Destruction of Ascaris ova by accelerated electron

We investigated the efficiency of radiation treatment to destroy Ascaris ov a viability and found that no ova were viable after exposure to 0.75 kGy (D -90 at 0.39 kGy), Although the outer coat of the Ascaris ovum had a protect ive effect at low doses (0.20 kGy) no difference in ova viability was obser ved at 0.30 kGy. As the doses commonly used for sanitary treatment of waste water are much higher, Ascaris ova should be effectively eliminated from sl udge by the 10 kGy dose required by EPA regulations (U.S. EPA, 1993 Federal Register 58, 9248-9415). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.