title: Bacteriophages as viral indicators for radiation processing of water: a chemical approach.
abstract: Inactivation of the bacteriophages PHI X 174 (somatic coliphage), MS2 (F-specific coliphage) and B40-8 (phage infecting Bacteroides fragilis) suspended in tap water was studied applying gamma and electron beam irradiation as well. PHI X 174 phage was found to be a suitable viral indicator for water disinfection by means of ionizing radiation. The nutrient broths introduced simultaneously with the bacteriophages into the water when it is spiked with the phages for the experiments did not significantly change the scavenging capacity of the water matrix. No dose rate effect was observed with MS2 and B40-8 phages but PHI X 174 phage showed a clear dose rate effect. It was found that in water MS2 phage is significantly more sensitive to ionizing radiation than Escherichia coli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Water, Austrian Research Center Seibersdorf, Division of Environment & Life Sciences, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria. peter.gehringer@arcs.ac.at
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gehringer
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eschweiler
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leth
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pribil
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfleger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabaj
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004583:Electrons; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005720:Gamma Rays; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D038301:Virus Inactivation; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*