Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania
In Apuseni Mountains (North-Western Romania), many of the inhabitants live in rural communities with limited or no access to the centralized and controlled water supply. This study assesses the microbiological quality of six karst spring waters from Bihor County used by rural communities as drinking...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.931893/full |
| _version_ | 1811261554669125632 |
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| author | Zamfira Stupar Erika Andrea Levei Emilia Neag Andreea Baricz Andreea Baricz Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Oana Teodora Moldovan |
| author_facet | Zamfira Stupar Erika Andrea Levei Emilia Neag Andreea Baricz Andreea Baricz Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Oana Teodora Moldovan |
| author_sort | Zamfira Stupar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Apuseni Mountains (North-Western Romania), many of the inhabitants live in rural communities with limited or no access to the centralized and controlled water supply. This study assesses the microbiological quality of six karst spring waters from Bihor County used by rural communities as drinking water sources. Twenty-four water samples collected in January, April, June, and November 2021 were analyzed for E. coli, total coliforms, intestinal enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and heterotrophic plate count at 37 and 22°C. Standard microbiological methods based on the membrane filter technique or pour plate method were used for the microbiological characterization of the spring waters. The study revealed that the karst springs from the studied area present microbiological contamination. The microbiological parameters for five out of the six studied spring waters exceeded the maximum limits allowed by the 98/83/EC Directive. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment estimated the risk of gastrointestinal illness for both adults and children due to the enteropathogenic E. coli contamination. According to the health risk evaluation model, the risk of infection/day and the risk of infection/year were high, with the maximum values of 0.24 and 1.00, respectively. The probability of illness caused by E. coli contamination of water ranged between 0.09 and 0.35 for five out of six groundwater sources. The local communities using the contaminated springs are exposed to daily and accumulated health threats. Therefore, preventive measures accompanied by continuous monitoring are necessary mainly for those water sources that are critical drinking water sources for the rural communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:07:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58313489a24944ce9673212ae3227a6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:07:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-58313489a24944ce9673212ae3227a6a2022-12-22T03:19:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2022-09-011010.3389/fenvs.2022.931893931893Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, RomaniaZamfira Stupar0Erika Andrea Levei1Emilia Neag2Andreea Baricz3Andreea Baricz4Edina Szekeres5Edina Szekeres6Edina Szekeres7Oana Teodora Moldovan8INCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaINCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCentre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCentre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNational Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaIn Apuseni Mountains (North-Western Romania), many of the inhabitants live in rural communities with limited or no access to the centralized and controlled water supply. This study assesses the microbiological quality of six karst spring waters from Bihor County used by rural communities as drinking water sources. Twenty-four water samples collected in January, April, June, and November 2021 were analyzed for E. coli, total coliforms, intestinal enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and heterotrophic plate count at 37 and 22°C. Standard microbiological methods based on the membrane filter technique or pour plate method were used for the microbiological characterization of the spring waters. The study revealed that the karst springs from the studied area present microbiological contamination. The microbiological parameters for five out of the six studied spring waters exceeded the maximum limits allowed by the 98/83/EC Directive. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment estimated the risk of gastrointestinal illness for both adults and children due to the enteropathogenic E. coli contamination. According to the health risk evaluation model, the risk of infection/day and the risk of infection/year were high, with the maximum values of 0.24 and 1.00, respectively. The probability of illness caused by E. coli contamination of water ranged between 0.09 and 0.35 for five out of six groundwater sources. The local communities using the contaminated springs are exposed to daily and accumulated health threats. Therefore, preventive measures accompanied by continuous monitoring are necessary mainly for those water sources that are critical drinking water sources for the rural communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.931893/fullkarst springmicrobial contaminationquantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA)rural communitiesdrinking water |
| spellingShingle | Zamfira Stupar Erika Andrea Levei Emilia Neag Andreea Baricz Andreea Baricz Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Edina Szekeres Oana Teodora Moldovan Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania Frontiers in Environmental Science karst spring microbial contamination quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) rural communities drinking water |
| title | Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_full | Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_fullStr | Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_short | Microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from Apuseni Mountains, Romania |
| title_sort | microbial water quality and health risk assessment in karst springs from apuseni mountains romania |
| topic | karst spring microbial contamination quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) rural communities drinking water |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.931893/full |
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