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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2008, p. 2069-2078, Vol. 74, No. 7
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01609-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Monitoring of Waterborne Pathogens in Surface Waters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the Potential Health Risk Associated with Exposure to Cryptosporidium and Giardia in These Waters{triangledown}

F. M. Schets,1* J. H. van Wijnen,2 J. F. Schijven,1 H. Schoon,3 and A. M. de Roda Husman1

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands,1 Municipal Health Services (GGD) Amsterdam, Environmental Health Care, P.O. Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands,2 Omegam-Water, H. J. E. Wenckebachweg 120, 1096 AR Amsterdam, The Netherlands3

Received 14 July 2007/ Accepted 25 January 2008

The water in the canals and some recreational lakes in Amsterdam is microbiologically contaminated through the discharge of raw sewage from houseboats, sewage effluent, and dog and bird feces. Exposure to these waters may have negative health effects. During two successive 1-year study periods, the water quality in two canals (2003 to 2004) and five recreational lakes (2004 to 2005) in Amsterdam was tested with regard to the presence of fecal indicators and waterborne pathogens. According to Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC, based on Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococcus counts, water quality in the canals was poor but was classified as excellent in the recreational lakes. Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia were detected in the canals, as was rotavirus, norovirus, and enterovirus RNA. Low numbers of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts were detected in the recreational lakes, despite compliance with European bathing water legislation. The estimated risk of infection with Cryptosporidium and Giardia per exposure event ranged from 0.0002 to 0.007% and 0.04 to 0.2%, respectively, for occupational divers professionally exposed to canal water. The estimated risk of infection at exposure to incidental peak concentrations of Cryptosporidium and Giardia may be up to 0.01% and 1%, respectively, for people who accidentally swallow larger volumes of the canal water than the divers. Low levels of viable waterborne pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, pose a possible health risk from occupational, accidental, and recreational exposure to surface waters in Amsterdam.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Phone: 31 30 274 3929. Fax: 31 30 274 4434. E-mail: ciska.schets{at}rivm.nl

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 15 February 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2008, p. 2069-2078, Vol. 74, No. 7
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01609-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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