant resistant cysts that are shed in the feces of infected individuals. The question frequently arises - are there other emerging waterborne pathogens that may pose a human health problem that the drinking water industry will have to deal with. The paper will review the current state of knowledge of the occurrence and incidence of pathogens and opportunistic pathogens other than Legionella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium in treated and untreated drinking water. Bacterial agents that will be reviewed include Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Campylobacter, Mycobacterium, Yersinia and Plesiomonas. Aspects of detection of these agents including detection methods and feasibility of monitoring will be addressed.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (United States). Risk Reduction Engineering Lab.
OSTI ID:
6918503
Report Number(s):
PB-93-156081/XAB; EPA-600/A-93/022
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Pub. in Proceedings of the American Water Works Association, Water Quality Technology Conference, Orlando, FL., November 10-14, 1991, 509-530. See also PB--88-159066
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English