Molecular Alternatives to Indicator and Pathogen Detection by... - 9781843397359

IWA Publishing

Molecular Alternatives to Indicator and Pathogen DetectionAuthor(s): S. C. Jiang\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: IWA Publishing, United Kingdom\nImprint: IWA Publishing\nISBN-13: 9781843397359, 978-1843397359\nSynopsis\nMicrobial quality of water is a prime public health concern in today's world. To protect public health, the World Health Organization and the [url] Environmental Protection Agency have established microbial pollution indicator standards and recommended routine monitoring of water for both total and fecal coliforms. However, the adequacy of current water quality standards to indicate the presence or absence of human pathogens is still questionable. For example, human viruses are more resistant to sewage treatment processes and environmental conditions than bacterial indicators and therefore may pose a substantial threat. It is now recognized that the absence, or a low concentration, of indicator organisms in water may not adequately reflect the absence of human viruses..