Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis
Flint, MI experienced two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) during the summers of 2014 and 2015, coinciding with use of Flint River as a drinking water source without corrosion control. Using simulated distribution systems (SDSs) followed by stagnant simulated premise (i.e., building) plumbing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/9/730 |
| _version_ | 1827706850031697920 |
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| author | Rebekah L. Martin Owen R. Strom Amy Pruden Marc A. Edwards |
| author_facet | Rebekah L. Martin Owen R. Strom Amy Pruden Marc A. Edwards |
| author_sort | Rebekah L. Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flint, MI experienced two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) during the summers of 2014 and 2015, coinciding with use of Flint River as a drinking water source without corrosion control. Using simulated distribution systems (SDSs) followed by stagnant simulated premise (i.e., building) plumbing reactors (SPPRs) containing cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or copper pipe, we reproduced trends in water chemistry and <i>Legionella</i> proliferation observed in the field when Flint River versus Detroit water were used before, during, and after the outbreak. Specifically, due to high chlorine demand in the SDSs, SPPRs with treated Flint River water were chlorine deficient and had elevated <i>L. pneumophila</i> numbers in the PEX condition. SPPRs with Detroit water, which had lower chlorine demand and higher residual chlorine, lost all culturable <i>L. pneumophila</i> within two months. <i>L. pneumophila</i> also diminished more rapidly with time in Flint River SPPRs with copper pipe, presumably due to the bacteriostatic properties of elevated copper concentrations caused by lack of corrosion control and stagnation. This study confirms hypothesized mechanisms by which the switch in water chemistry, pipe materials, and different flow patterns in Flint premise plumbing may have contributed to observed LD outbreak patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:33:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00b4b0645b684b27b367e01213973cac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:33:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-00b4b0645b684b27b367e01213973cac2023-11-20T12:35:05ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-09-019973010.3390/pathogens9090730Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water CrisisRebekah L. Martin0Owen R. Strom1Amy Pruden2Marc A. Edwards3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAElson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAFlint, MI experienced two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease (LD) during the summers of 2014 and 2015, coinciding with use of Flint River as a drinking water source without corrosion control. Using simulated distribution systems (SDSs) followed by stagnant simulated premise (i.e., building) plumbing reactors (SPPRs) containing cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or copper pipe, we reproduced trends in water chemistry and <i>Legionella</i> proliferation observed in the field when Flint River versus Detroit water were used before, during, and after the outbreak. Specifically, due to high chlorine demand in the SDSs, SPPRs with treated Flint River water were chlorine deficient and had elevated <i>L. pneumophila</i> numbers in the PEX condition. SPPRs with Detroit water, which had lower chlorine demand and higher residual chlorine, lost all culturable <i>L. pneumophila</i> within two months. <i>L. pneumophila</i> also diminished more rapidly with time in Flint River SPPRs with copper pipe, presumably due to the bacteriostatic properties of elevated copper concentrations caused by lack of corrosion control and stagnation. This study confirms hypothesized mechanisms by which the switch in water chemistry, pipe materials, and different flow patterns in Flint premise plumbing may have contributed to observed LD outbreak patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/9/730flint<i>Legionella pneumophila</i>copperPEXironchlorine |
| spellingShingle | Rebekah L. Martin Owen R. Strom Amy Pruden Marc A. Edwards Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis Pathogens flint <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> copper PEX iron chlorine |
| title | Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis |
| title_full | Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis |
| title_fullStr | Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis |
| title_short | Interactive Effects of Copper Pipe, Stagnation, Corrosion Control, and Disinfectant Residual Influenced Reduction of <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> during Simulations of the Flint Water Crisis |
| title_sort | interactive effects of copper pipe stagnation corrosion control and disinfectant residual influenced reduction of i legionella pneumophila i during simulations of the flint water crisis |
| topic | flint <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> copper PEX iron chlorine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/9/730 |
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