Presence of Enteric Microorganisms in the Air Environment at Wastewater Treatment Plants in Puerto Rico

摘要

In Puerto Rico there is a growing concern about the incidence of diarrhea and other enteric diseases. As an overpopulated island, there is almost no uninhabited region and large amounts of wastewater are generated. As wastewater treatment plants are located near population centers, and as most areas around them are under the action of treatment plant aerosols, a study was undertaken to determine the presence of coliforms of potential health hazard in the vicinity of the plants. The air environment around two trickling filter and two activated sludge wastewater treatment plants was investigated, using impingers of direct exposure of agar plates. Both the trickling filter and the activated sludge types of wastewater treatment plants do not seem to be a public health risk as they are effective in reducing the number of coliforms of fecal origin from the aerosols produced by them.