SURVIVAL OF HEPATITIS-A VIRUS (HAV), POLIOVIRUS-1 AND F-SPECIFIC COLIPHAGES IN DISPOSABLE DIAPERS AND LANDFILL LEACHATES

The survival of HAV, poliovirus 1 and F+ coliphages was studied under various conditions in both fecally soiled disposable diapers and solid waste landfill leachates. Fecally soiled disposable diapers and leach ates were seeded with viruses and incubated aerobically and/or anaerob ically at 5, 25 and 40-degrees-C for 90 days. Under some conditions, v iruses survived >90 days in fecally soiled diapers and landfill leacha tes, especially at lower temperatures. In both fecal suspensions and l eachates at 5-degrees-C, all viruses were inactivated slowly (<1 log10 in 30 days). At 40-degrees-C, viruses were reduced to non-detectable levels (by >4 log 10) in 8-29 days in diapers and in as little as 2 da ys in leachates. Some viruses were inactivated at different rates unde r anaerobic versus aerobic conditions. Under most conditions, persiste nce of F+ phages, HAV and poliovirus 1 was similar, thus suggesting th at these phages may be useful enteric virus indicators in solid waste and leachates.