Microbiological health risks

Assessment and Control of Microbiological Health Risks Presented by Foods... 

Assessment and Control oj Microbiological Health Risks oj Foods 131... 

Rapid sub-typing of bacteria is needed for protection of public health and in civil-, criminal-, or terror-related forensics. Distinction of microbiological sub-types can signal important differences that affect the health risk from microbial infection and treatment strategies for disease. It can also be used to monitor the emergence of mutant strains.1 In cases of nosocomial (hospital-incurred) infections and outbreaks, sub-typing capability could be used as an alternative for identifying the route by which infection spreads. Many studies... 

Emmanuel E, Pierre MG, Perrodin Y (2009) Groundwater contamination by microbiological and chemical substances released from hospital wastewater health risk assessment for drinking water consumers. Environ Int 35 718-726... 

The SDWA promulgated the primary MCLs for VOCs and synthetic chemicals (pesticides), inorganic, microbiological, and radiological contaminants. A list of the MCLs, the potential sources of regulated chemicals in groundwater, and associated health risks can be found at the EPA Web Page at http //www.epa.gov/safewater. 

Two types of microbiological limit may be recognised. The first is a limit of specific pathogens posing a health risk to the consumer. This is a relatively simple problem as the presence of dangerous organisms such as Salmonella spp.. Shigella spp., and Clostridium botulinum is obviously not acceptable. 

Despite the results presented above, there has been reluctance to consider carbon monoxide for microbiological control. This may result from fears regarding its inherent toxicity as well as from the public perception of the use of toxic compounds to treat wine. Indeed, carbon monoxide is a toxic, colorless, and odorless gas whose detection requires specialized equipment. However, in terms of potential health risks, SO2 is considerably more toxic than carbon monoxide. Toxicity data for the two show that the IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) level for CO is 1500 mg/L, whereas for SO2, it is only 100 mg/L (Sigma-Aldrich Library of Chemical Safety Data, 1988). 

The history of laboratory infection has been covered by various authors over the years " and has formed the topic of an excellent book by Collins. In the early days of medical microbiology, the risk of infection was perhaps regarded as part of the job, with ill health normally arising as a consequence of careless or thoughtless laboratory practice. Bad practice possibly arose partly from a belief in the glamour of medical martyrdom and partly from the under-recognised importance of aerosol transmission. 

But if we take into account the emerging pollutants and compounds, the choice of which is guided by environmental considerations (mainly risks for health), then surfactants, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, other industrial organics (PAH, aromatic amines,...) or inorganics (sulphides, arsenic,...) and microbiological indicators (pathogens) must also be considered. 

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