Wastewater Pathogens

A practical guide to wastewater pathogens

The fourth volume in Wiley's Wastewater Microbiology series, Wastewater Pathogens offers wastewater personnel a practical guide that is free of overly technical jargon. Designed especially for operators, the text provides straight facts on the biology of treatment as well as appropriate protective measures. Coverage includes:
* An overview of relevant history, hazards, and organisms
* Viruses, bacteria, and fungi
* Protozoa and helminthes
* Ectoparasites and rodents
* Aerosols, foam, and sludge
* Disease transmission and the body's defenses
* Removal, inactivation, and destruction of pathogens
* Hygiene measures, protective equipment, and immunizations

PREFACE ix

PART I OVERVIEW 1

1. Introduction 3

2. History 7

3. Hazards 11

4. Classification of Organisms 17

PART II VIRUSES, BACTERIA, AND FUNGI 21

5. Viruses 23

6. Hepatitis Virus Group 31

7. HIV 39

8. West Nile Virus 45

9. Bacteria 53

10. Leptospira interrogans 67

11. Fungi 69

PART III PROTOZOANS AND HELMINTHS 73

12. Introduction to Parasitic Protozoans and Helminths 75

13. Protozoans 79

14. Helminths 85

PART IV ECTOPARASITES AND RODENTS 97

15. Ectoparasites 99

16. Rodents and Rodent Control 103

PART V AEROSOLS, FOAM, AND SLUDGE 111

17. Aerosols and Foam 113

18. Sludge 117

PART VI DISEASE TRANSMISSION AND THE BODY’S DEFENSES 123

19. Disease Transmission 125

20. The Body’s Defenses 129

PART VII REMOVAL, INACTIVATION, AND DESTRUCTION OF PATHOGENS 135

21. Removal, Inactivation, and Destruction of Pathogens 137

22. Disinfection 141

23. Coliform Bacteria and Indicator Organisms 145

PART VIII HYGIENE MEASURES, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND IMMUNIZATIONS 149

24. Hygiene Measures and Protective Equipment 151

25. Immunizations 159

REFERENCES 163

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 167

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND ELEMENTS 169

GLOSSARY 171

INDEX 177

"Even though this book was prepared for personnel who work at wastewater treatment facilities....it would also be very useful and applicable to personnel who work in solid waste management." (Waste Management, Volume 26, Issue 1, 2006)

"...a good addition to any wastewater treatment plant operators' library." (E-STREAMS, September 2005)

"...offers wastewater personnel a practical guide that is free of overly technical jargon...well-suited for use both in the classroom and on the job." (Journal of the American Water Resources Association, December 2004) MICHAEL H. GERARDI holds an MS in biology from James Madison University and provides wastewater operator training and troubleshooting of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. He has authored more than eighty technical articles. He is currently responsible for the development and presentation of wastewater biology courses at the Pennsylvania State University.

MEL C. ZIMMERMAN is professor and chair of the Biology Department at Lycoming College. He also directs the Clean Water Institute at Lycoming. He has been teaching courses in ecology, aquatic biology, and tropical marine biology for twenty-four years. His research and publications deal with stream ecology and restoration, wetland ecology, and wastewater biology. A practical guide to wastewater pathogens

Wastewater treatment professionals face daily exposure to a wide variety of pathogens. These include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminthes, as well as allergins, endotoxins, and exotoxins. While generally minimal, potential health hazards are still cause for concern. Along with the emergence of such new diseases as Bird Flu virus, monkeypox, and West Nile virus, these hazards point to the need for a comprehensive review of wastewater pathogens.

The fourth volume in Wiley's Wastewater Microbiology series, Wastewater Pathogens offers wastewater personnel a practical guide that is free of overly technical jargon. Designed especially for operators, the text provides straight facts on the biology of treatment as well as appropriate protective measures.

Coverage includes:
* An overview of relevant history, hazards, and organisms
* Viruses, bacteria, and fungi
* Protozoa and helminthes
* Ectoparasites and rodents
* Aerosols, foam, and sludge
* Disease transmission and the body's defenses
* Removal, inactivation, and destruction of pathogens
* Hygiene measures, protective equipment, and immunizations

Additional features include a list of references, a guide to abbreviations and acronyms, relevant chemical compounds and elements, and a glossary of important terms. Well suited for use both in the classroom and on the job, Wastewater Pathogens provides plant operators and other wastewater professionals with a practical, no-nonsense guide to the biology and biological conditions of the treatment process.