title: Disinfection of domestic effluents by gamma radiation: effects on the inactivation of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs.
abstract: This work investigated the inactivation of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs in domestic effluents by gamma radiation from a (60)Co source. Domestic wastewater was treated in a compact demo-scale system consisting of a UASB reactor and a trickling filter; treatment was carried out at the Center for Research and Training on Sanitation (CePTS), Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil. One-liter of treated wastewater samples was artificially contaminated with an average of 1000 non-embryonated Ascaris lumbricoides eggs from human feces; samples were then irradiated in a multiple-purpose irradiator at different doses (0.5-5 kGy). Eggs were recovered from the wastewater and the viability of these irradiated eggs was evaluated; the description of the egg developmental phases with each dose of gamma radiation was recorded. Radiation doses of 3.5 kGy effectively disinfected effluents with lower concentrations of A. lumbricoides eggs; higher radiation doses of 5 kGy were necessary to disinfect effluents with higher eggs concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gloria S M B
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Ludmila A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Warllem J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Carlos A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chernicharo
authors.forename: Marcos P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Cristiano L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Massara
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D019149:Bioreactors; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D010063:Ovum / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid