Journal article
Alternative indicators for detection and quantification of faecal pollution
Water, Vol.35(1), pp.39-45
2008
Abstract
Traditional faecal indicator bacteria such as faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci have long been used as indicators of faecal pollution in environmental waters. However, the reliability of these traditional indicators has been questioned in terms of their ability to predict the likely presence of pathogens. Another limitation of these indicators is that they cannot be used to distinguish the sources of faecal pollution which need to be known to ensure the improved management of water quality and the assessment of health risk. In recent years, the use of alternative microbial faecal indicators such as faecal anaerobes (i.e. Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium perfringens), and viruses (phage), and chemical indicators (i.e. faecal sterols, caffeine, and optical brighteners) has become popular because these can provide sensitive and accurate measurement of faecal pollution in environmental waters. In this paper, the advantages and limitations of using alternative indicators for predicting the sources of faecal pollution are briefly evaluated. The correlations between alternative indicators and pathogens in environmental waters are discussed. A combination of traditional indicators along with alternative indicators and markers is suggested for monitoring faecal pollution, and future research directions for direct pathogen monitoring are also discussed.
Details
- Title
- Alternative indicators for detection and quantification of faecal pollution
- Authors
- Warish Ahmed (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyA Goonetilleke (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyTed Gardner (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- Water, Vol.35(1), pp.39-45
- Publisher
- Australian Water Association
- Date published
- 2008
- ISSN
- 0310-0367
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2008 The author. The author accepted version is reproduced here with permission. The definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.HH/j.l472-765X.2007.02287.x
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450364102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
166 File views/ downloads
367 Record Views