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Coliform Testing As An Andicator Of Sewage Contamination

November 21, 2010 by
Coliform

Coliform testing is routinely used as an indicator of sewage contamination. Sewage contamination is a concern because it may contain potentially infectious organisms such as such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. Exposure to sewage contamination increases the risk of gastrointestinal infections and other related illnesses. Sources of sewage contamination may include raw sewage overflows, severe flooding and leaking sewer lines or septic tanks. To determine the potential health … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bacteria, Citrobacter, Coliforms, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Laboratory, Salmonella, Shigella Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Legionella Training Course

October 25, 2009 by

Legionella Training Course - MBL has developed a practical Legionella training course specifically for those involved in the management and control of Legionella including health and safety managers, engineers, building and facilities managers, and water treatment professionals. The Legionella training course examines a range of Legionella related issues including: Legionella as an emerging bacterial pathogen of concern Legionella: Terms, Definitions and General Facts. History of … [Read more...]

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Bacteria As Contaminants In Indoor Environments

January 18, 2009 by

People spend around 80 and 90% of their time in indoor environments (office, school, home, etc) and there is increased awareness of the potential health effects of indoor biological contaminants such as bacteria. Therefore, when considering work or indoor living conditions, the air quality requires special attention. In indoor environments, biological contaminants are often found in areas that provide conducive conditions for microbial growth. These include damp or wet areas such as cooling … [Read more...]

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Microbial Contamination Of Wastewater

December 9, 2008 by

Microbial Contamination Of Wastewater And Associated Health Risks Wastewater consists of water that carries wastes (dissolved or suspended solids) from homes, businesses, and industries and also stormwater discharges. This water is rich in chemical and biological pollutants. Therefore, wastewater effluents, if not properly treated, can cause a number of ecological, economical, and human health problems such as: algal blooms from nutrient enrichment; depletion of dissolved oxygen - … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bacteria, Bacteria Sampling, Candida, Citrobacter, Clostridium, Coliforms, Cryptococcus, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Mycobacterium, Streptococcus, Water Testing Tagged With: , , ,

Testing For Sewage Contamination

November 26, 2008 by

Sewage contamination in building is the result of septic system backups or sewage pipe damages.  Sewage backflow in a building can damage the integrity of its structure and render it inhabitable as well. Sewage contains a range of pathogenic microorganisms like E.coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, mycobacteria, moulds, viruses and protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Recurrent sewage leaks or spills in particular areas such as the basement of residential or commercial buildings, allow all these … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bacteria, Coliforms Tagged With: , , ,

Listeria Testing

November 7, 2008 by

Listeria is a deadly bacterium found in unpasteurized dairy products, raw vegetables and meats, and processed foods, including deli meats and hot dogs. A recent outbreak of listeriosis claimed at least 20 lives and left several others sick. To safeguard the public, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing new rules for Listeria testing. The proposed new rules include two new tests that food processing plants would have to perform: Testing for Listeria near production lines … [Read more...]

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Bacteria in the Refrigerator

November 4, 2008 by

Cold winds are blowing and the winter of 2008 is already here. In Canada, winter means eating and celebrating the season. We have Christmas parties and winter wine festivals, light festivals and many others. And when extreme cold and snow blows, for lots of us here, it also means hibernating. As we tend to go out lesser and lesser, we end up stocking our freezers and refrigerators with all varieties of foods – canned, frozen, ready-to-eat meals and lots more. That is why we`ll discuss about … [Read more...]

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Legionella

October 24, 2008 by

Apart from the global economic chaos, Ontario also seems to have been affected by a series of nasty bugs. First, it was the Listeriosis outbreak in Toronto and GTA last month. Then, the E.coli outbreak in North Bay and now it is Legionella. An update released by the Peel Public Health in September says that there has been an increase in legionellosis cases noted in Peel and other jurisdictions around the Golden Horseshoe. Hamilton Public Health also confirms seven cases of legionellosis since … [Read more...]

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How to collect bacteria samples

October 22, 2008 by

Various methods can be used to collect bacteria samples. The procedure will depend on what is being sampled and the type of data required. One may may be interested in a specific bacterium, in which case the method of sampling should be suitable for the recovery of that specific organism. Sampling from surfaces Sampling of bacteria from surfaces is usually performed using sterile swabs. Results from this test could be as simple as presence or absense of the bacterium of interest for … [Read more...]

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E.coli

October 18, 2008 by

Here we go again...talking about E.coli. Just a few days ago, we heard about the outbreak in North Bay, Ontario where the number of confirmed and suspected cases of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning has risen to 159. The source of the bacterium has been linked to a fast food restaurant this time. So what is this E.coli and why is it so important? You can't see it, smell it or taste it. But it can leave you fighting for your life, especially if your immune system is weak or compromised. E. coli or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bacteria, Coliforms Tagged With: