Long-Term Survival of Enteric Microorganisms in Frozen Wastewater

Abstract : Microorganisms that are found in domestic wastewater and that can cause illness in humans include bacteria viruses protozoan cysts and helminth ova. This literature review attempts to determine whether organisms contained in a frozen sewage bulb in the Antarctic ice would survive for decades. This review briefly examines the structural differences between these organisms; examines the susceptibility of these organisms to chilling freezing thawing and frozen storage and the effect these processes have on the structural components of the organisms; and compares findings from field studies including some archeo-logical studies on the ability of these organisms to withstand natural cold environments.