Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.

A comprehensive study was undertaken to examine the survival potential of enteric microorganisms in biosolids-amended soil, wheat plant phyllosphere, and stored grains. The presence of these microorganisms in the dust at harvesting time was also evaluated. In situ field experiments were conducted to...

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Main Authors: Schwarz, Karen, Toze, S., Pritchard, Deborah, Sidhu, J., Li, Y.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Australian Water Association 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8409
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author Schwarz, Karen
Toze, S.
Pritchard, Deborah
Sidhu, J.
Li, Y.
author_facet Schwarz, Karen
Toze, S.
Pritchard, Deborah
Sidhu, J.
Li, Y.
author_sort Schwarz, Karen
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A comprehensive study was undertaken to examine the survival potential of enteric microorganisms in biosolids-amended soil, wheat plant phyllosphere, and stored grains. The presence of these microorganisms in the dust at harvesting time was also evaluated. In situ field experiments were conducted to examine the decay of E. coli (indicator bacteria), Salmonella enterica, bacteriophage MS2 and human adenovirus in biosolids-amended soils and in dust generated during harvesting of wheat. Glasshouse experiments were conducted to determine the survival potential of enteric microorganisms in the wheat phyllosphere and stored grains to determine any possible risks to humans or livestock through consumption of contaminated grains or fodder. The results of this study suggest that the target microorganisms decayed faster in the biosolids-amended soil compared with the unamended soil in the field, that the decay times were specific to the microorganism type; and that microorganism decay was correlated to declining soil moisture levels and increasing soil temperature. The risk of transmission of disease-causing microorganisms (human pathogens) from cereal crops fertilised with biosolids was considered to be low.
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publishDate 2013
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-84092017-01-30T11:06:30Z Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks. Schwarz, Karen Toze, S. Pritchard, Deborah Sidhu, J. Li, Y. phyllosphere adenovirus agriculture wheat grains and cereal crops biosolids-amended soil bioaerosols A comprehensive study was undertaken to examine the survival potential of enteric microorganisms in biosolids-amended soil, wheat plant phyllosphere, and stored grains. The presence of these microorganisms in the dust at harvesting time was also evaluated. In situ field experiments were conducted to examine the decay of E. coli (indicator bacteria), Salmonella enterica, bacteriophage MS2 and human adenovirus in biosolids-amended soils and in dust generated during harvesting of wheat. Glasshouse experiments were conducted to determine the survival potential of enteric microorganisms in the wheat phyllosphere and stored grains to determine any possible risks to humans or livestock through consumption of contaminated grains or fodder. The results of this study suggest that the target microorganisms decayed faster in the biosolids-amended soil compared with the unamended soil in the field, that the decay times were specific to the microorganism type; and that microorganism decay was correlated to declining soil moisture levels and increasing soil temperature. The risk of transmission of disease-causing microorganisms (human pathogens) from cereal crops fertilised with biosolids was considered to be low. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8409 Australian Water Association fulltext
spellingShingle phyllosphere
adenovirus
agriculture
wheat grains and cereal crops
biosolids-amended soil
bioaerosols
Schwarz, Karen
Toze, S.
Pritchard, Deborah
Sidhu, J.
Li, Y.
Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title_full Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title_fullStr Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title_full_unstemmed Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title_short Decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: Key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
title_sort decay of human enteric pathogens in agricultural soil amended with biosolids: key findings from a comprehensive research project to examine potential health risks.
topic phyllosphere
adenovirus
agriculture
wheat grains and cereal crops
biosolids-amended soil
bioaerosols
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/8409