A practical guide to wastewater pathogens
Wastewater treatment professionals face daily exposure to a wide variety of pathogens. These include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminthes, as well as allergins, endotoxins, and exotoxins. While generally minimal, potential health hazards are still cause for concern. Along with the emergence of such new diseases as Bird Flu virus, monkeypox, and West Nile virus, these hazards point to the need for a comprehensive review of wastewater pathogens.
The fourth volume in Wiley's Wastewater Microbiology series, Wastewater Pathogens offers wastewater personnel a practical guide that is free of overly technical jargon. Designed especially for operators, the text provides straight facts on the biology of treatment as well as appropriate protective measures.
Coverage includes:
- An overview of relevant history, hazards, and organisms
- Viruses, bacteria, and fungi
- Protozoa and helminthes
- Ectoparasites and rodents
- Aerosols, foam, and sludge
- Disease transmission and the body's defenses
- Removal, inactivation, and destruction of pathogens
- Hygiene measures, protective equipment, and immunizations
Additional features include a list of references, a guide to abbreviations and acronyms, relevant chemical compounds and elements, and a glossary of important terms. Well suited for use both in the classroom and on the job, Wastewater Pathogens provides plant operators and other wastewater professionals with a practical, no-nonsense guide to the biology and biological conditions of the treatment process.
About the Author
MICHAEL H. GERARDI holds an MS in biology from James Madison University and provides wastewater operator training and troubleshooting of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. He has authored more than eighty technical articles. He is currently responsible for the development and presentation of wastewater biology courses at the Pennsylvania State University.
MEL C. ZIMMERMAN is professor and chair of the Biology Department at Lycoming College. He also directs the Clean Water Institute at Lycoming. He has been teaching courses in ecology, aquatic biology, and tropical marine biology for twenty-four years. His research and publications deal with stream ecology and restoration, wetland ecology, and wastewater biology.