INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS AND WATER: EVALUATION AND CHLORINATION
Abstract
Military age personnel, who were reared on water and food which were rigidly separated from human fecal contamination and/or which were extensively processed to kill all pathogenic organisms, are susceptible to a long period of non-effectiveness due to hepatitis infection. This troop non-effectiveness can only be prevented by continuation of such separation and/or such processing of 'oral consumables.' Close monitoring; securing a bacterial free water source; plus chlorination of the water to 0.4 ppm HOCl at the treatment site after 30 minutes contact time appear to be an inexpensive but usually adequate method for the temporary processing of water to prevent spreading of hepatitis by the water route. If the source water or the distribution system is bacterially contaminated, other measures are necessary. These are reviewed. This chlorine level is acceptable to most consumers for most purposes if phenols or other taste/odor threshold lowering agents are not present. When a significant percentage of troops are likely to drink unauthorized water, measures should be taken to reduce this percentage. Causes for troops consuming unauthorized water are reviewed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0670880
Entities
People
- George W. Powell
- John K. Gibeau
- John P. Riordon
Organizations
- United States Department of the Air Force