OCCURRENCE OF ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN COMPOSTED DOMESTIC SOLID-WASTE CONTAINING DISPOSABLE DIAPERS

Information has not been previously available on the occurrence of ent eric pathogenic viruses and protozoan parasites in composted municipal domestic solid waste. A potential source of these pathogens in domest ic solid waste is disposal diapers. The occurrence of enteroviruses, G iardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and Salmonella were determined i n municipal composted domestic solid waste, and solid waste to which e xtra diapers had been added to increase their concentration 2-4 fold ( 6.6 7.7% by weight) above that found normally in municipal solid waste before composting. The compost was tested at various periods of time during aging (101-203 days). No enteroviruses or protozoan cysts or oo cysts were detected in any of the samples collected during this period . One sample out of 19 collected (after 175 days aging) was positive f or Salmonella. These results suggest that enteric pathogens were destr oyed during the composting process, or were present in numbers below t he detection method (i.e. one organism per 40-50 g of compost) used in this study. (C) 1995 ISWA