Biological agents like threat causing ones or tools for detecting hazards

Abstract

Greater and greater demand is needed to detect and identify the new emerging biological agents in drinking water supply. The so called indicator organisms like bacteria (E. coli, coliform bacteria etc.) often do not indicate the real danger for human health because of their higher sensitivity to chlorination for e.g. The other pathogen organisms like Cryptosporidia, Giardia, Cyanobacteria and their toxins, viruses, Legionella, fungi have higher resistance in other words lower sensitivity to chlorine. So some water borne disease can emerge beside the indicator parameters are satisfying. A case study in Hungary could prove this. Calicivirus caused outbreak in two villages spreading by the network of potable water. There are some indicators in legislation used in Hungary with similar sensitivity like pathogens to point out the possibility of occurrence of pathogens. These organisms are not pathogens but their appearance indicate the neglected condition of the network and the procedure of treatment plant. On the other hand the organisms can be used for detecting hazards like chemicals, genotoxic agents etc. Two technical workshops were organised on Toxicity for Biodefense in Oregon State University, USA and University of Pecs, Hungary. Both of the workshops were organised on the idea that each participant/group brought everything that were needed to carry out toxicity bioassay(s). All participants were given identical samples, and results were compared. Both toxicity and genotoxicity assays were included; both commercial kits and those under development were considered. © 2006 Springer.