Chemosphere, 1998 Aug, 37(3), 421 - 9 N-(phenylsulfonyl)-glycine--a new contaminant in sewage- and surface water; Krause S et al.; River samples (e.g . river Rhine, river Neckar, Germany) and samples from five communal sewage treatment plants were investigated for N-(phenylsulfonyl)-glycine, -alanine and -sarcosine, as well as for the corresponding p-toluene analogues . As result of this screening we identified N-(phenylsulfonyl)-glycine as a hitherto unknown polar contaminant . In surface waters the concentrations of N-(phenylsulfonyl)-glycine ranged between 50 and 850 ng/l . In communal sewage treatment plants the concentrations varied: The substance was only found in one influent with a concentration of 1200 ng/l; in the biological step and in the effluent its concentrations ranged from 80 to 300 ng/l . N-(phenylsulfonyl)-alanine, N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-glycine, -sarcosine and -alanine were found neither in surface nor in sewage waters. Mutat Res, 1998 Mar 13, 399(1), 97 - 108 Assessment of developmental effects, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in the marine polychaete (Platynereis dumerilii) exposed to disinfected municipal sewage effluent; Hutchinson TH et al.; While sodium hypochlorite is widely used as a disinfectant for municipal sewage effluents and power station cooling waters discharged into coastal environments, there is limited information on the potential in vivo genotoxicity of such disinfection procedures to marine organisms . Using a recently developed test system based on the marine polychaete Platynereis dumerilii, we have evaluated impacts based on embryo-larval development, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity following exposure to disinfected settled (primary) effluent from a municipal sewage treatment works (STW) . Sewage samples were collected from Newton Abbot STW, Devon, UK and then disinfected with sodium hypochlorite based on standard operational procedures . Exposure of polychaetes to dilutions of disinfected sewage in seawater (20 +/- 1 degree C) led to a marked reduction in normal embryo-larval development (7 h EC50 from 0.57-1.88% (v/v), n = 4), with a simultaneous increase in cytotoxicity . Following the calculation of the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD), based on developmental and cytotoxic effects, the organisms were also analysed for the induction of chromosomal aberrations . This investigation demonstrated the absence of genotoxicity in polychaetes exposed in vivo to sewage disinfected with sodium hypochlorite . These observations extend our previously published studies in which polychaetes exposed to non-disinfected sewage, while showing developmental toxicity and cytotoxicity, did not exhibit any evidence of cytogenetic damage. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1997 Oct, 200(4), 283 - 96 Use of silica as a carrier to recover and prepare waterborne enteric viruses for detection by RT-PCR; Leisinger M et al.; A rapid, efficient and inexpensive method was developed to concentrate poliovirus type 1 (PV1), rotavirus (RV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) from artificially spiked samples of tap and surface water . The method consists of adsorbing the viruses to silicon dioxide (SiO2) in the presence of 0.5 mM AlCl3 and adjustment of the pH to 3.5 . The silica-adsorbed virus was collected by low speed centrifugation . Viral RNA was then extracted with guanidium thiocyanate (GT), and environmental nucleases and inhibitors of reverse transcriptase and Taq polymerase were further eliminated from concentrates by sequential treatment with GT, ethanol and acetone . Subsequent RT-PCR allowed the detection of as few as 1 to 10 TCID50 of PV1, RV, and HAV in seeded 1 liter samples of tap water . The same protocol was then used with effluents from two local sewage treatment plants . These samples, found to be free of HAV, were most commonly contaminated with enteroviruses and rotaviruses . Addition of 1000 TCID50 of HAV, PV1 or RV to a second 1 liter sample, taken at the same time from the corresponding surface waters allowed detection of the input virus without discernible inhibition by amplification inhibitors . The newly established method seems amenable to scaling up and promising for virus monitoring in different water types . The method is rapid and results can be obtained within 24 to 36 hours. Int J Parasitol, 1998 Apr, 28(4), 627 - 33 An in-vitro test for assessing the viability of Ascaris suum eggs exposed to various sewage treatment processes; Johnson PW et al.; A simple procedure using Ascaris suum as a model for Ascaris lumbricoides in testing the ability of sludge treatment processes to kill the eggs of parasitic roundworms was developed . Unembryonated and embryonated A . suum eggs were placed in a mesophilic anaerobic sludge digester or a sludge lagoon, or stored at 4 degrees C . Unembryonated eggs were recovered and incubated at 32.5 degree C and 90-95% r.h . for 48 h and viable eggs developed embryos consisting of two or more clearly defined cells . This viability was confirmed by further incubation for 30 days, when motile first-stage larvae were seen . Infectivity was demonstrated by administering larvated eggs to worm-fee pigs and recovering adult worms from the small intestine at necropsy . After 1 week in a mesophilic anaerobic digester, 95% of A . suum eggs produced two-cell larvae into vitro, with 86% progressing to motile larvae . After 5 weeks in the digester 51% progressed to motile larvae . Between 42% and 49% of eggs stored in a sludge lagoon for 29 weeks were viable and able to develop motile larvae . In the case of eggs that were embryonated before treatment, > 98% survived up to 5 weeks in the digester and were able to develop motile larvae . More than 90% of embryonated eggs survived for 29 weeks in the sludge lagoon and were able to develop motile larvae. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1998 Apr, 64(4), 1194 - 202 Effects of bacterial host and dichloromethane dehalogenase on the competitiveness of methylotrophic bacteria growing with dichloromethane; Gisi D et al.; Methylobacterium sp . strain DM4 and Methylophilus sp . strain DM11 can grow with dichloromethane (DCM) as the sole source of carbon and energy by virtue of homologous glutathione-dependent DCM dehalogenases with markedly different kinetic properties (the kcat values of the enzymes of these strains are 0.6 and 3.3 S-1, respectively, and the Km values are 9 and 59 microM, respectively) . These strains, as well as transconjugant bacteria expressing the DCM dehalogenase gene (dcmA) from DM11 or DM4 on a broad-host-range plasmid in the background of dcmA mutant DM4-2cr, were investigated by growing them under growth-limiting conditions and in the presence of an excess of DCM . The maximal growth rates and maximal levels of dehalogenase for chemostat-adapted bacteria were higher than the maximal growth rates and maximal levels of dehalogenase for batch-grown bacteria . The substrate saturation constant of strain DM4 was much lower than the Km of its associated dehalogenase, suggesting that this strain is adapted to scavenge low concentrations of DCM . Strains and transconjugants expressing the DCM dehalogenase from strain DM11, on the other hand, had higher growth rates than bacteria expressing the homologous dehalogenase from strain DM4 . Competition experiments performed with pairs of DCM-degrading strains revealed that a strain expressing the dehalogenase from DM4 had a selective advantage in continuous culture under substrate-limiting conditions, while strains expressing the DM11 dehalogenase were superior in batch culture when there was an excess of substrate . Only DCM-degrading bacteria with a dcmA gene similar to that from strain DM4, however, were obtained in batch enrichment cultures prepared with activated sludge from sewage treatment plants. Environ Health Perspect, 1998 Apr, 106(4), 217 - 26 Hazard screening of chemical releases and environmental equity analysis of populations proximate to toxic release inventory facilities in Oregon; Neumann CM et al.; A comprehensive approach using hazard screening, demographic analysis, and a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping is employed to address environmental equity issues in Oregon . A media-specific chronic toxicity index {or chronic index (CI)} was used to compare environmental chemical releases reported in the EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory (TRI) database . In 1992, 254 facilities reportedly released more than 40 million pounds of toxic chemicals directly into the environment on-site or transferred them to sewage treatment plants or other off-site facilities for disposal and recycling . For each reported on-site TRI chemical release, a CI based on oral toxicity factors and total mass was calculated . CIs were aggregated on a media-, facility-, and chemical-specific basis . Glycol ethers, nickel, trichloroethylene, chloroform, and manganese were ranked as the top five chemicals released statewide based on total CI . In contrast, based on total mass, methanol, nickel, ammonia, acetone, and toluene were identified as the top five TRI chemicals released in Oregon . TRI facility rankings were related to the demographics and household income of surrounding neighborhoods using bivariate GIS mapping and statistical analysis . TRI facilities were disproportionately located in racial and ethnic minority neighborhoods . They were also located in areas with lower incomes compared to those in the surrounding county . No relationship was observed between the hazard ranking of the TRI facilities overall and socioeconomic characteristics of the community in which they were located. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1997 Dec, 38(3), 272 - 80 Seasonal changes in whole-cell metal levels in protozoa of activated sludge; Abraham-Peskir JV et al.; In this study the authors quantify, and correlate, whole-cell elemental levels of vorticellids in activated sludge, over a 1-year period, and Aspidisca cicada and Opercularia coarctata on one sampling date . The aim was to determine the extent, and seasonal variation, of metal uptake and/or accumulation, to give new information regarding the fate and dynamics of the cellular elements, and to determine how they are related to each other over time and between species, in an environment exposed to high levels of heavy metals . Samples of activated sludge were collected monthly, and whole-cell elemental levels of vorticellids determined by scanning electron microscopy electron probe X-ray microanalysis (XRMA) . Positive intersample correlations were found between phosphorus and three elements, sulfur, potassium, and iron . Potassium and calcium levels correlated positively with sulfur levels . Iron levels were positively correlated with potassium levels . Levels in A . cicada sampled from activated sludge were also compared with the same species grown in vitro, previously isolated from the same sewage treatment works . The level of cellular elements varies considerably with time, and between species from the same environment . Vorticellids could tolerate varying levels of aluminum, copper, iron, and zinc . Decreased iron levels were associated with decreased phosphorus and potassium levels. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1998 Feb, 64(2), 760 - 2 Environmental occurrence of the Whipple's disease bacterium (Tropheryma whippelii); Maiwald M et al.; Whipple's disease is a systemic disorder in which a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium is constantly present in infected tissues . After numerous unsuccessful attempts to culture this bacterium, it was eventually characterized by 16S rRNA gene analysis to be a member of the actinomycetes . The name Tropheryma whippelii was proposed . Until now, the bacterium has only been found in infected human tissues, but there is no evidence for human-to-human transmission . Here we report the detection of DNA specific for the Whipple's disease bacterium in 25 of 38 wastewater samples from five different sewage treatment plants in the area of Heidelberg, Germany . These findings provide the first evidence that T . whippelii occurs in the environment, within a polymicrobial community . This is in accordance with the phylogenetic relationship of this bacterium as well as with known epidemiological aspects of Whipple's disease . Our data argue for an environmental source for infection with the Whipple's disease bacterium. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1998 Feb, 64(2), 575 - 80 Prevalence of broad-host-range lytic bacteriophages of Sphaerotilus natans, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Jensen EC et al.; Two bacteriophage collections were examined with regard to their ability to form plaques on multiple bacterial host species . Nine of 10 phages studied were found to be broad-host-range bacteriophages . These phages fell into two groups . Group 1, the SN series, was isolated from sewage treatment plant samples with Sphaerotilus natans ATCC 13338 as a host . The DNAs of these bacteriophages contained modified bases and were insensitive to cleavage by type I and II restriction endonucleases . The efficiency of plating of these bacteriophages was changed only slightly on the alternate host . Group 2, the BHR series, was isolated by a two-host enrichment protocol . These bacteriophages were sensitive to restriction, and their efficiency of plating was dramatically reduced on the alternate host . Our results suggest that a multiple-host enrichment protocol may be more effective for the isolation of broad-host-range bacteriophages by avoiding the selection bias inherent in single-host methods . At least two of the broad-host-range bacteriophages mediated generalized transduction . We suggest that broad-host-range bacteriophages play a key role in phage ecology and gene transfer in nature. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1996 Feb, 198(3), 241 - 57 {The sat4 streptothricin acetyltransferase gene of Campylobacter coli: its distribution in the environment and use as epidemiological marker}; Bischoff K et al.; The main of this study is to give evidence about the spread of streptothricin resistance within Campylobacters which were isolated from animals, men and environmental sources . Streptothricin resistant Campylobacters were isolated over a five years period, when the use of streptothricin for ergotropic purposes was not allowed, from slurry of swine, slurry of cattle, waste water of a goose farm and waste water of a communal sewage treatment plant . The streptothricin resistance was found to be connected with resistances to kanamycin and streptomycin (MIC > 1024 micrograms/ml) . For DNA-DNA-hybridisation we used a gene probe derived from the streptothricin acetyltransferase determinant sat4 from Campylobacter coli to find out epidemiological associations between Campylobacters of different origin . The hybridisation experiments show that all streptothricin resistant strains, which were isolated from one ecosystem or where an epidemiological link seems given, have sat4 positive signals at identical positions of the digested and blotted chromosomal DNA . The detection of the sat4 gene seems to be a good tool to discriminate clonal diversities within multiple antibiotic resistant Campylobacters. Sci Total Environ, 1997 Nov 27, 207(2-3), 119 - 31 A review of dioxin releases to land and water in the UK; Dyke PH et al.; UK government policy is to identify and control the sources of some chlorinated organic compounds including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), often known collectively as dioxins . This requires the gathering of information on the scale of releases of PCDD/PCDFs to all environmental media . While a number of recent studies have produced inventories of PCDD/PCDF emissions to air, this study, commissioned by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP--now part of the Environment Agency), is the first attempt at producing a comprehensive UK inventory of emissions of dioxins to land and water from industrial and non-industrial processes . Release of PCDD/PCDFs in wastes taken to landfill are included under the definitions or releases to land used by the Environment Agency . Assembly of the inventory, particularly for releases to water, was severely hampered by lack of data from the UK or overseas; further work is required to remedy the data gaps and deficiencies revealed . The inventory puts total quantified releases to land at 1500-12,000 g toxic equivalent quantities (TEQ) per year--significantly more than releases to air or water . This is as expected, given the nature of the processes that form PCDD/PCDFs and their propensity to bind tightly to solid materials . The bulk of releases to land are to landfills rather than the open environment . From the data available, the open use of chemicals (including the disposal of wood treated with PCP), the manufacture of pesticides, the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) and accidental fires appear to be the largest contributors . The processes with greatest potential for releases to water appear to be the open use of chemicals, sewage treatment, disposal of waste oil, accidental fires, production of pesticides and chlorophenols and chemical waste incineration . In addition, the run-off from roads may be a significant source of releases as this is untreated . For the majority of processes studied, the trend is towards reduced releases to land and water, but improvements in the control of releases to air may lead to increased quantities of PCDD/PCDFs in some wastes and thus to increased releases to land . One exception may be from increasing quantities of sewage sludge disposed of to farm land . Changes in waste disposal practice--for example, use of wastes for soil improvement--may also inadvertently increase the probability of human exposure to PCDD/PCDF releases to land . The study did not attempt to assess the risks to humans and ecosystems from releases of PCDD/PCDFs to land and water: it recommends the development of an appropriate risk-assessment methodology. Cytobios, 1997, 90(360), 41 - 5 Isolation of Candida species from domestic sewage in Jordan; Abu-Elteen KH et al.; Saccharomyces cerevisiae and various species of Candida were isolated and identified from the Al-Baqa'a sewage treatment station . Potentially pathogenic yeasts were detected in sewage samples and Candida krusei was found in the treated effluent . There was a 90-100% reduction in the number of yeast found in treated sewage effluent compared with raw sewage . Seasonal variations of total yeast counts are also reported. Int J Food Microbiol, 1997 Jul 22, 37(2-3), 189 - 99 Three-step isolation method for sensitive detection of enterovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, and small round structured viruses in water samples; Gilgen M et al.; Control of drinking or bathing water quality in respect to viral contamination remains an unsolved problem . A highly sensitive isolation protocol was developed for concentration and detection of different enteric viruses from water samples . The three-step isolation procedure combines filtration with a positively charged nylon membrane, ultrafiltration and clean-up of the viral RNA with a silica based membrane . Detection of the viral RNA is accomplished by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . Detection limits were determined to be one 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of seeded coxsackievirus B2 or hepatitis A Virus per litre of tap water by RT-PCR compared to two orders of magnitude lower sensitivity for culture in the case of coxsackievirus B2 . The isolation procedure is highly sensitive, easy to perform and allows the detection of different human pathogenic virus groups in one water sample . The application of the isolation procedure to six river water samples and subsequent detection with nested or semi-nested PCR revealed enterovirus in 6/6 (100%), rotavirus in 6/6 (100%), hepatitis A virus in 0/6 (0%), small round structured virus genotype I in 6/6 (100%) and small round structured virus genotype II in 2/6 (33%) of the samples . These findings suggest that first, we have developed a very sensitive detection procedure and second, that river water in Switzerland-where most of the wastewater is handled by sewage treatment plants-shows a high contamination rate with enteric viruses. Mutat Res, 1997 Jul 14, 391(3), 179 - 88 Evaluation of the genotoxicity of municipal sewage effluent using the marine worm Platynereis dumerilii (Polychaeta: Nereidae); Jha AN et al.; Samples of settled (primary) effluent were collected from a municipal sewage treatment works at Newton Abbot, Devon, UK, a site which discharges primary effluent via long sea pipeline into the English Channel (minimum of 200-fold initial dilution) . Sewage samples were collected during the period February-April 1995 and were analysed for standard physico-chemical parameters (ammonia, chemical oxygen demand, conductivity, non-purgeable organic carbon and settled solids) . Samples were also tested for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and for developmental effects in the embryo-larval stages of the marine worm, Platynereis dumerilii . Exposure to sewage concentrations of > or = 10% (v/v) in seawater at 20 +/- 1 degrees C led to a marked reduction in normal embryo-larval development (7 h EC50 values from 10% to 18% v/v, n = 5) . There was also evidence of a simultaneous delay in the cell cycle progression (as determined by sister chromatid differential staining) following embryo-larval exposures to sewage concentrations of > or = 10% (v/v) . Following the calculation of the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD), based on cytotoxic and developmental effects, cells from the same embryo-larvae were analysed for chromosomal aberrations (CAs) . Results were consistent for all samples tested, demonstrating the absence of cytogenetic damage following the in vivo exposure of polychaete embryo-larvae to settled sewage. J Chromatogr A, 1997 Jul 11, 774(1-2), 177 - 92 Determination of polycyclic aromatic compounds and heavy metals in sludges from biological sewage treatment plants; Bodzek D et al.; The procedure of the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in the sludges from biological sewage treatment plants has been worked out . The analysis included isolation of organic matter from sludges, separation of the extract into fractions of similar chemical character, qualitative-quantitative analysis of individual PAHs and their nitrogenated and oxygenated derivatives . Liquid-solid chromatography, solid-phase extraction and semipreparative band thin-layer chromatography techniques were used for the separation . Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the separated fractions enabled identification of more than 21 PAHs, including hydrocarbons which contained 2-6 aromatic rings as well as their alkyl derivatives, 10 oxygen derivatives, 9 nitroarenes, aminoarenes and over 20 azaarenes and carbazoles . Using the capillary gas chromatography-flame ionization detection technique the content of 17 dominant PAHs was determined . The content of heavy metals was determined in investigated sludges with the use of atomic absorption spectrometry . The concentrations of the respective metals could be ranked in the order Cd < Co < Ni < Pb < Cr < or = Cu < Mn < Zn < Fe . The sludges were analysed for the first time in Poland in view of their possible utilisation in agriculture and in cultivating dumps of coal mine wastes, taking into consideration the contents of toxic organic pollutants and heavy metals. Microbiology, 1997 Jun, 143 ( Pt 6), 1919 - 24 Anaerobic taurine oxidation: a novel reaction by a nitrate-reducing Alcaligenes sp; Denger K et al.; Enrichment cultures were prepared under strictly anoxic conditions in medium representing fresh water and containing an organosulfonate as electron donor and carbon source, and nitrate as electron acceptor . The inoculum was from the anaerobic digestor of two communal sewage works . The natural organosulfonates 2-aminoethanesulfonate (taurine), DL-2-amino-3-sulfopropionate (cysteate) and 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate (isethionate) all gave positive enrichments, whereas unsubstituted alkanesulfonates, such as methanesulfonate and arenesulfonates, gave no enrichment . Two representative enrichments were used to obtain pure cultures, and strains NKNTAU (utilizing taurine) and NKNIS (utilizing isethionate) were isolated . Strain NKNTAU was examined in detail . Out of 18 tested organosulfonates, it utilized only one, taurine, and was identified as a novel Alcaligenes sp., a facultatively anaerobic bacterium . Carbon from taurine was converted to cell material and carbon dioxide . The amino group was released as ammonium ion and the sulfonate moiety was recovered as sulfate . Nitrate was reduced to nitrogen gas. Chemosphere, 1997 Jun, 34(11), 2375 - 91 Biodegradation of {S,S}, {R,R} and mixed stereoisomers of ethylene diamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), a transition metal chelator; Schowanek D et al.; An in-depth biodegradation test program was executed on the hexadentate ligand Ethylene Diamine Di Succinate (EDDS) . The EDDS structure contains two chiral carbon atoms, and has three stereoisomers ({R,R}, {R,S}/{S,R}, {S,S}) . Our research has focused on the isomer mixture (i.e . 25%{S,S}; 25%{R,R}; 50%{S,R}/{R,S}, as produced from the reaction of ethylene diamine with maleic anhydride) and on the single {S,S}- and {R,R}-isomers . Biodegradation screening of the 14C-labelled EDDS isomer mixture in a Batch Activated Sludge (BAS) test with various inocula revealed incomplete mineralization, up to ca . 65% after 28 days . N-(2-aminoethyl) aspartic acid (AEAA), probably the d-isomer, was identified as the major portion of the 14C-material remaining in solution . Further testing revealed that the {S,S}-isomer is rapidly and completely mineralized in all test systems . By contrast, {R,R}-EDDS remained undegraded in a Sturm (OECD 301B) test, but was very slowly biotransformed into the recalcitrant metabolite AEAA in a BAS test . The {S,R}/{R,S} form undergoes biotransformation to AEAA in both high and low biomass systems . In a sewage treatment simulation test (OECD 303) the steady state DOC removal of mixture-EDDS in a CAS test was limited to 25-35%, even after extensive pre-acclimation, while the {S,S}-isomer achieved nearly complete removal (96%) . This study illustrates the importance stereospecificity may have on the biodegradation and metabolite formation of a chemical . A biodegradation scheme for the different EDDS stereoisomers is proposed. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1997 May, 63(5), 2016 - 21 Taurine reduction in anaerobic respiration of Bilophila wadsworthia RZATAU; Laue H et al.; Organosulfonates are important natural and man-made compounds, but until recently (T . J . Lie, T . Pitta, E . R . Leadbetter, W . Godchaux III, and J . R . Leadbetter . Arch . Microbiol . 166:204-210, 1996), they were not believed to be dissimilated under anoxic conditions . We also chose to test whether alkane- and arenesulfonates could serve as electron sinks in respiratory metabolism . We generated 60 anoxic enrichment cultures in mineral salts medium which included several potential electron donors and a single organic sulfonate as an electron sink, and we used material from anaerobic digestors in communal sewage works as inocula . None of the four aromatic sulfonates, the three unsubstituted alkanesulfonates, or the N-sulfonate tested gave positive enrichment cultures requiring both the electron donor and electron sink for growth . Nine cultures utilizing the natural products taurine, cysteate, or isethionate were considered positive for growth, and all formed sulfide . Two clearly different pure cultures were examined . Putative Desulfovibrio sp . strain RZACYSA, with lactate as the electron donor, utilized sulfate, aminomethanesulfonate, taurine, isethionate, and cysteate, converting the latter to ammonia, acetate, and sulfide . Strain RZATAU was identified by 16S rDNA analysis as Bilophila wadsworthia . In the presence of, e.g., formate as the electron donor, it utilized, e.g., cysteate and isethionate and converted taurine quantitatively to cell material and products identified as ammonia, acetate, and sulfide . Sulfite and thiosulfate, but not sulfate, were utilized as electron sinks, as was nitrate, when lactate was provided as the electron donor and carbon source . A growth requirement for 1,4-naphthoquinone indicates a menaquinone electron carrier, and the presence of cytochrome c supports the presence of an electron transport chain . Pyruvate-dependent disappearance of taurine from cell extracts, as well as formation of alanine and release of ammonia and acetate, was detected . We suspected that sulfite is an intermediate, and we detected desulfoviridin (sulfite reductase) . We thus believe that sulfonate reduction is one aspect of a respiratory system transferring electrons from, e.g., formate to sulfite reductase via an electron transport system which presumably generates a proton gradient across the cell membrane. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1997 May, 63(5), 1794 - 800 Molecular epidemiological survey of rotaviruses in sewage by reverse transcriptase seminested PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay; Dubois E et al.; Rotavirus double-stranded RNA was detected directly in sewage treatment plant samples over a 1-year period by reverse transcription followed by PCR amplification of the VP7 gene and Southern blot hybridization . The presence of naturally occurring rotaviruses was demonstrated in 42% of raw sewage samples and in 67% of treated effluent samples . Amplified viral sequences were analyzed by restriction enzymes . Ten different restriction profiles were characterized, most of which were found in treated effluent samples . A mixture of restriction profiles was observed in 75% of contaminated effluent samples . The profiles were compared with those obtained from human rotavirus isolates involved in infections in children from the same area (six different profiles were detected) . Five identical viral sequences were detected in both environmental and clinical samples . Restriction profiles were also compared to profiles from known genomic sequences of human and animal viruses . Both human and animal origins of rotavirus contamination of water seemed likely. Ugeskr Laeger, 1997 Apr 21, 159(17), 2529 - 33 {Exposure to endotoxins in the environment . Occurrence and health hazards}; Rix BA; Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides from the outer cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria . Exposure to endotoxins can take place in industries where organic material is handled, in agriculture, in garbage handling, and sewage treatment . Byssinosis defined as Monday chest tightness and slight dyspnoea in the work place has been related to endotoxin exposure in cotton mills, but studies indicate that similar symptoms may be found in other work places . Other symptoms are: Headache, nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms and influenza-like symptoms . Several studies have shown a decrease in FEV1 following exposure to endotoxins . The relationship between exposure to organic dust, microorganisms, endotoxins and other chemicals in the work place and disease needs further research. Avian Dis, 1997 Apr-Jun, 41(2), 392 - 8 Prevalence of Salmonella in municipal sewage treatment plant effluents in southern California; Kinde H et al.; Effluents from 12 sewage treatment plants in southern California were examined for Salmonella using a Moore swab technique . Eight of the 12 plants were positive for Salmonella when sampled at the chlorination/dechlorination site (inside the plant) . Effluents from 11 of 12 sewage treatment plants were positive for Salmonella when samples were analyzed downstream of the chlorination/dechlorination site, before effluents merge with the receiving stream (outside the plant) . Two of the three control sites, an urban runoff, a raw potable water reservoir, and two other sites were also positive for Salmonella . A total of 683 Salmonella isolations were represented by 11 serogroups and 54 serotypes from 26 of 32 sampling sites . Effluents from three treatment plants and one control site (raw potable water resevior) yielded Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4, in addition to other serotypes. J Appl Microbiol, 1997 Apr, 82(4), 411 - 21 The filamentous morphotype Eikelboom type 1863 is not a single genetic entity; Seviour EM et al.; Five isolates of a filamentous bacterial morphotype with the distinctive diagnostic microscopic features of Eikelboom Type 1863 were obtained from activated sludge sewage treatment plants in Victoria, Australia . On the basis of phenotypic evidence and 16S rDNA sequence data, these isolates proved to be polyphyletic . Two (Ben 06 and Ben 06C) are from the Chryseobacterium subgroup which is in the Cytophaga group, subdivision I of the Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Bacteroides phylum . Two (Ben 56 and Ben 59) belong to the genus Acinetobacter, and one (Ben 58) is a Moraxella sp., closest to Mor . osloensis . The significance of these findings to the reliance on microscopic features for identification of these filamentous bacteria in activated sludge is discussed. Gig Sanit, 1997 Mar-Apr, (2), 8 - 10 {The hygienic evaluation of a local unit for sewage treatment}; Zholdakova ZI et al.; A complex of hygienic criteria was proposed to assess a Bioclere local unit for sewage treatment . These included: the effects of the organoleptic properties of sewage, better sanitary and chemical parameters, lower levels of inorganic and organic chemicals, surfactants, microbiological parameters, stability of treatment regimens . The Bioclere unit has some advantages over the similar ones and may be useful when an object cannot be connected to the sewage network. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1997 Mar, 36(2), 174 - 9 Biological degradation of cyclophosphamide and its occurrence in sewage water; Steger-Hartmann T et al.; The mutagenic and cancerogenic antineoplastic agent cyclophosphamide (CP) is released into sewage water by cancer patient excretion . To assess the biological degradability of CP two standardized test systems, the Zahn-Wellens/EMPA test (OECD 302B) and a laboratory scale sewage treatment plant, were used . In both test systems the agent exhibited only poor degradability . To verify the expected occurrence of CP in hospital sewage, water samples were analyzed for CP with GC/MS after enrichment by solid-phase extraction . CP could be detected in concentrations ranging from 20 ng/L to 4.5 micrograms/L . The occurrence of the agent could also be proved in samples from the influent and the effluent of the communal sewage treatment plant into which the hospital's sewage water is shed . Concentrations ranged from 7 to 143 ng/L . In an attempt to assess the contribution of CP to the genotoxicity detected in hospital waste water in a recent study, the effects of CP in the umuC test, a bacterial genotoxicity assay, were investigated . However, no genotoxic effects of CP were found up to concentrations of 1 g/L. Microbios, 1997, 89(359), 73 - 80 Distribution and characterization of Enterococcus species in municipal sewages; Laukova A et al.; The occurrence, distribution and characterization of enterococci in municipal sewages from two geographically different regional sewage treatment plants in East Slovakia was studied . The total counts of enterococci in samples varied from 10(4) to 10(6) CFU/ml . The vast majority of the strains identified were Enterococcus faecium (50%), with E . gallinarum (25.5%) and E . casseliflavus (10.1%) . The species which accounted for 14.4% of the cultures were not specified . Lactic acid production from twenty isolates ranged from 0.085 mol l-1 to 0.914 mol l-1 . Urease activity ranged from 1.21 nkat ml-1 to 10.49 nkat ml-1 . The strains were resistant to at least one (except for vancomycin) and at most to six antibiotics tested . The majority of isolates were biresistant . Although nine strains were without bacteriocin production, the other strains inhibited the growth of enterococcal as well as staphylococcal isolates . E . faecium AL 40 produced bacteriocin which inhibited the growth of all indicators reaching 12 mm zones of inhibition . E . faecium was the most prevalent species in all samples, but the source position of isolates as well as the sewage composition did not affect enterococcal distribution . The ability of isolates to produce bacteriocin indicates their possible use in biotechnological environmental processes. Environ Health Perspect, 1996 Oct, 104(10), 1096 - 101 Vitellogenin induction and reduced serum testosterone concentrations in feral male carp (Cyprinus carpio) captured near a major metropolitan sewage treatment plant; Folmar LC et al.; Endocrine disrupting chemicals can potentially alter the reproductive physiology of fishes . To test this hypothesis, serum was collected from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at five riverine locations in Minnesota . Male fish collected from an effluent channel below the St . Paul metropolitan sewage treatment plant had significantly elevated serum egg protein (vitellogenin) concentrations and significantly decreased serum testosterone concentrations compared to male carp collected from the St . Croix River, classified as a National Wild and Scenic River . Carp collected from the Minnesota River, which receives significant agricultural runoff, also exhibited depressed serum testosterone concentrations, but no serum vitellogenin was apparent . These data suggest that North American rivers are receiving estrogenic chemicals that are biologically active, as has been reported in Great Britain. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1996 Oct, 35(1), 81 - 5 Impact of point and nonpoint source pollution on pore waters of two Chesapeake Bay tributaries; Karuppiah M et al.; Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are contaminated by industrial and municipal point sources and agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution . The objective of this study was to compare the porewater characteristics of two Chesapeake Bay tributaries: Wicomico River (WR) contaminated by point source and Pocomoke River (PR) contaminated by both point and nonpoint sources of pollution . Four study sites (1 mile before, adjacent to, and 1 and 2 miles after the sewage treatment plant) were chosen to collect sediment samples in both the rivers . The sediment-pore waters were analyzed for toxicity using Microtox marine luminescent bacteria-Vibrio fischeri . USEPA toxicity identification evaluation tests on these pore waters confirmed that the contaminants (ammonia and heavy metals) in WR were from municipal point sources, whereas in PR the contamination (metals, pesticides, and PCBs) was from nonpoint sources (agriculture) of pollution . The toxicity (and the concentration of contaminants) decreased both upstream and downstream from the most polluted site in both the rivers. Occup Med (Lond), 1996 Oct, 46(5), 367 - 71 Hydrogen sulphide; Guidotti TL; Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is the primary chemical hazard in natural gas production in 'sour' gas fields . It is also a hazard in sewage treatment and manure-containment operations, construction in wetlands, pelt processing, certain types of pulp and paper production, and any situation in which organic material decays or inorganic sulphides exist under reducing conditions . H2S dissociates into free sulphide in the circulation . Sulphide binds to many macromolecules, among them cytochrome oxidase . Although this is undoubtedly an important mechanism of toxicity due to H2S, there may be others H2S provides little opportunity for escape at high concentrations because of the olfactory paralysis it causes, the steep exposure-response relationships, and the characteristically sudden loss of consciousness it can cause which is colloquially termed 'knockdown.' Other effects may include mucosal irritation, which is associated at lower concentrations with a keratoconjunctivitis called 'gas eye' and at higher concentrations with risk of pulmonary oedema . Chronic central nervous system sequelae may possibly follow repeated knockdowns: this is controversial and the primary effects of H2S may be confounded by anoxia or head trauma . Treatment is currently empirical, with a combination of nitrite and hyperbaric oxygen preferred . The treatment regimen is not ideal and carries some risk. Chemosphere, 1996 Sep, 33(5), 851 - 64 Estimation of kinetic rate constants for biodegradation of chemicals in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants using short term batch experiments and microgram/L range spiked concentrations; Nyholm N et al.; Biodegradation rate constants that are believed to be predictive for activated sludge sewage treatment plants have been determined at microgram/L concentration levels using short term (hours) laboratory scale batch experiments with activated sludge . Rate constants were estimated for four model chemicals with widely different biodegradability characteristics, and experiments were conducted with sludges of various origin and treatment . Test substances were applied at concentrations ranging from a few microgram/L for deriving first order rate constants and up to several mg/L for full investigation of the kinetics . Model substances were acetate, aniline, 4-chloroaniline and pentachlorophenol and their biodegradation was assessed by means of 14C tracer technique . Some experiments included test concentrations equal to those prescribed in standard biodegradability tests (20 mg DOC/L) . Sludge types investigated included adapted and non-adapted sludge from laboratory scale semicontinuous reactors as well as sludges collected from a pilot scale sewage treatment plant loaded with predominantly domestic sewage . At low chemical concentrations ( < approx . 100 micrograms/L) first order degradation rate constants were reasonably constant and varied only little with the applied concentration . With aniline, however, elimination rates increased at concentrations below about 20 micrograms/L, probably because transient sorption became significant . At higher concentrations absolute (linear) degradation rates could be described by saturation kinetics, and for aniline a half saturation constant, K(S), was estimated at 3 mg/L . "Best estimates" of average first order rate constants in the low concentration regime measured with 3 g SS/L and at 22 degrees C were: acetate, 8 h-1; aniline, 0.8 h-1, 4-chloroaniline, 0.15 h-1, and pentachlorophenol, 0.01 h-1 (non adapted sludge) or 0.02 h-1 (adapted sludge) . These figures seem to agree well with standard or default biodegradation rate constants for sewage treatment plants suggested in a European Union technical guidance document for chemical risk assessment, which is currently under preparation. Chemosphere, 1996 Aug, 33(4), 711 - 35 Biodegradability simulation studies in semicontinuous activated sludge reactors with low (microgram/L range) and standard (ppm range) chemical concentrations; Berg UT et al.; The official OECD/EEC activated-sludge biodegradability simulation test has been criticised for providing a poor simulation of the biodegradability behaviour of industrial chemicals in municipal sewage treatment plants due to the high dosed concentration of test substance of approx . 20-40 mg/L necessitated by measuring compound removal by DOC-analysis . Realistic concentrations of industrial chemicals are more commonly in the microgram/L range . With increasing concentration both the kinetic regime of degradation and the adaptation behaviour can be expected to change . Results from a comparative study in semicontinuous reactors with high (20 mg DOC/L) and low (10 micrograms test substance/L) inlet concentrations of aniline, 4-chloroaniline, and pentachlorophenol, conducted by means of 14C-tracer technique, revealed large differences in biodegradation behaviour between the two concentration levels and led to the following tentative general conclusions: 1) the percentage of test compound removed by unadapted sludge tends to be higher with test compound dosed at trace concentrations than at standard (high) concentrations (20 mg/DOC/L); 2) by contrast, in successfully adapted systems, the removal percentage (and the "extent of adaptation") may be largest with high concentrations; 3) the use of real sewage instead of peptone synthetic sewage better safeguards against sludge deterioration, in particular at low sludge retention times, and tends to increase the adaptation potential of the sludge; 4) the use of synthetic sewage in combination with regular reinoculation of the reactor (in this study by replacing 10% of the sludge with freshly collected sludge once a week) may be a feasible alternative to using real sewage. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1996 Jul, 46(3), 631 - 4 Legionella waltersii sp . nov . and an unnamed Legionella genomospecies isolated from water in Australia; Benson RF et al.; Two Legionella-like organisms were isolated from water samples obtained in Adelaide, Australia . One organisms was isolated from a drinking water distribution system, and the other was isolated from a cooling tower at a sewage treatment plant . Both strains required L-cysteine for growth and contained cellular branched-chain fatty acids and ubiquinones typical of the genus Legionella . These strains were serologically distinct from each other as determined by a slide agglutination test . STrain 2074-AUS-ET (T = type strain) was serologically distinct from all previously described Legionella species and serotypes . Strain 2055-AUS-E could not be differentiated biochemically or serologically from Legionella quinlivanii . Both strains were shown by DNA hybridization studies (Hydroxyapatite method) to be members of new Legionella species . Legionella waltersii sp . nov . is the name proposed for strain 2074-AUS-ET (= ATCC 51914T) . L . waltersii was less than 10% related to other Legionella species . Strain 2055-AUS-E (= ATCC 51913) was informally named Legionella genomospecies 1, since it could not be phenotypically distinguished from L . quinlivanii . Legionella genomospecies 1 was closely related to L . quinlivanii strains (53 to 69% related with 4.5 to 6.5% divergence at 60 degrees C and 31 to 52% related at 75 degrees C). Sci Total Environ, 1996 Jun 21, 185(1-3), 3 - 26 Sources, behaviour and fate of organic contaminants during sewage treatment and in sewage sludges; Rogers HR; Recent concern over the environmental impact of sewage sludge application to agricultural land has drawn particular attention to the wide range of organic contaminants that may enter sewage treatment processes and persist in biosolids for disposal . This paper discusses processes influencing the fate and behaviour of organic contaminants during wastewater treatment and reviews literature relating to specific contaminants identified in sewage sludge . The difficulties associated with the development of specific methods for the analysis of trace residues of organic contaminants in complex matrices such as sludge are discussed . Some potential issues relating to impact of sewage sludge disposed to agricultural land are also considered. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1996 Jun, 62(6), 2081 - 5 Evaluation of PCR, nested PCR, and fluorescent antibodies for detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium species in wastewater; Mayer CL et al.; Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are diseases caused by the protozoan parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum . Waterborne transmission of these organisms has become more prevalent in recent years, and regulatory agencies are urging that source and finished water be screened for these organisms . A major problem associated with testing for these organisms is the lack of reliable methodologies and baseline information on the prevalence of these parasites in various water sources . Our study addressed both of these issues . We evaluated the presence and reduction of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in sewage effluent by a combination of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) staining and PCR . Our results indicated a 3-log reduction of Giardia cysts and a 2-log reduction of Cryptosporidium oocysts through the sewage treatment process as determined by IFA . We developed a nested PCR to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts and used a double PCR to detect Giardia cysts . A 100% correlation was noted between IFA and PCR detection of Giardia cysts while correlation for Cryptosporidium oocysts was slightly less . On the basis of these results, PCR may be a useful tool in the environmental analysis of water samples for Giardia and Cryptosporidium organisms. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1996 Apr, 33(3), 217 - 27 Measurement and validation of kinetic parameter values for prediction of biodegradation rates in sewage treatment; Blok J et al.; Analysis of about 140 oxygen uptake curves from standard biodegradation tests with the electrolytic respirometer yielded growth kinetic parameter values . The maximum observed growth rate, mumax, on the 52 different substances varied between 1 and 6/day . The measurement of the half-saturation constant Ks at the depletion phase of the oxygen uptake curves appeared problematic . For 24 substances the values were below 1 mg ThOD/liter . Apparently high Ks values of several tenth mg ThOD/liter for the other 28 substances are explained by retarded mineralization of intermediates due to the relatively high initial test concentrations of up to 300 mg ThOD/liter . At lower test concentrations (down to 15 mg ThOD/liter) the measured Ks values for these substances were also typically below or around 1 mg ThOD/liter . Based on the above-mentioned maximum growth rates and the low values for Ks, the predicted steady-state residual concentration of these substances in the effluent of completely mixed sewage treatment plants is between 10 and 100 micrograms/liter . This level is in accordance with the range of measured values taken from literature . Based on this research and additional data from literature, the separation between readily and inherently degradable can be made at the critical values of mumax approximately 1.5/day and Ks approximately 1 mg ThOD/liter. J Appl Bacteriol, 1996 Feb, 80(2), 179 - 86 An oligonucleotide hybridization assay for the identification and enumeration of F-specific RNA phages in surface water; Beekwilder J et al.; F-specific RNA phages can be used as model organisms for enteric viruses to monitor the effectiveness of sewage treatment, and to assess the potential contamination of surface water with these viruses . In this paper a method is described which identifies RNA phages quantitatively by a plaque hybridization assay . Oligonucleotide probes were developed that can assign phages to their phylogenetic subgroups . Such a distinction is important, since some subgroups preferentially occur in sewage of human origin, while others tend to be associated with animal wastewater . The method has been tested on a large number of isolates and represents an improvement in time and reliability over the previously used serological classification. Bull Soc Pathol Exot, 1996, 89(2), 145 - 7 {Control of mosquitos in Martinique . A collective public health action and improvement of the quality of life}; Yebakima A; Aedes aegypti control program in Martinique started en 1968 . The Aedes aegypti major breeding sites are associated with flowers vases, drums, used tyres, artificial containers and watering places . However, Culex quinquefasciatus is the main nuisance mosquito in all the island . This species is unpleasant, especially in urban areas . Over 200 Culex quinquefasciatus bites per person per night have been observed in several localities of the island . Culex quinquefasciatus breeding sites are mostly associated with sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and stagnant drains . In order to reduce this nuisance and to improve the quality of life-the Conseil General initiated a large mosquito control program since 1991 . This global mosquito control is based on: information and health education, environmental management (source reduction, drainage...), use of chemical insecticides. Vopr Virusol, 1996 Jan-Feb, 41(1), 40 - 2 {A method of concentrating viruses in environmental water sources}; Kontorovich VB et al.; The authors propose an effective and simple method for the collection and concentration of enteroviruses from environmental water bodies, which is based on adsorption properties of macroporous glass (MPG) . MPG enveloped in water-permeable coating permits concentration directly in the water . Poliomyelitis viruses were 100-1000-fold concentrated in laboratory trials . The advantages of the new method in comparison with the routine gauze tampon method were demonstrated in experiments with the indicator virus carried out at sewage works and under field conditions. Environ Mol Mutagen, 1996, 27(2), 140 - 51 Sorption of organic genotoxins to particulate matter in industrial effluents; White PA et al.; In an earlier work {White PA et al . (1996): Environ Mol Mutagen 27:116-139} we examined the genotoxicity of dichloromethane extracts from a variety of industrial effluent samples . in this companion work, we used the SOS Chromotest to investigate the sorption of the extracted genotoxins to effluent suspended particulate matter . The affinity of the genotoxins for particulate matter is expressed as a genotoxicity sorption partition coefficient (Kd-genotox) . The results indicate that industries known for their emission of combustion by-products, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, often have high Kd-genotox values (>/= 10(6) . These include metal refining and founding industries as well metal surface treatment facilities . In contrast, Kd-genotox values for pulp and paper mills and sewage treatment facilities are several orders of magnitude lower (</= 10(4)) . In several cases the calculated Kd-genotox values are in agreement with the Kow values of genotoxic substances isolated from genotoxic industrial waste samples studied by other researchers . The sorption partition coefficient, in conjunction with concentration of available particulate matter, was used to determine the percent of organic genotoxins adsorbed to effluent suspended particulate matter . Values range from 2.3% to 99.8% . High values (>70%) were obtained for metal surface treatment and inorganic and organic chemical production facilities . Low values (>30%) were obtained for sewage treatment facilities and pulp and paper mills . The results also demonstrate the effect of variations in the concentration of available particulate matter on the genotoxicity of both aqueous and particulate extracts . The results suggest that the sorptive properties of the particulate matter itself are reduced when the concentration of particulate matter is very high (>1,000 mg per 1) . The use of sorption partition information in inferring the physical-chemical nature of the putative genotoxins and the implications of the results for assessing the hazard posed to aquatic biota by industrial genotoxins are discussed. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1996 Jan, 46(1), 344 - 6 "Candidatus Microthrix parvicella", a filamentous bacterium from activated sludge sewage treatment plants; Blackall LL et al.; inverted question markCandidatus Microthrix parvicella inverted question mark is a filamentous bacterium that grows with great difficulty in cultures from the mixed liquor of activated sludge sewage treatment plants . It is gram positive, and the ultrastructure of its cell walls has been determined to be of the gram-positive type by electron microscopical examination . Phylogenetically, it is a deep-branching member of the subphylum actinomycetes within the gram-positive phylum of the domain Bacteria . As for phenotypic features, it is known that the organism contains a polyphosphate inclusions and that it is catalase positive . In mixed cultures in activated sludge plants and in pure culture in the laboratory, it has a characteristic and distinctive winding filamentous morphology, with filaments hundreds of micrometers long. Toxicol Lett, 1995 Dec, 82-83, 737 - 42 Feminized responses in fish to environmental estrogens; Sumpter JP; Effluent from sewage-treatment works entering British rivers contains an estrogenic chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that stimulates vitellogenin synthesis in male fish . If the effluent constitutes a significant proportion of the flow of the river, lengthy stretches of entire rivers can be estrogenic to fish . The chemical, or chemicals, responsible for this feminizing effect have not yet been identified . However, many man-made chemicals known to be estrogenic to fish (and other vertebrates) are present in effluent, although which of these, if any, is responsible for the effects noted when caged fish are placed in rivers is unclear presently . In laboratory studies, exposure to estrogenic alkylphenolic chemicals caused a reduction in the rate of testicular development in trout undergoing sexual maturation. Environ Health Perspect, 1995 Oct, 103 Suppl 7, 173 - 8 Vitellogenesis as a biomarker for estrogenic contamination of the aquatic environment; Sumpter JP et al.; A rapidly increasing number of chemicals, or their degradation products, are being recognized as possessing estrogenic activity, albeit usually weak . We have found that effluent from sewage treatment works contains a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that induces vitellogenin synthesis in male fish maintained in the effluent, thus indicating that the effluent is estrogenic . The effect was extremely pronounced and occurred at all sewage treatment works tested . The nature of the chemical or chemicals causing the effect is presently not known . However, we have tested a number of chemicals known to be estrogenic to mammals and have shown that they are also estrogenic to fish; that is, no species specificity was apparent . Many of these weakly estrogenic chemicals are known to be present in effluents . Further, a mixture of different estrogenic chemicals was considerably more potent than each of the chemicals when tested individually, suggesting that enhanced effects could occur when fish are exposed simultaneously to various estrogenic chemicals (as is likely to occur in rivers receiving effluent) . Subsequent work should determine whether exposure to these chemicals at the concentrations present in the environment leads to any deleterious physiological effects. J Chromatogr A, 1995 Sep 29, 712(1), 123 - 40 Polar organic pollutants in the Elbe river . Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric and flow-injection analysis-mass spectrometric analyses demonstrating changes in quality and concentration during the unification process in Germany; Schroder HF; During the unification process of the two German states from 1989 to 1994, water extracts from the Elbe river were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with ultraviolet (UV) and/or mass spectrometric detection (MS) in order to monitor the pollutants in one of the most contaminated European rivers . After column chromatography (LC) or flow-injection analysis (FIA) bypassing the analytical column, ionization was performed by a thermospray interface (TSP) . Semiquantitative estimations of the pollution of the Elbe were made from the total-ion current traces (TIC) of the extracts . Determination of the total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) indicated a reduction of more than 55% of pollutants in the water phase . The pollutants were identified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS), generating daughter-ion spectra by collision-induced dissociation (CID) using either column chromatography or direct mixture analysis . Compound-specific analyses indicated a reduction in the amount of pollutants as well as a change in their composition . This could be explained by reduced industrial production and by intensified construction of biological sewage treatment plants. Vet Med (Praha), 1995 Sep, 40(9), 289 - 92 {The importance of flies (Diptera-Brachycera) in the dissemination of helminth eggs from sewage treatment plants}; Juris P et al.; Screenings were carried out in four mechanico-biological municipal wastewater treatment plants in two climatico-geographic regions of Slovakia (submontane region: Levoca, Poprad and Tatranska Lomnica, lowland region: Michalovce) . Ovoscopical studies traced the occurrence of helminth eggs in stabilized sludges in sludge beds . The flies (Diptera-Brachycera) are considered as potential biological vectors of helminth eggs . The stabilized sludges in sludge beds showed the presence of a wide range of helminth eggs Ascaris sp . 0-184 spec . Hymenolepis sp . 0-5 spec . Toxocara sp . 0-17 spec . Taenia sp . 0-2 spec . Trichuris sp . 0-17 spec . a Capillaria sp . 0-4 spec./100 g of sample dry matter . In the areas of four sewage treatment plants 461 fly specimens (358 females, 103 males) were captured, belonging to 31 species . On three specimens of Protophormia terraenovae ectoparasites (mites) were detected . No eggs were found on the body surface of the flies. Med Parazitol (Mosk), 1995 Jul-Sep, (3), 28 - 31 {The effect of different factors on the epidemic process in ascariasis (exemplified by Tula Province)}; Oshevskaia ZA; An epidemiological process in ascariasis in Tula Province within a 16-year period during which there were no significant socioeconomic changes is analyzed . Improved water consumption, the scope and level of waste-water disposal and sewage treatment along with intensive efforts to detect the foci of ascariasis and with the implementation of health-promoting measures in them are shown to have the most considerable influence on the reduction in the intensity of an epidemiological process in ascariasis . These findings may be useful in gaining some insight into the efficiency of health-promoting measures in the foci where sewage treatment is inadequate and water supply is poor. Eur J Epidemiol, 1995 Jun, 11(3), 325 - 31 Molecular marker analysis of Salmonella typhimurium from surface waters, humans, and animals; Graeber I et al.; Salmonella contamination of North Sea water was detected for the first time in 1988 in Germany during routine examinations of bathing areas . Since then, subsequent isolations along the coast have been reported regularly . To define the source of contamination, strains isolated from seawater and rivers were studied by molecular marker methods . Their properties were compared with those of strains originating from possible sources of contamination such as humans, cattle, and sewage treatment plant water . Plasmid profile analysis of whole bacterial populations and the determination of antibiotic resistance patterns demonstrated, that contamination through the surrounding cattle industry could be excluded . Cattle isolates belonged to a widespread clone of phage type 204c which was multiresistant and exhibited an unique plasmid pattern which was never found in sea water isolates . Outer membrane protein and lipopolysaccharide analysis failed to demonstrate differences among the Salmonella populations and proved in this case insufficient for molecular marker discrimination. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1995 Apr, 197(1-3), 232 - 51 {Epidemiology of microbial resistance to biocides}; Hingst V et al.; In order to estimate the distribution of bacteria and fungi with an elevated level of resistance to antimicrobial substances, we have analyzed water samples and surveyed institutions presumably concerned with analyses of microbial resistance (university institutes for hygiene, health authorities) by means of questionnaire . A total of 41 water samples was drawn from various aquatic biotopes in the region of Heidelberg . The samples originated from the effluents of a community sewage treatment plant, from the Neckar river, from drinking water supplies and from public swimming pools . The following substance groups were included in a search for bacteria with an elevated resistance to antiseptics and disinfectants: Aldehydes, biguanides, quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC), phenols and halogen . Upon determination of the maximal tolerated concentrations to these antimicrobial agents, samples of treated wastewater effluents showed a considerably higher prevalence of bacteria resistant to formaldehyde, chlorhexidine and QAC . The highest levels of resistance were found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Enterobacter species . The maximal tolerated level of 0.06 percent formaldehyde by weight was considerably higher than the levels tolerated by the corresponding ATCC reference strains . The highest levels of resistance to a biguanid/QAC preparation were seen in isolates of Alcaligenes species and Providencia species, with a maximal tolerated level of 0.5 volume percent . In addition, several isolates of E . coli and Klebsiella species were observed which showed a considerably higher level of resistance to the biguanide preparation as compared to the corresponding ATCC reference strains . A questionnaire was mailed to a series of institutions and companies presumably concerned with problems of microbial resistance . Responses were in accordance with our own observations, both with regard to the spectrum of bacteria observed and to the antimicrobial substances concerned. Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao, 1995 Apr, 35(2), 91 - 6 {Isolation and identification of Rhodopseudomonas viridis and Rhodopseudomonas sulfoviridis}; Yang S et al.; Under selective culture conditions, two pure cultures (strain G and strain SG) of the purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria containing bacteriochlorophyll b were isolated from pulp effluent and sludge of sewage treatment plant by means of agar shake dilution . Although the cells of strain G and strain SG contained bacteriochlorophyll b and carotenoids, intra-cytoplasmic membranes were of lamellar type parallel to cytoplasmic membrane, the two strains differ in using various organic carbon sources, depending on reduced sulfur compounds and assimilate sulfate . According to Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology Volume 3, strain G was identified to be Rhodopseudomonas viridis,, strain SG was identified to be Rhodopseudomonas sulfoviridis. Chemosphere, 1995 Feb, 30(3), 593 - 603 Biodegradation of alkyltrimethylammonium salts in activated sludge; Nishiyama N et al.; Trimethylamine, dimethylamine and methylamine (actually existing as a salt form in the culture medium) were identified as the intermediates of alkyltrimethylammonium salts in activated sludge obtained from a municipal sewage treatment plant . It was considered that the quaternary ammonium salts with long alkyl chains were degraded to tertiary amine by N-dealkylation at the first stage of the biodegradation pathway . The tertiary amine formed in this pathway rapidly disappeared . In the activated sludge, biodegradabilities based on biochemical oxygen consumption and dissolved organic matter were 7.2-53.7% and 97.4-100%, respectively . These results and the disappearance of intermediates as described above indicate that long chain alkyltrimethylammonium salts are ultimately biodegradable. Gesundheitswesen, 1995 Feb, 57(2), 101 - 5 {Monitoring sewage plants by the public health office}; Tager T; According to the Federal law concerning the prevention and control of epidemics (Bundes-Seuchengesetz) and according to the third enforcement law about the standardisation of the public health system (Dritte Durchfuhrungsverordnung zum Gesetz uber die Vereinheitlichung des Gesundheitswesens) it is incumbent upon the local Public Health Authorities to supervise the sewage treatment plants within their respective administrative district . In practice, that task is hardly ever realised since it is often not clear exactly which hygienic aspects should be checked and what the benefit of such supervision could be . The following paper is an attempt to make suggestions how to carry out such supervising activities in practice . Furthermore, the paper shows the results of the 1993 supervising activities in the sewage treatment plants in the Limburg-Weilburg area . This is illustrated on the basis of the checklist which has been developed at the public health office of Limburg. Microbiology, 1995 Feb, 141 ( Pt 2), 513 - 21 Molecular characterization of nocardioform actinomycetes in activated sludge by 16S rRNA analysis; Schuppler M et al.; The analysis of complex microbiota present in activated sludge is important for the understanding and possible control of severe separation problems in sewage treatment such as sludge bulking or sludge foaming . Previous studies have shown that nocardioform actinomycetes are responsible for these conditions, which not only affect the efficiency of sewage treatment but also represent a threat to public health due to spread of pathogens . However, isolation and identification of these filamentous, nocardioform actinomycetes is hampered by their fastidious nature . Most species are still uncultivable and their taxonomy is unresolved . To study the ecology of these micro-organisms at the molecular level, we have established a clone library of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from bulk sludge DNA . A rough indication of the predominant flora in the sludge was given by sequencing randomly chosen clones, which revealed a great diversity of bacteria from different taxa . Colony hybridization with oligonucleotide probe MNP1 detected 27 clones with 16S rDNA inserts from nocardioform actinomycetes and mycobacteria . The sequence data from these clones together with those from randomly chosen clones were used for comparative 16S rRNA analysis and construction of dendrograms . All sequences differed from those of previously sequenced species in the databases . Phenotypic characterization of isolates of nocardioform actinomycetes and mycobacteria cultivated in parallel from the same activated-sludge sample revealed a large discrepancy between the two approaches . Only one 16S rDNA sequence of a cultured isolate was represented in the clone library, indicating that culture conditions could select species which represent only a small fraction of the organisms in the activated sludge. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1995 Feb, 61(2), 702 - 7 The abundance of Zoogloea ramigera in sewage treatment plants; Rossello-Mora RA et al.; Zoogloea ramigera has long been considered the typical activated sludge bacterium responsible for the formation of activated sludge flocs . On the basis of the results of a comparative sequence analysis, we designed three oligonucleotide probes complementary to characteristic regions of the 16S rRNAs of Z . ramigera ATCC 19544T (T = type strain) and two misclassified strains, Z . ramigera ATCC 25935 and ATCC 19623 . Dissociation temperatures were determined, and probe specificities, as well as the potential of probes for whole-cell hybridization, were evaluated by using numerous reference organisms . Several activated sludge samples were examined with these probes by using both the in situ and dot blot hybridization methods . Only the type strain probe hybridized to cells that accumulated in the typical branched gelatinous matrices, the so-called Zoogloea fingers . This probe revealed cells in most of the activated sludge samples studied . We found that relatively high levels of Z . ramigera cells (up to approximately 10% of the total number of cells) and typical morphology tended to be linked to overloading of sewage plants . The probe directed to rejected type strain Z . ramigera ATCC 19623 bound to only a few cells . Cells that reacted with the probe complementary to Z . ramigera ATCC 25935, which was originally isolated from a trickling filter, were not observed in activated sludge. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1995 Jan 15, 125(2-3), 165 - 71 vanA-mediated high-level glycopeptide resistance in Enterococcus faecium from animal husbandry; Klare I et al.; Glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains were isolated from a pig farm and a poultry farm both using avoparcin as a food additive . Such organisms were not isolated in a hen's eggs-producing farm not using avoparcin . Glycopeptide-resistant enterococci were also detected in broiler chicken carcasses that were delivered to a hospital's kitchen . The resistance was determined by the vanA gene as indicated by the detection of the inducible 39-kDa cytoplasmic membrane protein and of a vanA-specific DNA sequence amplified by polymerase chain reaction . Genomic DNA fragment patterns of strains from animal sources were different from each other and also from those of strains isolated in hospitals and from sewage treatment plants . This findings suggest the dissemination of the vanA determinant among different enterococcal strains of distinct ecological origin. Vet Med (Praha), 1995, 40(1), 23 - 7 {Survival of Ascaris suum eggs in sewage treatment plant sludge}; Plachy P et al.; In the period between June 1992 and May 1993 the survival of nonembryonated eggs of A . suum was studied in two sludge drying beds of sewage treatment plants (STP) under different climatic-geografical conditions: STP Michalovce in the East Slovak Lowland (elevation 111 m above sea-level) and STP Poprad in the submontane area of the Poprad valley (elevation 695 m) . Sludge drying beds of both sewage treatment plants (STP) showed different survival of eggs (Fig . 1) . In STP Michalovce we detected a rapid reduction in viable eggs from October through December (from 80.4% at the initiation of the experiment to 19.8% in December 1992) . Later this decrease became less rapid and at the end of the experiment, after 240 days only 5% of eggs were viable . In STP Poprad the viability of eggs was reduced rather gradually, and after 320 days of exposure 36% of viable A . suum eggs were still recorded . Sludge dry matter in STP Poprad increased from 2.2% to 14.2% and in STP Michalovce from 4.1% to 19.2% at the termination of the experiment . Sludge pH showed no marked variation in both STPs, ranging between 7.1 and 7.8 . The percentage of sludge organic matter was higher in STP Poprad, ranging from 55 to 75%, than in STP Michalovce, with 34-31% . We studied the correlation coefficients (Tab . I) of exposure time, air temperature, sludge drying bed temperature at 10 cm depth, pH, dry matter (Figs . 2 and 3) to the viability of model A . suum eggs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Am J Public Health, 1994 Dec, 84(12), 1988 - 91 A rapid public health response to a cryptic outbreak of cholera in Hawaii; Mintz ED et al.; In November 1991, toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 infection was confirmed in two unrelated persons in Hawaii . Cholera had not been acquired in Hawaii since 1895 . To determine the source and extent of V cholerae O1 infections in Hawaii, both patients were interviewed, suspect food sources were investigated, and surveillance of physicians, laboratories, hospitals, and sewage treatment plants was instituted . One patient's husband had serologic titers consistent with recent V cholerae O1 infection; no other cases were confirmed and V cholerae O1 was not recovered from active surveillance of laboratories or sewage treatment plants . The investigation demonstrated that the outbreak had affected few persons and had ended. Zentralbl Hyg Umweltmed, 1994 Dec, 196(4), 312 - 26 The elimination of Salmonella typhimurium in coastal waters with various levels of microbiologically hygienic contamination; Glaus H et al.; The biotic elimination of Salmonella typhimurium in coastal sea water is primarily caused by protozoa . The elimination is usually faster in summer than in winter and in the vicinity of waste water outlets partially faster than in coastal areas with less contamination . When the rate of elimination is measured twice in succession in the same sample (primary/secondary culture) the second reduction is considerably faster . This activation is attributed to the multiplication of protozoa (predator-prey-effect) . The activation is also possible through E . coli in concentrations such as those found in waste from sewage treatment plants or by Salmonella typhimurium themselves and vice versa . After 12 hours incubation the number of E . coli in the primary culture was still about 58% of the original quantity and 12 hours after a renewed inoculation in the secondary culture only 1% . When salmonella were added to the primary culture it was already impossible to detect E . coli after 12 hours in the secondary culture . Salmonella showed comparable tendencies, although the elimination of salmonella was clearly slower than the elimination of E . coli even after activation with salmonella . In the primary culture E . coli is already recultivatable in a smaller quantity than salmonella . Furthermore the addition of Cycloheximide to the secondary culture provides a considerably better protection for salmonella than for E . coli, so that it can be assumed that other or additional factors are involved in the elimination of E . coli. Environ Health Perspect, 1994 Dec, 102(12), 1018 - 23 A continent in chaos: Africa's environmental issues; Clay R; PIP: Half of Africa's almost 450 million inhabitants have no access to health services, while two-thirds lack safe drinking water, according to a 1991 report by the World Bank . Most Africans are also seriously affected by poverty, civil war, indoor and outdoor pollutants, diarrhea-causing microbes, tropical diseases such as malaria, rapid population growth, inadequate sanitation and sewage treatment, poor environmental management, corrupt government policies, desertification and deforestation, mining, and the overuse of pesticides and insecticides . Environmentally-related diseases compromise the continent's productivity, making it more difficult to generate revenue to fight the environmental health problems . Industrial pollutants remain rare, however, since almost 80% of sub-Saharan Africa remains pastoral or agro-pastoral . Even so, urbanization is exposing growing numbers of sub-Saharan Africans to hazardous and toxic wastes . Developing countries ship their most dangerous wastes to Africa because their own domestic environmental laws and the high costs of disposal make it difficult and expensive to dispose of them at home . The author discusses population growth in Africa; the lack of good data on the environment and health in Africa; infant and child mortality; water, sewage, and garbage; agriculture, mining, and industry; and sustainable development and the future . J Microsc, 1994 Dec, 176 ( Pt 3), 181 - 7 In situ analysis of microbial consortia in activated sludge using fluorescently labelled, rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes and confocal scanning laser microscopy; Wagner M et al.; Activated sludge flocs are complex consortia of various micro-organisms . The community structures of samples taken from municipal sewage treatment plants were characterized using fluorescently labelled, 16S and 23S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes in combination with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) . In comparison with conventional epifluorescence microscopy, CSLM considerably improved the capability to visualize directly the spatial distribution of defined bacterial populations inside the sludge flocs . Analyses could be performed at high resolution undisturbed by problems such as autofluorescence or limited spatial resolution in thick samples . In addition, CSLM was used to analyse some structural properties of paraformaldehyde-fixed activated sludge flocs, such as floc size and homogeneity . Typical floc sizes were found to be in the range between 5 and 50 microns . Whereas most of the flocs were completely colonized by bacteria, there were also examples of flocs containing gas bubbles or particles in the interior. Clin Microbiol Rev, 1994 Oct, 7(4), 419 - 25 Infectious diseases associated with molluscan shellfish consumption; Rippey SR; A history of shellfish-vectored illnesses (i.e., those associated with consumption of clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops) occurring in the past nine decades is presented . Typhoid fever was a significant public health problem among consumers of raw molluscan shellfish earlier in this century . The development of more effective sewage treatment procedures and the institution of a national program following these outbreaks led to a series of measures which eventually eliminated shellfish-associated typhoid fever . Present-day problems associated with this food source still involve some wastewaterborne bacterial illnesses . However, the principal public health concerns are with wastewater-derived viral pathogens and with bacterial agents of an environmental origin . The nature, occurrence, and magnitude of these public health problems are described. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1994 Oct, 29(1), 113 - 21 Biodegradation and toxicity to fish of di-long-chain tertiary amine salt containing ester and amide bonds; Toshima Y et al.; Biodegradability of N-(3-alkanoylaminopropyl)-N-(2-alkanoyloxyethyl)-N- methylammonium chloride (EAA) was investigated . Biodegradabilities by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) after 28 days were 79 and 91%, respectively, and almost the same amount of ammonium ion as the theoretical value was detected using a modified MITI test (I) (OECD guidelines, 301C) . In the test with activated sludge obtained from a municipal sewage treatment plant, biodegradabilities by BOD and DOC after 35 days were 87 and 98%, respectively, and the 1H-NMR analysis of the tested solution which was done separately under similar conditions indicated the rise and fall of two biodegradation intermediates . Therefore, EEA was considered to be a readily and ultimately biodegradable compound . Besides, the 96-hr LC50 value in red killifish (Oryzias latipes) of EAA was 66 mg/liter . More than 1000 mg/liter was of biodegradation intermediates rapidly made by biodegradation of EAA . These results reveal that EAA has sufficient environmental compatibility. Microbiology, 1994 Aug, 140 ( Pt 8), 1927 - 36 Growth and regulation of enzyme synthesis in the nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-degrading bacterium Chelatobacter heintzii ATCC 29600; Bally M et al.; In the aerobic bacterium Chelatobacter heintzii, growth and regulation of enzymes involved in nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) degradation have been investigated in chemostat culture during cultivation with glucose, NTA or mixtures thereof . In batch culture mu max with NTA was 0.18 h-1 and with glucose 0.22 h-1 . Growth yields for both substrates were reduced at low dilution rates . During growth with NTA specific activity of the NTA monooxygenase (NTA-MO) exhibited a maximum at D = 0.03 h-1 and gradually decreased with increasing dilution rates . In glucose-grown cells the specific activity as well as immunologically detectable NTA-MO protein was always close to the detection limit . During cultivation with different mixtures of NTA and glucose at a dilution rate of 0.06 h-1, both substrates were utilized simultaneously, irrespective of the NTA/glucose ratio and the presence of excess ammonia . Synthesis of both NTA-MO and iminodiacetic acid dehydrogenase became induced when NTA contributed to more than approximately 1-3% of the total carbon in the substrate mixture supplied . However, NTA was also degraded when the proportion of NTA in the mixture was lower than 1%, which is consistent with the low constitutive level of expression for NTA-MO observed . Results are discussed with respect to NTA biodegradation during sewage treatment and in ecosystems. Environ Health Perspect, 1994 Aug, 102(8), 680 - 8 Developmental abnormalities of the gonad and abnormal sex hormone concentrations in juvenile alligators from contaminated and control lakes in Florida; Guillette LJ Jr et al.; The reproductive development of alligators from a contaminated and a control lake in central Florida was examined . Lake Apopka is adjacent to an EPA Superfund site, listed due to an extensive spill of dicofol and DDT or its metabolites . These compounds can act as estrogens . Contaminants in the lake also have been derived from extensive agricultural activities around the lake that continue today and a sewage treatment facility associated with the city of Winter Garden, Florida . We examined the hypothesis that an estrogenic contaminant has caused the current failure in recruitment of alligators on Lake Apopka . Supporting data include the following: At 6 months of age, female alligators from Lake Apopka had plasma estradiol-17 beta concentrations almost two times greater than normal females from the control lake, Lake Woodruff . The Apopka females exhibited abnormal ovarian morphology with large numbers of polyovular follicles and polynuclear oocytes . Male juvenile alligators had significantly depressed plasma testosterone concentrations comparable to levels observed in normal Lake Woodruff females but more than three times lower than normal Lake Woodruff males . Additionally, males from Lake Apopka had poorly organized testes and abnormally small phalli . The differences between lakes and sexes in plasma hormone concentrations of juvenile alligators remain even after stimulation with luteinizing hormone . Our data suggest that the gonads of juveniles from Lake Apopka have been permanently modified in ovo, so that normal steroidogenesis is not possible, and thus normal sexual maturation is unlikely. Antibiot Khimioter, 1994 Aug, 39(8), 41 - 3 {Concept of oxybiosorption purification of sewage in antibiotic production}; Faingol'd ZL et al.; The conception of oxybiosorption treatment of sewage in antibiotic production is discussed . The conception is based on the data obtained and published by the authors earlier . The main principles of the process substantiation are the generation of active oxygen during the catalytic sorption in the sewage treatment and the formation of active oxygen metabolites (AOM) in the biological systems . Interaction of the AOMs with the organic contaminants in aerobic biological systems provides intensive submerged treatment of the sewage. Physiol Behav, 1994 Jul, 56(1), 81 - 93 Perceptual characteristics of binary, trinary, and quaternary odor mixtures consisting of unpleasant constituents; Laing DG et al.; Among the most obnoxious stimuli that the population at large is exposed to during everyday life are odorous emissions from sewage treatment plants . Such emissions are complex and contain many different types of odorants that vary in quantity depending upon the contents and efficiency of treatment processes . Because little is known about how individual odorants in complex mixtures affect the perception of each other, it is difficult to develop mathematical models that can predict the pleasantness, strength, and quality characteristics of an emission at different distances from a source . In the present study, the interactions of the four major types of odorants emitted by treatment plants worldwide, namely, hydrogen sulphide, isovaleric acid, butanethiol, and skatole, were investigated by measuring the perceived intensity of individual odorants alone and in mixtures, and the overall perceived intensity, unpleasantness, and qualities of mixtures . In addition, models for predicting odor strength were investigated . The results indicated that (i) the perceived odor intensity (odor strength) of mixtures of the odorants was equal or greater than that of any of the individual constituents, but less than the sum of their intensities . However, as the number of components in a mixture increased, the intensity of the most dominant component provided a good approximation of the intensity of the mixture . (ii) The vector model of intensity summation also satisfactorily predicted the odor intensity of mixtures containing two, three, or four of the odorants investigated . (iii) In no instance was the intensity of one odorant enhanced by another, i.e., no synergistic interactions occurred; the greater the number of odorants in a mixture, the greater was the degree of suppression of the individual constituents . (iv) The greater the number of constituents in a mixture the more difficult it became to identify individual constituents . (v) Hydrogen sulphide was the least frequently suppressed constituent, and isovaleric acid and skatole were the most frequently suppressed constituents in mixtures . (vi) The unpleasantness of mixtures was usually greater than that of the individual constituents, indicating that models used for predicting complaint levels in communities affected by sewage odor and based on assumptions related to a single odorant, e.g., hydrogen sulphide, will underestimate the number of complaints . Even mixtures with low but above threshold concentrations of these odorants are likely to generate complaints. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1994 Jul, 60(7), 2265 - 71 Degradation of alkylphenol ethoxylates by Pseudomonas sp . strain TR01; Maki H et al.; An alkylphenol ethoxylate-degrading bacterium was isolated from activated sludge of a municipal sewage treatment plant by enrichment culture . This organism was found to belong to the genus Pseudomonas; since no corresponding species was identified, we designated it as Pseudomonas sp . strain TR01 . This strain had an optimal temperature and pH of 30 degrees C and 7, respectively, for both growth and the degradation of Triton N-101 (a nonylphenol ethoxylate in which the average number of ethylene oxide {EO} units is 9.5) . The strain was unable to mineralize Triton N-101 but was able to degrade its EO chain exclusively . The resulting dominant intermediate was identified by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as a nonylphenol ethoxylate with 2 mol of EO units . A carboxylated metabolite, {(nonylphenoxy)ethoxy}acetic acid, was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry . This bacterium also metabolized alcohol ethoxylates with various numbers of EO units but not polyethylene glycols whatever their degree of polymerization . By oxygen consumption assay, the alkyl group or arene corresponding to the hydrophobic part of alcohol ethoxylates or alkylphenol ethoxylates was shown to contribute to the induction of the metabolic system of the EO chain of Triton N-101, instead of the EO chain itself, which corresponds to its hydrophilic part . Thus, the isolated pseudomonad bacterium has unique substrate assimilability: it metabolizes the EO chain only when the chain linked to bulky hydrophobic groups. Antibiot Khimioter, 1994 Jul, 39(7), 35 - 8 {Operation of biological systems for sewage treatment intensified by active oxygen}; Faingol'd ZL et al.; The results of the study on the treatment of sewage containing high concentrations of hardly oxidizable organic compounds are presented . The procedure for the sewage treatment is highly efficient because of interaction of the resultant active oxygen with both the pollutants and the microorganisms providing the sewage treatment. Antibiot Khimioter, 1994 Jun, 39(6), 23 - 6 {Use of hydrogen peroxide in the process of treating sewage from antibiotic production}; Polunina EE et al.; The data on the hydrogen peroxide oxidation of surface active substances (SAS) and other pollutants contained in the waste fermentation broth filtrates of antibiotic production are presented . The efficiency of the sewage treatment increased in the presence of FeSO4, a homogeneous catalyst . The influence of the pH value on the efficiency of the treatment was studied with the use of model solutions of the SASs and addition of H2O2 . The process of the sewage local treatment with hydrogen peroxide is applicable when the subsequent electrical cleaning is used. Aust N Z J Med, 1994 Apr, 24(2), 168 - 75 Asthma severity and morbidity in a population sample of Sydney school children: Part I--Prevalence and effect of air pollutants in coastal regions; Gray EJ et al.; BACKGROUND: In two regions of Sydney where sewage treatment facilities with high temperature sludge burning incinerators are installed, there was concern that the resultant emissions were causing a local increase in symptoms of asthma and other allergic diseases . AIM: To investigate whether living in a region with high temperature sludge burning incinerators was associated with an increased prevalence of childhood asthma or allergy . METHODS: We studied 713 children aged eight-12 years in two regions close to incinerators and 626 children in a control region with no sludge burning incinerator . We measured respiratory illness in the previous year by questionnaire, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) by histamine inhalation test, and atopy by skin prick tests . 'Current asthma' was defined as AHR and recent wheeze . RESULTS: Recordings of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, hydrogen sulphide, ozone and particulates during the study period showed that the level of pollutants did not vary in any major way between the study regions and the control region . The prevalence of current asthma, atopy, symptom frequency or any category of severity of asthma illness was not significantly different between the control and study regions . CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that factors other than intermittent or industrial air pollutants are responsible for the high prevalence of asthma symptoms, asthma medication use, asthma morbidity and AHR in the study of children. Bratisl Lek Listy, 1994 Apr, 95(4), 163 - 7 {Monitoring genotoxicity in the environment using cytogenetic methods such as chromosome analysis of peripheral lymphocytes, sister chromatid exchange and the micronucleus test}; Kukura F et al.; The work's aim is to observe environmental genotoxicity in the town of Ruzomberok and its surroundings in relation to the control group . The authors used three cytogenetic methods and compared their mutual sensitivity: chromosome analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes (CAHPL), micronuclear test (MN test) and differential staining of sister chromatides (SCE) . The authors examined four groups of 30 children from the age of 6 to 8 years, originating from the localities of Cernova-Hrboltova, Stiavnica-Ludrova and Sliace . Individual localities are in various distances from the source of pollution (the industrial sewage treatment plant-STP and cellulose and paper factory-CPF) . The control group contained children from the suburbs of Martin where no impact of industrial exhalations was assumed . For the purpose of evaluation of cytogenetic analysis results, nonparametric tests (K-S test and Z test) were used . The most sensitive method fo those used by the authors for the purpose of genotoxicity evaluation is CAHPL . The SCE method is less sensitive than CAHPL, but still more sensitive than MN test and suitable as a supplementary method for detection of exposition to genotoxic substances. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1994 Apr, 27(3), 306 - 15 Extrapolation of biodegradability test data by use of growth kinetic parameters; Blok J; Formulas for extrapolation of test data on biodegradability to percentage removal in treatment plants and biological half-life time in surface water are derived from growth kinetics . A pseudo-first-order rate constant can be used provided that substance properties and microbial density in the environment are assessed independently . For comparison of kinetics at different concentration levels an extrapolation factor can be used that is based on the ratio between maximum growth rate and sludge age in a treatment plant . The specific microbial density is estimated on the basis of proportional growth on all degradable substances in a state of equilibrium after adaptation . As a consequence the percentage removal can be predicted on the basis of sludge age and influent concentration in combination with the substance properties . The formulas predict that the combination of sewage treatment and surface water gives an almost equal biological half-life time for all readily biodegradable substances in the surface water . The predicted removal percentages and biological half-life times are in agreement with observations. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1994 Mar, 60(3), 792 - 800 Development of an rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe specific for the genus Acinetobacter and its application for in situ monitoring in activated sludge; Wagner M et al.; Enhanced biological phosphate removal in an anaerobic-aerobic activated sludge system has generally been ascribed to members of the genus Acinetobacter . A genus-specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe was developed to investigate the role of Acinetobacter spp . in situ . Nonisotopic dot blot hybridization to 66 reference strains, including the seven described Acinetobacter spp., demonstrated the expected probe specificity . Fluorescent derivatives were used for in situ monitoring of Acinetobacter spp . in the anaerobic and aerobic compartments of a sewage treatment plant with enhanced biological phosphate removal . Microbial community structures were further analyzed with oligonucleotide probes specific for the alpha, beta, or gamma subclasses of the class Proteobacteria, for the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium cluster, for gram-positive bacteria with a high G + C DNA content, and for all bacteria . Total cell counts were determined by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining . In both the anaerobic and the aerobic basins, the activated sludge samples were dominated by members of the class Proteobacteria belonging to the beta subclass and by gram-positive bacteria with a high G + C DNA content . Acinetobacter spp . constituted less than 10% of all bacteria . For both basins, the microbial community structures determined with molecular techniques were compared with the compositions of the heterotrophic saprophytic microbiota determined with agar plating techniques . Isolates on nutrient-rich medium were classified by whole-cell hybridization with rRNA-targeted probes and fatty acid analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Microbios, 1994, 78(317), 237 - 43 Biodegradation of trace levels of a complex organic pollutant mixture; Limbert ES et al.; Three bacterial isolates with the ability to grow on a model mixture of ground water contaminants were obtained from a sewage works for treatment of industrial effluents, and from heavily and intermediately contaminated ground . The mixture consisted of benzene, toluene, o-xylene, nitrobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, o-cresol, naphthalene, tetrachloromethane and trichloroethylene, at concentrations ranging from 150 to 600 micrograms/l (2.1 mg/l in total) . A supplement of 50 mg/l phenol was added to support growth and batch cultures were adapted for 6 weeks . Preliminary assays to check for degradative ability and toxicological assessments of the compounds using oxygen uptake rates were undertaken . Each isolate exhibited a different extent of degradation for the compounds . In 18 h incubation, from an initial figure of 1,966 micrograms/l (not including the primary substrate) the highest remaining total organic carbon of 800 micrograms/l was for the isolate from activated sludge . The effect of the organic compounds upon oxygen uptake rate was less marked for the micro-organisms from heavily polluted ground . As far as bioremediation of groundwater is concerned, the combination of both chemical structure variety and extremely low concentrations of individual chemicals in the mixture under investigation, make the present report relevant to many environmental problems. Crit Rev Microbiol, 1994, 20(3), 225 - 41 Ecology of free-living amoebae; Rodriguez-Zaragoza S; Small free-living amoebae (FLA) are the main predators controlling bacterial populations in soils . They are distributed in the rhizospheric zone and the surrounding bulk soil; however, they may spread deeper, reaching the vadose zone of groundwater systems, especially where bacterial populations get to high densities . Soil texture is the physical factor controlling the distribution of FLA because it determines the mean bore pore of soil aggregates and other important physical factors . FLA help maintain the high bacterial mineralization rate of organic matter through predation . As attachment onto a surface is necessary for feeding, the quantity of available surfaces is very important for developing this activity . However, the role of protozoa on plant growth promotion is still unclear because they may increase this effect by feeding on both fungi and bacteria . Small FLA are found in soils or sediments, as well as attached to suspended particulate matter in water columns, in the first 30 microns of water surface, or on the bodies of submerged animals and plants . These microorganisms do not distinguish between terrestrial or aquatic environments because they live in the interfaces between them . However, their importance in aquatic systems has been considered as negligible because they are outcompeted by free swimmers . The water conditions affecting amoebae survival are pH, temperature, concentration of sulfhydric acid and salinity . These factors have a strong influence on the structure of amoebae communities in aquatic environments . FLA are considered cosmopolitan as a group, and they live inside vertebrates, in soils, freshwater, marine waters, and on the aerial parts of plants and animals . These microbes, are spread by wind and water currents . Once in the air, cysts and trophozoites behave like any other suspended particulate matter . Therefore, suspension transportation, and removal depend on atmospheric dynamics rather than on their own mechanisms . Ultraviolet light and drought are the main causes of losing viability, but much needs to be learned about the effects of air contaminants on amoebal survival . Naked amoebae also live in the phyllosphere as part of phylloplane community, but their importance and participation in this environment remain unknown . Some species belonging to the genera Acanthamoebae, Naegleria, and Balamuthia cause fatal diseases in humans and are carriers of other pathogens such as Legionella pneumophilia . However, FLA communities can be of some utility in sewage treatment works based in soil filters . FLA's predatory activity in the root zone method may be of greater importance than previously thought, because this is their natural or more favorable environment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1993 Dec, 9(4), 477 - 9 Tolerance of sewage treatment plant microorganisms to mosquitocides; Tietze NS et al.; Beneficial protozoa and rotifers collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Panama City, FL, were tested for tolerance to 11 commonly used mosquito larvicides and adulticides in the laboratory . The acute effects were assessed using selected concentrations of the adulticides fenthion, malathion, naled, permethrin, and resmethrin; and the larvicides Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, Bacillus sphaericus, diflubenzuron, larviciding oil, methoprene, and temephos for the following microorganism taxa: ameoboids, flagellates, free-swimming ciliates, stalked ciliates, and rotifers. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Nov, 59(11), 3618 - 24 Detection of Legionella species in sewage and ocean water by polymerase chain reaction, direct fluorescent-antibody, and plate culture methods; Palmer CJ et al.; Legionella spp . are ubiquitous in most environmental water sources; however, sewage treatment plants have not been examined as potential environmental reservoirs for these bacteria . This study used polymerase chain reaction, direct fluorescent-antibody staining, and culture methods to examine raw and treated sewage, ocean-receiving waters, and nearshore coastal environments for the presence of Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella spp . The study concluded that Legionella spp . are present in all phases of sewage treatment and that population numbers do not significantly decline through the treatment process . Ocean-receiving waters located 5 miles offshore, where the treated sewage is discharged, were found to contain Legionella spp., but ocean water between the discharge site and coastal bathing beaches was negative . This suggests that the Legionella spp . from the ocean discharge site were not reaching the nearshore beach waters . A flood control channel and river that entered the ocean were found to contain Legionella spp., and a nearby beach swimming area was also found to be positive, suggesting that land runoff from the flood control channel and river were the source of the Legionella spp . in the beach water samples that tested positive. Sci Total Environ, 1993 Nov 1, 139-140, 479 - 90 Surfactants and complexing agents: new tasks for specimen banking? Kloster G, Klumpp E, Schwuger MJ. Surfactants and complexing agents are chemical products that are released into the environment in large amounts after being used in cleaning processes, mineral flotation, pesticide formulations, etc . Although these compounds are largely degraded during sewage treatment in industrialized countries, significant amounts will be found in sediments or sewage sludges . Furthermore, large concentrations of these compounds can be found in small rivers and brooks in the vicinity of outfalls of sewage treatment plants . Since these compounds can be expected to alter the organic matrix of the soil (surfactants) or to remobilize heavy metals from soils or sediments (complexing agents), their occurrence in the environment and their effects have to be investigated to estimate their long-term risk potential . This could be a new task for specimen banking . To this end, (a) sensitive and specific detection methods for surfactants and complexing agents have to be developed at concentrations relevant to environmental occurrence, and (b) the effect of surfactants and complexing agents on the distribution of organic and inorganic pollutants in environmental compartments has to be investigated . Preliminary investigations show significant synergistic or antagonistic effects of various surfactants on the adsorption of pollutants at clay minerals. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Nov, 59(11), 3840 - 9 Distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria, O2, and H2S in photosynthetic biofilms determined by oligonucleotide probes and microelectrodes; Ramsing NB et al.; The vertical distribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in photosynthetic biofilms from the trickling filter of a sewage treatment plant was investigated with oligonucleotide probes binding to 16S rRNA . To demonstrate the effect of daylight and photosynthesis and thereby of increased oxygen penetration, we incubated two 4-mm-thick biofilm samples in darkness or exposed to light at natural intensity . Gradients of O2, H2S, and pH were examined with microelectrodes during incubation . The samples were subsequently frozen with liquid nitrogen and sliced on a cryomicrotome in 20-microns vertical slices . Fluorescent-dye-conjugated oligonucleotides were used as "phylogenetic" probes to identify single cells in the slices . Oligonucleotide sequences were selected which were complementary to short sequence elements (16 to 20 nucleotides) within the 16S rRNA of sulfate-reducing bacteria . The probes were labeled with fluorescein or rhodamine derivatives for subsequent visualization by epifluorescence microscopy . Five probes were synthesized for eukaryotes, eubacteria, SRB (including most species of the delta group of purple bacteria), Desulfobacter spp., and a nonhybridizing control . The SRB were unevenly distributed in the biofilm, being present in all states from single scattered cells to dense clusters of several thousand cells . To quantify the vertical distribution of SRB, we counted cells along vertical transects through the biofilm . This was done in a blind experiment to ascertain the reliability of the staining . A negative correlation between the vertical distribution of positively stained SRB cells and the measured O2 profiles was found . The distribution differed in light- and dark-incubated samples presumably because of the different extensions of the oxic surface layer . In both cases the SRB were largely restricted to anoxic layers. Can J Microbiol, 1993 Oct, 39(10), 990 - 3 Two-dimensional electrophoresis method used for determination of plasmid profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from a sewage treatment plant; Arturo M et al.; The plasmid contents of 306 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from raw and treated sewage from a treatment plant as well as from the water 1 km downstream were determined . The number and molecular weight of plasmids isolated from a representative sample of these strains were also measured . It was observed that biological treatment did not significantly alter these parameters . In contrast, statistically significant differences in plasmid number and size were observed when strains from sewage (raw and treated) were compared with strains isolated from brackish water . In raw and treated sewage, more than 96% of the strains contained plasmids, compared with 85% in brackish water . Nine to 13% of the strains from sewage contained plasmids with more than 56 kilobases, while only 5% of the strains from brackish water reached this size. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1993 Aug, 59(8), 2558 - 62 Detection of hepatitis E virus in raw and treated wastewater with the polymerase chain reaction; Jothikumar N et al.; The main objective of this study was to determine the applicability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in sewage treatment plants and establishment of the prevalence of hepatitis viral diseases in a population . Epidemics of HEV infection because of inadequate public sanitation have been reported in several developing countries . A procedure for concentration of HEV in sewage samples through adsorption to membrane filters, elution with urea-arginine phosphate buffer, and subsequent reconcentration with magnesium chloride enabled us to concentrate HEV to volumes in the microliter range . HEV-specific cDNA was prepared by reverse transcription of the total RNA extracted from samples . Specific DNA amplification by PCR in combination with slot blot hybridization was used to demonstrate the presence of HEV in sewage samples from the inlets and outlets of three sewage treatment plants . The assay was specific for HEV, and a 240-bp amplified product was visualized by ethidium bromide fluorescence . Sewage samples adjusted to pH 5.0 for adsorption of viruses to membrane filters were PCR positive, while samples adjusted to pH 3.5 were PCR negative. J Chromatogr, 1993 Jul 23, 643(1-2), 379 - 88 Organic micropollutants in Swiss sewage sludge; Frost P et al.; Sludges from sixteen municipal and eleven industrial Swiss sewage treatment plants were analysed for adsorbable organic compounds (AOX), chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons . Except for the AOX values, which were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in industrial sludges, there was no significant difference between industrial and municipal sludges . The AOX values did not correlate with any of the measured pollutants . The methods employed (capillary GC-MS and GC-electron-capture detection) proved to be suitable for monitoring organic micropollutants in industrial and municipal sewage sludges. Mutat Res, 1993 Jul, 297(1), 39 - 51 The genetic toxicology of 5-fluoropyrimidines and 5-chlorouracil; Morris SM; The halogenated pyrimidines were synthesized in the 1950s as potential anti-tumor agents after the discovery that certain tumors preferentially incorporated uracil rather than thymine into the DNA . The fluorinated derivatives are widely recognized today as effective treatment modalities, especially with tumors of the head, neck and breast . Mechanistically, efficacy of the fluorinated pyrimidines results from the ability of these compounds to incorporate into RNA and inhibit its maturation to those forms necessary for cellular metabolism and from the inhibition of the enzyme, thymidylate synthetase, which controls the biosynthesis of thymine and DNA synthesis . The 5-fluoropyrimidines can incorporate into DNA, but the contribution of this phenomenon to the overall efficacy of this class of chemotherapeutic agents is not totally resolved . Evidence exists that this class of compounds possesses the properties to induce genotoxic effects, both in bacterial and eukaryotic cells . Most notably, these effects include the induction of cellular toxicity and the induction of chromosome aberra