The aim of this study was to assess the potential risk of infection constituted by HAV to persons using surface dam and river water for domestic and recreational purposes. It estimates the potential risk using a deterministic exponential risk assessment model with mean values and conservative assumptions. Hepatitis A virus was detected in 17.5% of river and 14.9% of dam water samples tested. The number of indicator organisms in these sources exceeded drinking and recreational water quality guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), indicating possible health risks to recreational water users. Based on the available data and taking all the assumptions into consideration, the probability of infection (Pinf) to the higher socio-economic population using the river water for recreational purposes was 1.1 × 10−3 per day and 3.3 × 10−1 per annum if 100 ml was ingested per day. For recreation in the dam water the Pinf value was 1.2 × 10−4 per day and 4.2 × 10−2 per annum. For the lower socio-economic population, risk values for drinking purposes (2 L day−1) were ten-fold greater. These surface waters therefore did not conform to the US EPA guidelines of 1 infection per 10,000 consumers per year for drinking water or eight gastrointestinal illnesses per 1,000 bathers per day in environmental waters used for recreational purposes. This is the first risk assessment study addressing the risk of infection by HAV in surface water to different socio-economic populations in South Africa.
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Research Article|
June 01 2007
Hepatitis A virus in surface water in South Africa: what are the risks?
J. M. E. Venter;
1Department of Medical Virology, Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, P O Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Tel.: (+2712) 319-2640 Fax: (+2712) 325-5550 E-mail: [email protected]
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J. van Heerden;
J. van Heerden
2Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Exotic Disease Division, Private Bag x5, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
Tel.: (+2712) 529 9533 Fax: (+2712) 529 9595 E-mail: [email protected]
Tel.: (+2712) 529 9533 Fax: (+2712) 529 9595 E-mail: [email protected]
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W. O. K. Grabow;
W. O. K. Grabow
4Department of Medical Virology, Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory Service, P O Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Tel.: (+2782) 655 2351 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Tel.: (+2782) 655 2351 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
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M. B. Taylor
M. B. Taylor
1Department of Medical Virology, Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, P O Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
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J Water Health (2007) 5 (2): 229–240.
Citation
J. M. E. Venter, J. van Heerden, J. C. Vivier, W. O. K. Grabow, M. B. Taylor; Hepatitis A virus in surface water in South Africa: what are the risks?. J Water Health 1 June 2007; 5 (2): 229–240. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2007.006b
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