Skip to main content
Log in

Field trial of biocides for control of Legionella in cooling towers

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Legionella and amebae populations in 16 cooling towers were challenged with three commercially available biocide formulations. The active agents were: a chlorinated phenolic thioether (CPTE), bromo-nitro-propane-diol (BNPD), and bromo-chloro-dimethylhydantoin (BCD, in briquette form). The towers were dosed with these biocides for approximately 4 weeks. BCD was effective against Legionella in each of nine challenge experiments, and CPTE in eight of nine challenges. BNPD was effective in only five of 11 challenges. None of the biocides had any significant effect in reducing planktonic amebae concentrations during the challenges.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Australian Standard AS3666—1989. Air-handling and water systems of buildings—microbial control. Sydney: Standards Australia

  2. Bentham RH (1993) Environmental factors affecting the colonization of cooling towers by Legionella spp. in South Australia. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 31:55–65

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bentham RH, Broadbent CR, Marwood LN (1993a) The influence of the sessile population in the Legionella colonization of cooling towers. In: Barbaree JM, Breiman RF, Dufour AP (eds) Legionella—current status and emerging perspectives. Washington: American Society for Microbiology, CIP 92-48890, pp 267–269

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bentham RH, Broadbent CR, Marwood LN, Marsh J, McDonald PJ, Lee PC (1993b) Ecology and control of Legionella in cooling towers-report of a field study in Adelaide. Report of Australian construction services field study. Adelaide: Federal Department of Administrative Services, South Australia

    Google Scholar 

  5. Broadbent CR, Marwood LN, Bentham RH (1991) Legionella in cooling towers: report of a field study in South Australia. In: Parsons RA (ed) Proceedings of the ASHRAE Far East Conference on Environmental Quality. Atlanta: American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, pp 55–59

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dennis PJL (1988) Isolation of Legionellae from environmental specimens. In: Harrison TG, Taylor AG (eds) A laboratory manual for Legionella. New York: John Wiley, pp 31–43

    Google Scholar 

  7. Department of Health (UK) (1988) Report of the expert advisory committee on biocides, Wright AE (chairman). London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office

    Google Scholar 

  8. Edelstein PH (1985) Legionella. In: Lennette EH, Balows A, Hausler WJ Jr, Shadomy HJ (eds) Manual of clinical microbiology, 4th ed. Washington D.C.: American Soc. Microbiol., pp 373–379

    Google Scholar 

  9. Elsmore R (1986) Biocidal control of legionellae. Isr J Med Sci 22:647–654

    Google Scholar 

  10. England JC, Fraser DW, Mallison GW, Mackel DC, Skaliy P, Gorman G (1982) Failure of L. pneumophila sensitivities to predict culture results from disinfectant-treated air-conditioning cooling towers. Appl Environ Microbiol 43:240–244

    Google Scholar 

  11. Fields BS, Sanden GN, Barbaree JM, Morrill WE, Wadowsky RM, White EH, Feeley JC (1989) Intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila in amoebae isolated from hospital hot water tanks. Curr Microbiol 18:131–137

    Google Scholar 

  12. Green PN, Pirrie RS (1993) A laboratory apparatus for the generation and biocide efficacy testing of Legionella biofilms. J Appl Bacteriol 74:388–393

    Google Scholar 

  13. Grow KM, Wood DH, Coggin JH, Leinbach ED (1984) Environmental factors influencing growth of L. pneumophila in operating biocide-treated cooling towers In: Thornsberry C, Balows A, Feeley JC, Jakubowski W (eds) Legionella: Proceedings of the Second International Legionella Symposium. Washington D.C.: American Society of Microbiology, pp 316–318

    Google Scholar 

  14. Henke M, Seidel KM (1986) Association between Legionella pneumophila and amoebae in water. Isr J Med Sci 22:690–695

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kurtz JB, Davis V (1988) Efficacy of bromine biocide in cooling water systems. Letter. Lancet i:304

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kurtz JB, Bartlett CLR, Newton UA, White RA, Jones NL (1982) L. pneumophila in cooling water systems. J Hyg Camb 88:369–381

    Google Scholar 

  17. National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) (1989) Australian guidelines for the control of Legionella and Legionnaires' disease. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Services

    Google Scholar 

  18. Page FC (1988) A new key to freshwater and soil Gymnamoebae. Cumbria, UK: Freshwater Biological Association

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rowbotham TJ (1980) Preliminary report on the pathogenicity of Legionella pneumophila for freshwater and soil amoebae. J Clin Pathol 33:1179–1183

    Google Scholar 

  20. Skaliy P, Thompson TA, Gorman GW, Morris GK, McEachern HV, Mackel DC (1980) Laboratory studies of disinfectants against Legionella pneumophila. Appl Environ Microbiol 40:697–700

    Google Scholar 

  21. Soracco RJ, Gill HK, Fliermans CB, Pope DH (1988) Susceptibilities of algae and Legionella pneumophila to cooling tower biocides. Appl Environ Microbiol 45:1254–1260

    Google Scholar 

  22. Srikanth S, Berk SG (1993) Stimulatory effect of cooling tower biocides on amoebae. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:3245–3249

    Google Scholar 

  23. Swango LJ, Wilt GR, Killen AD, Williams DE, Worley SD (1987) Inactivation of L. pneumophila by hypochlorite and an organic chloramine. Appl Environ Microbiol 53:2983–2986

    Google Scholar 

  24. Yamamoto H, Ezaki T, Ikedo M, Yabuuchi E (1991) Effects of biocidal treatments to inhibit the growth of legionellae and other microorganisms in cooling towers. Microbiol Immunol 35:795–802

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bentham, R.H., Broadbent, C.R. Field trial of biocides for control of Legionella in cooling towers. Current Microbiology 30, 167–172 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296203

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296203

Keywords

Navigation