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Assessment of Bacillus subtilis Spores as a Possible Bioindicator for Evaluation of the Microbicidal Efficacy of Radiation Processing of Water
Author(s) -
Pribil Walter,
Gehringer Peter,
Eschweiler Helmut,
Cabaj Alexander,
Haider Thomas,
Sommer Regina
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143007x175889
Subject(s) - spore , bacillus subtilis , bioindicator , microorganism , environmental chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , bacteria , genetics
Gamma and electron‐beam irradiation of Bacillus subtilis spores suspended in different types of water was studied to evaluate the inactivation of the spores and assess their possible use as a bioindicator for radiation processing. We found that the inactivation proceeded endogenously, being dose‐rate‐dependent and affected by oxygen. The radiation resistance of the suspended spores was found to be rather high; therefore, B. subtilis spores used as a bioindicator for efficiency of water treatment by radiation under practical conditions might result in the spores being overly conservative surrogates for pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, the dose‐rate dependency impedes the use of the spores as a bioindicator. Thus, B. subtilis spores cannot be recommended as a bioindicator for evaluation of the microbicidal efficacy of ionizing radiation processing of water.