Wastewater PathogensWastewater PathogensWhat’s In There?What’s In There?

Steve Barnard Steve Barnard

Muskegon County WastewaterMuskegon County WastewaterMuskegon County Wastewater Muskegon County Wastewater Management SystemManagement System

Afraid?Afraid?Afraid?Afraid?

A little information goes a long way…

Complex IssueComplex IssueComplex IssueComplex Issue

Pathogen: Organism that causes diseasePathogen: Organism that causes diseasePathogen: Organism that causes diseasePathogen: Organism that causes diseaseBacteriaBacteriaVirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

BacteriaBacteriaBacteriaBacteria

Living single cell organismsLiving single cell organismsLiving single cell organismsLiving single cell organismsSpherical (cocci), Spherical (cocci), Cylindrical (bacilli) andCylindrical (bacilli) andCylindrical (bacilli) and Cylindrical (bacilli) and Helical (spirilli); the spiral forms may be 15 Helical (spirilli); the spiral forms may be 15 microns long. microns long. gg

Some are pathogensSome are pathogens

BacteriaBacteriaBacteriaBacteriaPathogen: Vibrio Pathogen: Vibrio Cholera; Disease:Cholera; Disease:Cholera; Disease: Cholera; Disease: Cholera; Cholera; Transmission: PersonTransmission: PersonTransmission: Person Transmission: Person to person;to person;

Pathogen: Salmonella Pathogen: Salmonella Typhi; Disease: Typhi; Disease: ypypTyphoid fever; Typhoid fever; Transmission: Person Transmission: Person ( i l )( i l )(or animals) to person;(or animals) to person;

BacteriaBacteriaBacteriaBacteriaPathogen: Other types of Pathogen: Other types of Salmonellae; Disease:Salmonellae; Disease:Salmonellae; Disease: Salmonellae; Disease: Various enteric fevers Various enteric fevers (often called paratyphoid), (often called paratyphoid), gastroenteritis, gastroenteritis, septicemia (generalizedsepticemia (generalizedsepticemia, (generalized septicemia, (generalized infection in which infection in which organisms multiply in the organisms multiply in the blood stream; blood stream; Transmission: Person (orTransmission: Person (orTransmission: Person (or Transmission: Person (or animals) to person;animals) to person;

Pathogen: Shigella Pathogen: Shigella g gg gDysenteriae; Disease: Dysenteriae; Disease: Bacterial Dysentery; Bacterial Dysentery; Transmission: Person to Transmission: Person to personpersonpp

BacteriaBacteriaBacteriaBacteria

Pathogen: Escheiria Coli;Pathogen: Escheiria Coli;Pathogen: Escheiria Coli; Pathogen: Escheiria Coli; Disease: Diarrhea; Disease: Diarrhea; Transmission: Person toTransmission: Person toTransmission: Person to Transmission: Person to personperson

VirusesVirusesVirusesVirusesPathogen: Pathogen: Poliovirus; Disease:Poliovirus; Disease:Poliovirus; Disease: Poliovirus; Disease: Poliomycetes; Poliomycetes; Transmission: Transmission: Person to personPerson to person

Pathogen: Pathogen: Coxsackievirus; Coxsackievirus; Disease: Various Disease: Various cases including cases including respiratory disease, respiratory disease, fevers, rashes, fevers, rashes, paralysis, aseptic paralysis, aseptic p y , pp y , pmeningitis, meningitis, myocarditis; myocarditis; Transmission: Transmission: Person to personPerson to personpp

VirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

H1N1 (Swine Flu) andH1N1 (Swine Flu) andH1N1 (Swine Flu) and H1N1 (Swine Flu) and H5N1 (Bird Flu)H5N1 (Bird Flu)

May be present in raw May be present in raw wastewater. Readily wastewater. Readily inactivated by disinfection inactivated by disinfection or digestionor digestionor digestionor digestionRespiratory Illness, so Respiratory Illness, so ingestion is not a method ingestion is not a method of transmission.of transmission.Aerosolize as little as Aerosolize as little as possiblepossiblepossiblepossible

AerosolsAerosolsAerosolsAerosols

VirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

H5N1 H1N1H5N1 H1N1H5N1, H1N1H5N1, H1N1Does not survive outside body for extended Does not survive outside body for extended period of timeperiod of timeperiod of timeperiod of timeMay survive through primary treatment, but May survive through primary treatment, but time is on your side.time is on your side.time is on your side.time is on your side.Irrigation at our siteIrrigation at our site

•• 1980’s study showed viruses did not survive to 1980’s study showed viruses did not survive to 980 s s udy s o ed uses d d o su e o980 s s udy s o ed uses d d o su e oirrigation.irrigation.

VirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

Hepatitis AHepatitis AHepatitis AHepatitis ACan cause severe liver damageCan cause severe liver damageSpread fecal to oralSpread fecal to oralSpread fecal to oralSpread fecal to oralMore common in developing countriesMore common in developing countriesNo documented cases of wastewater workersNo documented cases of wastewater workersNo documented cases of wastewater workers No documented cases of wastewater workers contracting on the job.contracting on the job.44

VirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

Hepatitis B CHepatitis B CHepatitis B, CHepatitis B, CBlood borne virusBlood borne virusSpread by direct contact with concentratedSpread by direct contact with concentratedSpread by direct contact with concentrated Spread by direct contact with concentrated blood or body fluidsblood or body fluidsPotentially fatalPotentially fatalPotentially fatalPotentially fatalOne case of a worker infected by a needle One case of a worker infected by a needle stick (bar screen)stick (bar screen)stick (bar screen)stick (bar screen)

VirusesVirusesVirusesViruses

HIVHIVHIVHIVBlood borne virusBlood borne virusSpread through direct contact with blood orSpread through direct contact with blood orSpread through direct contact with blood or Spread through direct contact with blood or concentrated body fluidsconcentrated body fluidsKnown since the 1980’sKnown since the 1980’sKnown since the 1980 sKnown since the 1980 sDoes not survive outside the bodyDoes not survive outside the body

Chemical ExposuresChemical ExposuresChemical ExposuresChemical Exposures

GasesGasesGasesGasesAcids, basesAcids, basesO i Ch i lO i Ch i lOrganic ChemicalsOrganic ChemicalsMetalsMetals

GasesGasesGasesGases

Hydrogen SulfideHydrogen SulfideHydrogen SulfideHydrogen SulfideToxic Gas!Toxic Gas!Exposure limit 10 ppm (8 hr ) 15 ppm STELExposure limit 10 ppm (8 hr ) 15 ppm STELExposure limit 10 ppm (8 hr.), 15 ppm STELExposure limit 10 ppm (8 hr.), 15 ppm STELDetectable at less than 100 ppbDetectable at less than 100 ppbSense of smell quickly deadenedSense of smell quickly deadenedSense of smell quickly deadenedSense of smell quickly deadenedLocal VentilationLocal Ventilation

GasesGasesGasesGases

Flammable GasesFlammable GasesFlammable GasesFlammable GasesAccidental release from industryAccidental release from industrySpills to sewer systemSpills to sewer systemSpills to sewer systemSpills to sewer system

Organic ChemicalsOrganic ChemicalsOrganic ChemicalsOrganic Chemicals

Vast variety of possibilitiesVast variety of possibilitiesVast variety of possibilitiesVast variety of possibilitiesProtective equipment and Engineering Protective equipment and Engineering ControlsControlsControlsControlsRegulation of dischargesRegulation of dischargesKnow your customersKnow your customers

Acids / BasesAcids / BasesAcids / BasesAcids / Bases

Unlikely to be present in concentration atUnlikely to be present in concentration atUnlikely to be present in concentration at Unlikely to be present in concentration at influentinfluentRelease from industry to lift stationsRelease from industry to lift stationsRelease from industry to lift stationsRelease from industry to lift stationsWhat you use around the plant is more What you use around the plant is more dddangerousdangerous

MetalsMetalsMetalsMetals

Will complex and bind in sludgeWill complex and bind in sludgeWill complex and bind in sludgeWill complex and bind in sludgeMercury is volatile and may be released in Mercury is volatile and may be released in aerationaerationaeration.aeration.

Exposure RoutesExposure RoutesExposure RoutesExposure Routes

Ingestion (yuck)Ingestion (yuck)Ingestion (yuck)Ingestion (yuck)Aerosols in the mouthAerosols in the mouthSwallowingSwallowingSwallowingSwallowing

AbsorptionAbsorptionThrough skinThrough skinThrough cutsThrough cuts

InjectionInjectionForced directly into bloodstreamForced directly into bloodstream

Will I get sick?Will I get sick?Will I get sick?Will I get sick?

It’s possible but unlikelyIt’s possible but unlikelyIt s possible, but unlikelyIt s possible, but unlikelyThree things necessary for contracting a Three things necessary for contracting a diseasediseasediseasedisease

PathogenPathogenR t f tR t f tRoute of entryRoute of entryConcentrationConcentration

ConcentrationConcentrationConcentrationConcentration

How many organisms in how much water?How many organisms in how much water?How many organisms in how much water?How many organisms in how much water?How many organisms are required for How many organisms are required for infection?infection?infection?infection?Normal illness ratesNormal illness ratesPandemic ratesPandemic rates

Is The Risk Really So Low?Is The Risk Really So Low?Is The Risk Really So Low?Is The Risk Really So Low?

No significant increase in human diseaseNo significant increase in human disease appears to be attributable to aerosols from wastewater treatment plants sludgewastewater treatment plants, sludge application, or spray irrigation sites. 1

Questions remainQuestions remainWorkers develop immunity, young workers

h l i tmay have less resistance

How Can Exposure Be Reduced?How Can Exposure Be Reduced?How Can Exposure Be Reduced?How Can Exposure Be Reduced?

Engineering ControlsEngineering ControlsEngineering ControlsEngineering ControlsGuards, baffles, coversGuards, baffles, covers

Thoughtful design (or modification)Thoughtful design (or modification)Thoughtful design (or modification)Thoughtful design (or modification)Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective EquipmentIndustrial Pretreatment ProgramIndustrial Pretreatment ProgramHygiene!Hygiene!yg e eyg e e

Momma told you to wash your handsMomma told you to wash your hands

ReferencesReferencesReferencesReferences

1: Health Hazard Manual: Wastewater1: Health Hazard Manual: Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sewer Workers, Nellie J. Brown, Cornell University, 1997y2: Safety and Health in Wastewater Systems, Water Environment Federation, y19943: www.all-about-wastewater-treatment.com/4: www.cdc.govg

Wastewater PathogensWastewater PathogensggWhat’s In There?What’s In There?Steve Barnard Steve Barnard

Muskegon County WastewaterMuskegon County WastewaterMuskegon County Wastewater Muskegon County Wastewater Management SystemManagement System

231 724 3441231 724 3441231 724.3441231 724.3441barnardst@co.muskegon.mi.usbarnardst@co.muskegon.mi.us