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SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF ROTAVIRUS, NORWALK AGENT AND 'PROTOTHECA WICKERHAMII' IN WASTEWATER WORKERS
Citation:
Clark, C., C. Linnemann, P. Gartside, J. Phair, AND N. Blacklow. SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF ROTAVIRUS, NORWALK AGENT AND 'PROTOTHECA WICKERHAMII' IN WASTEWATER WORKERS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-85/037.
Description:
A prospective epidemiologic study of wastewater workers was undertaken to determine the health effects, if any, associated with occupational exposure to biological agents present in municipal wastewater. The study population included more than 100 newly-hired and more than 100 experienced municipal wastewater workers and similar sized comparison groups in three metropolitan areas: Cincinnati, OH; Chicago, IL; and Memphis, TN. The study protocol included: environmental monitoring; work observations; yearly medical examinations; collection of illness information throughout the year; viral and bacterial cultures of throat and rectal swabs; and viral and bacterial serologic surveys. Clinically, gastrointestinal illness was observed twice as often in inexperienced sewage-exposed workers as compared to experienced workers and controls.