Inactivation of Cryptosporidium by advanced oxidation processes

Abstract

Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite, was found responsible for numerous water- and foodborne outbreaks. The high risk introduced by the presence of Cryptosporidium in water is attributed to its low infectious dose and its resistance to environmental stress and conventional disinfection processes. Since Cryptosporidium oocysts are highly resistant to chlorine, the most applied water disinfectant, alternative disinfectants were proposed and applied to reduce the health risks of Cryptosporidium in water, among them advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), based on highly reactive oxidants, mainly hydroxyl radicals. AOPs proved to be efficient in reducing the concentration of micropollutants. The data presented here proved also that AOPs are effective in the inactivation of Cryptosporidium and other waterborne pathogens. Therefore AOPs can be applied as a barrier for reducing the health risks of waterborne Cryptosporidium.