Effect of Antarctic solar radiation on sewage bacteria viability

Hughes, Kevin A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2701-726X. 2005 Effect of Antarctic solar radiation on sewage bacteria viability. Water Research, 39 (11). 2237-2244. 10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.011

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.011

Abstract/Summary

The majority of coastal Antarctic research stations discard untreated sewage waste into the near-shore marine environment. However, Antarctic solar conditions are unique, with ozone depletion increasing the proportion of potentially damaging ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation reaching the marine environment. This study assessed the influence of Antarctic solar radiation on the viability of Escherichia coli and sewage microorganisms at Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Cell viability decreased with increased exposure time and with exposure to shorter wavelengths of solar radiation. Cell survival also declined with decreasing cloud cover, solar zenith angle and ozone column depth. However, particulates in sewage increased the persistence of viable bacteria. Ultraviolet radiation doses over Rothera Point were highest during the austral summer. During this time, solar radiation may act to partially reduce the number of viable sewage-derived microorganisms in the surface seawater around Antarctic outfalls. Nevertheless, this effect is not reliable and every effort should be made to fully treat sewage before release into the Antarctic marine environment.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.011
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds
ISSN:	0043-1354
Additional Keywords:	Ozone depletion, Ultraviolet radiation, Sewage, Pollution, Escherichia coli
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	21 Dec 2007 14:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1816

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.watres.2005.04.011

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Life at the Edge - Stresses and Thresholds

ISSN:

0043-1354

Additional Keywords:

Ozone depletion, Ultraviolet radiation, Sewage, Pollution, Escherichia coli

NORA Subject Terms:

Biology and Microbiology
Ecology and Environment