Medical institution sewage treatment in Qingpu District of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate the status of medical institution sewage treatment in Qingpu District of Shanghai, and to make corresponding measures in improving sewage management in medical institutions. Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted on selected 95 medical institutions in Qingpu District to investigate sewage treatment status and sewage samples were collected from 30 medical institutions with 20 beds or above to test their sanitary quality. Results Operating rate of sewage handling equipment was 98.9%, the proportion of medical institutions using chlorine disinfectant was 87.4%, the total qualified rate of residual chlorine was 66.7%, the total qualified rate of fecal coliform number was 70.0%, and overall qualified rate was 60.0%. Conclusion The qualified rate of medical institutions sewage in Qingpu District is not optimistic enough.It is necessary to strengthen sewage personnel training and health supervision to ensure the safety of medical institution sewage.

Wide diversity of fungal species found in wellwater for human consumption: an analytical cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment. They are able to grow in water and many of them may be opportunistic pathogens. OBJECTIVE: The aims were to identify fungi in registered wells (RWs) and nonregistered wells (NRWs) that tap into groundwater; and to correlate the results from physicochemical assays on this water (free residual chlorine and pH) with the presence of fungi. DATA AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional quantitative study on groundwater wells in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 52 samples of 500 ml of water were collected from RWs and 107 from NRWs. These were sent to a microbiology laboratory to identify any fungi that were present. In addition, free residual chlorine and pH were measured immediately after sample collection. Several statistical analysis tests were used. RESULTS: Fungal contamination was present in 78.8% of the samples from RWs and 81.3% from NRWs. Filamentous fungi were more prevalent than yeast in both types of wells. There was no significant difference in presence of fungi according to whether chloride and pH were within recommended levels in RWs; or according to whether pH was within recommended levels in NRWs. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in the levels of fungal contamination between RWs and NRWs. CONCLUSION: Both RWs and NRWs are potential reservoirs for many types of fungi. Many of these may become opportunistic pathogens if they infect immunosuppressed individuals. Furthermore, this study confirms that fungi are able to grow even when chlorine and pH parameters are within the standards recommended.

Calidad fisicoquímica y microbiológica del agua de piscinas de dos complejos recreacionales del Estado Zulia / Physicochemical and microbiological quality of swimming pool water of two recreational complexes in Zulia State

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar la calidad fisicoquímica y microbiológica del agua de piscinas de dos complejos recreacionales ubicados al oeste de la ciudad de Maracaibo, estado Zulia, de acuerdo con lo establecido en las normas sanitarias venezolanas (Gacetas Oficiales 4044 y 36395). Se realizó un muestreo en veinte (20) piscinas destinadas a actividades recreativas ubicadas en dos complejos. Los parámetros que se midieron para analizar la calidad sanitaria del agua de piscinas fueron: color verdadero, conductividad eléctrica, sólidos totales, sólidos disueltos totales, turbidez, alcalinidad total, cloro libre residual, dureza total, pH, coliformes totales, coliformes fecales y organismos heterótrofos. Los parámetros fisicoquímicos sólidos disueltos, turbidez y color verdadero presentaron concentraciones promedios menores a los establecidos por las normas sanitarias vigentes; sin embargo, los valores promedios de cloro residual y pH se encontraron fuera de los rangos recomendados. Los parámetros microbiológicos mostraron que un 30% de las piscinas analizadas presentaron un valor promedio de organismos heterótrofos de 1107 UFC/mL, mayor al límite establecido por la normativa venezolana. Con respecto a los coliformes, un 75 y 60% de las piscinas presentaron al menos un tubo positivo durante la prueba de coliformes totales y fecales, respectivamente.

The present study had as objective to analyze the quality physical-chemical and microbiological of the water of swimming pools of two recreational complexes located in west of the city of Maracaibo, Zulia state, in accordance with the established in the sanitary Venezuelan procedure, the official gazettes 4044, and 36395. Sampling was conducted in twenty (20) aimed at recreational pools located on two recreational complex. The parameters were measured to analyze the quality of water in swimming pools were true color, electrical conductivity, total solids, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total alkalinity, residual free chlorine, total hardness, pH, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and heterotrophic organismes. The physicochemical parameters: dissolved solids, turbidity and electrical conductivity presented average concentrations less than those established by the sanitary standards; however, the mean values of residual chlorine and pH were found outside the recommended ranges. The microbiological tests showed that 30% of the pools tested had an average value of heterotrophic organisms of 107 CFU / mL, higher than the limit set by Venezuelan law. 75 and 60% of the pools presented at least one positive test tube for total and fecal coliforms, respectively

Qualidade da água de abastecimento público do município de Jaboticabal, SP / Quality of public-supply water in Jaboticabal city, Brazil

RESUMO A água de abastecimento público pode ser um veículo de doenças e agravos à saúde humana, portanto, é necessário um tratamento eficiente e constantes avaliações da sua qualidade. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a dinâmica populacional de indicadores microbiológicos e parâmetros físico-químicos da qualidade da água em diferentes pontos de uma estação de tratamento de água do tipo convencional, do sistema de distribuição e dos mananciais de abastecimento do município de Jaboticabal, São Paulo, nas estações chuvosa e de seca. Os resultados demonstraram que, apesar do manancial superficial apresentar qualidade microbiológica inferior (comparado aos demais mananciais estudados), após tratamento convencional foi obtida a potabilidade do mesmo. A estação chuvosa foi crítica para amostras coletadas nas etapas logo após adição de cloro, principalmente no sistema de distribuição do manancial subsuperficial. Dentre os pontos avaliados na rede de distribuição, os reservatórios domiciliares apresentaram o maior número de amostras fora do padrão de potabilidade, principalmente na rede abastecida pelo manancial subsuperficial. São necessárias estratégias para a melhoria do processo de tratamento da água do dreno - voltado para a redução da turbidez - principalmente na estação chuvosa; assim como programas de educação em saúde para a população, a fim de melhorar a qualidade da água no ponto de consumo, a partir da limpeza periódica dos reservatórios domiciliares.

ABSTRACT The public-supply water can be a vehicle of disease and harm to human health, therefore, efficient treatment and constant evaluation of its quality is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the population dynamics of microbiological and physico-chemical indicators of water quality parameters at different points of a water treatment plant of the conventional type, in the distribution system and sources of supply in Jaboticabal city, São Paulo state, Brazil, in the rainy and dry seasons. The results showed that although the present fountain surface presents worse microbiological quality (compared to other sources studied) after the conventional treatment, it became potable. The rainy season was critical for samples collected in steps after adding chlorine, especially in the distribution of sub-surface source system. Among the evaluated points in the distribution network, domestic containers had the highest number of samples outside the potability standards, mainly those fueled by the sub-surface source network. Strategies to improve the treatment process of the drain water (turbidity reduction) are needed, especially during the rainy season; as well as health education programs in order to improve water quality at the point of consumption by periodic cleaning of domestic containers.

Ocorrência de um surto de hepatite A em três bairros do município de Vitória (ES) e sua relação com a qualidade da água de consumo humano / Occurrence of a hepatitis A outbreak in three neighborhoods of the city of Vitória, Espírito Santo State, and its relation with the quality of the water for human consumption

Este trabalho teve como finalidade analisar os possíveis fatores relacionados com as ocorrências de hepatite A nos bairros Grande Vitória, Estrelinha e Inhanguetá, localizados no município de Vitória, Estado do Espírito Santo, de abril a junho do ano de 2006, e a qualidade da água consumida pela população. Foram usados como indicadores de qualidade da água as concentrações de cloro residual livre (CRL) e a presença de coliformes termotolerantes. As análises microbiológicas realizadas na água consumida pelas comunidades estudadas não apresentaram resultados indicadores de contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes e os teores de CRL determinados nos meses de janeiro a junho estiveram sempre acima do limite mínimo exigido pela legislação (Portaria nº 518/2004). Os resultados mostraram que a ocorrência do surto de hepatite A pode estar relacionada com a ausência de barreiras físicas que impeçam o contato das pessoas com água contaminada e às deficiências nas práticas higiênicas adotadas, individualmente, pela população local.

This work had as purpose to analyze the possible factors related with the occurrences of Hepatitis in the neighborhoods of Grande Vitória, Estrelinha and Inhanguetá located in the city of Vitória, State of the Espírito Santo, from April the June, 2006, and the quality of the water consumed by the population. The indicators for the water quality used were the Free Residual Chlorine concentrations (FRC) and the presence of thermotolerant coliforms. The microbiological analyses performed in the water consumed for the studied communities did not presented results indicating contamination by thermotolerants coliforms and the percentage of FRC determined between January and June were always above of the minimum limit demanded by the legislation (Act 518/2004). The results showed that the occurrence of a Hepatitis A outbreak can be related with the absence of physical barriers that impede the contact of people with the contaminated water and the practical deficiencies in the hygienic practices adopted, individually, by the local population.

Factors Influencing the Bacteriological Indexes of Drinking Water / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To study the effect of temperature and content of residual chlorine on bacteriological indexes of drinking water. Methods In 2003-2004, the drinking water quality was monitored and the relationship between temperature, content of residual chlorine and the bacteriological indexes of drinking water was investigated in two water plants in Binzhou, Shandong province. Results As for the water source, the bacteriological indexes presented a positive correlation with the temperature , the total amount of bacteria presented a negative correlation with the content of residual chlorine in the tap water. Conclusion Temperature and content of residual chlorine in drinking water are important factors in prevention and control of drinking water contamination.