Abstract
Twenty-two groundwater sources mainly used for drinking purpose in Bucharest peri-urban area were investigated for assessment of physico-chemical and microbiological quality with a view to determining its potential risk to public health. Results of chemical analysis revealed that nitrites, sulphates and chlorides were below the permissible levels, while 63.64% of the analysed groundwater sources exceeded the maximum admissible concentration for nitrates, with concentration variations ranging from 67.27 to 523.19 mg/L. The bacteriological analysis showed that in about 63% of groundwater sources total coliform, faecal coliform and enterococci have exceeded the threshold limits recommended by the Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC and the Romanian Law. Another aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative strains isolated from groundwater sources. There observed the resistance to many antibiotics, particularly: ticarcillin (80%), aztreonam (29%), gentamicin (11%), imipenem (9%), ceftriaxone (9%), ceftazidime (3%) and ciprofloxacin (3%). Significant higher resistance rates were observed in strains isolated from shallow groundwater sources as compared with strains isolated from deep groundwater sources. Pseudomonas sp. (26%) isolates with multiple-drug resistance (MDR) were encountered. The results of the study revealed a bacteriological contamination and high levels of nitrate concentrations in most of the groundwater samples, which could pose an important risk to human health.
Highlights
FLORICA MARINESCU*, MIHAELA ILIE, GINA GHITA, IOANA SAVIN, CARMEN TOCIU, ANA MARIA ANGHEL, ECATERINA MARCU, IULIANA MARCUS National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul Independentei, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
Pollution of groundwater by microbial contaminants of faecal origin leads to spread of waterborne infections, and involves the spread of antibiotic resistant organisms into environment [7] which is a matter of concern as it can lead to transmission of antibiotic resistance to pathogenic bacteria [8,9]
The results of the study revealed that most of the groundwater samples did not meet the parameters of the bacteriological quality, suggesting poor protection of water sources and pose an important risk to human health
Summary
The bacteriological analysis showed that in about 63% of groundwater sources total coliform, faecal coliform and enterococci have exceeded the threshold limits recommended by the Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC and the Romanian Law. Another aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative strains isolated from groundwater sources. The results of the study revealed a bacteriological contamination and high levels of nitrate concentrations in most of the groundwater samples, which could pose an important risk to human health.
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