The discharge of bacteria resistant to heavy metals from sewage effluent into freshwater

Pickup, R. W. (1989) The discharge of bacteria resistant to heavy metals from sewage effluent into freshwater. Aqua, 38 (4). pp. 230-235.

Abstract

Bacteria resistant to 10 mM copper sulphate were examined in Cumbrian streams originating from a discussed copper mining area. Throughout the stream system low numbers of Cu-resistant bacteria were isolated (0-23 cfu/100 ml). These numbers increased by 10-100-fold in the last 200 m section of the stream at or close to its inflow into Coniston. Multiple resistances to heavy metals were common. The increase in resistant bacteria was correlated with high numbers of similar bacteria being discharged from a sewage effluent pipe. -from Author