Investigation of pathogenic Escherichia coli and microbial pathogens in pulp and paper mill biosolids

• Published in: Water environment research 2007-09, Vol.79 (9), p.1050-1056
• Main Authors: Croteau, M. C., Renner, V. E., Archibald, F., Langlois, V. S., Cahn, J., Ridal, J., Trudeau, V. L., Lean, D. R. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal pathogenic bacteria; Applied sciences; Bacteria; bacterial contamination; bacterial toxins; Biological Assay - methods; biosolids; biosolids composts; E coli; Electrophoresis - methods; enteric pathogens; enterotoxins; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli - pathogenicity; Exact sciences and technology; General purification processes; genes; Genetic screening; Health hazards; Industrial Waste - analysis; Microbiology; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Paper mills; Pathogens; Pollution; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Product category rules; Pulp & paper industry; Pulp & paper mills; Pulp and paper industry; pulp and paper mill; Pulp and paper mill effluents; pulp and paper sludge; Pulp mills; Refuse Disposal; Research Papers; Serotyping - methods; soil amendments; verocytotoxins; Wastes; Wastewater; Wastewaters; Water Microbiology; Water treatment and pollution; waterborne microbial pathogens
• ISSN: 1061-4303; 1554-7531
• DOI: 10.2175/106143007X184140

Biosolids produced from pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment have excellent properties as soil conditioners, but often contain high levels of Escherichia coli. E. coli are commonly used as indicators of fecal contamination and health hazard; therefore, their presence in biosolids causes concern and has lead to restrictions in land-spreading. The objectives of this study were to determine the following: (1) if E. coli from the biosolids of a wastewater-free pulp and paper mill were enteric pathogens, and (2) if other waterborne microbial pathogens were present. E. coli were screened for heat-labile and heat-stable enterotoxin and verocytotoxin virulence genes using a polymerase chain reaction. Ten isolates were also screened for invasion-associated locus and invasion plasmid antigen H genes. None of the 120 isolates carried these genes. Tests for seven other microbial pathogens were negative. Effluents and biosolids from this mill do not contain common microbial pathogens and are unlikely to pose a health hazard.