Abstract
To evaluate the impact of treated wastewater (TWW) irrigation for produce safety, field experiments were conducted to compare secondary and tertiary TWW with potable water using tomatoes as a model crop. Human pathogens including a suite of obligate and opportunistic bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus), protozoa (Cryptosporidium and Giardia), and viruses (Adenovirus and Enterovirus) were monitored in two field trials using a combination of microscopic, cultivation-based, and molecular (qPCR) techniques. Results indicate that microbial contamination on the surface of tomatoes was not associated with the source of irrigation waters; fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) contamination was not statistically different on tomatoes irrigated with TWW or potable water. In fact, indicator bacteria testing did not predict the presence of pathogens in any of the matrices tested. Indicator bacteria and the opportunistic pathogens were detected in water, soil and on tomato surfaces from all irrigation treatment schemes, and were positively correlated with duration of time in the field (p
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 140-150 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment |
| Volume | 215 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- Drip irrigation
- Indicators
- Pathogens
- Potable water
- Tomato
- Treated wastewater
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Ecology
Cite this
Comparable levels of microbial contamination in soil and on tomato crops after drip irrigation with treated wastewater or potable water. / Orlofsky, Ezra; Bernstein, Nirit; Sacks, Mollie; Vonshak, Ahuva; Benami, Maya; Kundu, Arti; Maki, Michael; Smith, Woutrina A; Wuertz, Stefan; Shapiro, Karen; Gillor, Osnat.
In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 215, 01.01.2016, p. 140-150.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparable levels of microbial contamination in soil and on tomato crops after drip irrigation with treated wastewater or potable water
AU - Orlofsky, Ezra
AU - Bernstein, Nirit
AU - Sacks, Mollie
AU - Vonshak, Ahuva
AU - Benami, Maya
AU - Kundu, Arti
AU - Maki, Michael
AU - Smith, Woutrina A
AU - Wuertz, Stefan
AU - Shapiro, Karen
AU - Gillor, Osnat
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - To evaluate the impact of treated wastewater (TWW) irrigation for produce safety, field experiments were conducted to compare secondary and tertiary TWW with potable water using tomatoes as a model crop. Human pathogens including a suite of obligate and opportunistic bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus), protozoa (Cryptosporidium and Giardia), and viruses (Adenovirus and Enterovirus) were monitored in two field trials using a combination of microscopic, cultivation-based, and molecular (qPCR) techniques. Results indicate that microbial contamination on the surface of tomatoes was not associated with the source of irrigation waters; fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) contamination was not statistically different on tomatoes irrigated with TWW or potable water. In fact, indicator bacteria testing did not predict the presence of pathogens in any of the matrices tested. Indicator bacteria and the opportunistic pathogens were detected in water, soil and on tomato surfaces from all irrigation treatment schemes, and were positively correlated with duration of time in the field (p
AB - To evaluate the impact of treated wastewater (TWW) irrigation for produce safety, field experiments were conducted to compare secondary and tertiary TWW with potable water using tomatoes as a model crop. Human pathogens including a suite of obligate and opportunistic bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus), protozoa (Cryptosporidium and Giardia), and viruses (Adenovirus and Enterovirus) were monitored in two field trials using a combination of microscopic, cultivation-based, and molecular (qPCR) techniques. Results indicate that microbial contamination on the surface of tomatoes was not associated with the source of irrigation waters; fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) contamination was not statistically different on tomatoes irrigated with TWW or potable water. In fact, indicator bacteria testing did not predict the presence of pathogens in any of the matrices tested. Indicator bacteria and the opportunistic pathogens were detected in water, soil and on tomato surfaces from all irrigation treatment schemes, and were positively correlated with duration of time in the field (p
KW - Drip irrigation
KW - Indicators
KW - Pathogens
KW - Potable water
KW - Tomato
KW - Treated wastewater
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943146509&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84943146509&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2015.08.008
DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2015.08.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84943146509
VL - 215
SP - 140
EP - 150
JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
JF - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
SN - 0167-8809
ER -