Survival of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), Poliovirus 1 and F-Specific Coliphages in Disposable Diapers and Landfill Leachates

The survival of HAV, poliovirus 1 and F+ coliphages was studied under various conditions in both fecally soiled disposable diapers and solid waste landfill leachates. Fecally soiled disposable diapers and leachates were seeded with viruses and incubated aerobically and/or anaerobically at 5, 25 and 40°C for 90 days. Under some conditions, viruses survived >90 days in fecally soiled diapers and landfill leachates, especially at lower temperatures. In both fecal suspensions and leachates at 5°C, all viruses were inactivated slowly (<1 log₁₀ in 30 days). At 40°C, viruses were reduced to non-detectable levels (by >4 log₁₀) in 8-29 days in diapers and in as little as 2 days in leachates. Some viruses were inactivated at different rates under anaerobic versus aerobic conditions. Under most conditions, persistence of F+ phages, HAV and poliovirus 1 was similar, thus suggesting that these phages may be useful enteric virus indicators in solid waste and leachates.