Evidence for the role of copper in the injury process of coliform bacteria in drinking water

Low levels of copper in chlorine-free distribution water caused injury of coliform populations. Monitoring of 44 drinking water samples indicated that 64% of the coliform population was injured. Physical and chemical parameters were measured, including three heavy metals (Cu, Cd, and Pb). Copper concentrations were important, ranging from 0.007 to 0.54 mg/liter. Statistical analyses of these factors were used to develop a model to predict coliform injury. The model predicted almost 90% injury with a copper concentration near the mean observed value (0.158 mg/liter) in distribution waters. Laboratory studies with copper concentrations of 0.025 and 0.050 mg/liter in an inorganic carbon buffer under controlled conditions of temperature and pH caused over 90% injury within 6 and 2 days, respectively. Studies of the metabolism of injured Escherichia coli cells indicated that the respiratory chain is at least one site of damage in injured cells.

[1]  A. F. Egan.  Enumeration of stressed cells of Escherichia coli. , 1979, Canadian journal of microbiology.

[2]  S. Lin,et al.  Evaluation of coliform tests for chlorinated secondary effluents. , 1973, Journal - Water Pollution Control Federation.

[3]  E. Tollefson,et al.  Toxic effects of cupric, chromate and chromic ions on biological oxidation , 1973 .

[4]  C. W. Moss,et al.  Release of Biologically Active Peptides from Escherichia coli at Subzero Temperatures , 1966, Journal of bacteriology.

[5]  M. Lechevallier,et al.  Influence of diluents, media, and membrane filters on detection fo injured waterborne coliform bacteria , 1982, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[6]  N. Grossowicz,et al.  Reactivation of chlorine-inactivated Escherichia coli. , 1959, Applied microbiology.

[7]  R. Macleod,et al.  Metabolic Injury to Bacteria II. Metabolic Injury Induced by Distilled Water or Cu++ in the Plating Diluent , 1967, Journal of bacteriology.

[8]  A K Camper,et al.  Chlorine injury and the enumeration of waterborne coliform bacteria , 1979, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[9]  B. Olson,et al.  Chlorine resistance patterns of bacteria from two drinking water distribution systems , 1982, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[10]  G. Hale,et al.  National Research Council , 1923, Journal of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers.

[11]  G. K. Pagenkopf.  Introduction to natural water chemistry , 1978 .

[12]  Edith Becker,et al.  Public water supplies of the 100 largest cities of the United States, 1962 , 1964 .

[13]  A. W. Hoadley,et al.  Recovery of Escherichia coli from chlorinated secondary sewage. , 1974, Applied microbiology.

[14]  G. McFeters,et al.  Fecal coliform elevated-temperature test: a physiological basis , 1978, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[15]  G A McFeters,et al.  Survival of coliform bacteria in natural waters: field and laboratory studies with membrane-filter chambers. , 1972, Applied microbiology.

[16]  R. Fujioka,et al.  Effect of sunlight on survival of indicator bacteria in seawater , 1981, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[17]  M. Lechevallier,et al.  New medium for improved recovery of coliform bacteria from drinking water , 1983, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[18]  G. McFeters,et al.  Influence of environmental stress on enumeration of indicator bacteria from natural waters. , 1975, Applied microbiology.

[19]  V. Barnett,et al.  Applied Linear Statistical Models , 1975 .

[20]  J. Schillinger,et al.  New methods to assess bacterial injury in water , 1980, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[21]  G. Stotzky,et al.  Environmental factors that influence the toxicity of heavy metal and gaseous pollutants to microorganisms. , 1980, Critical reviews in microbiology.