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Factors affecting the fate and transport of pathogens within the subsurface

<Font size=3>Factors affecting the fate and transport of pathogens within the subsurface</font size><br>
Link to this [[Factors affecting the fate and transport of pathogens within the subsurface|table]].
<table class="sortable">
<tr>
<th>Factor</th>
<th>Description</th>
<th>Source</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Soil texture</td>
<td>Filtration is generally more effective in fine grained soils (i.e. silts and clays). This process is generally only significant when the average size of the pathogen is greater than 5% of the average pore space meaning protozoa and some bacteria may be removed this way but not viruses</td>
<td>Karathanasis et al., 2007; Ginn et al., 2002</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Soil cation exchange capacity</td>
<td>The process by which the pathogen becomes attached to the soil particles. It is most effective with viruses and smaller bacteria. Adsorption generally increases as the clay content in the soil increases and increases as soil  pH decreases.</td>
<td>Bitton and Gerba, 1994; Lewis et al., 1980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Soil moisture content</td>
<td>Moisture content appears to be one of the most influential factors in determining the survival time of pathogens. In general the survival time will increase as the moisture content increases.</td>
<td>Beard, 1940; Kibby et al., 1987
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Temperature</td>
<td>In general, survival time increases as temperature decrease.</td>
<td>McFeters and Stuart, 1972; Kibby et al., 1978</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pH</td>
<td>Survival time of pathogens appears greatest when soil is near neutral pH and decreases as the pH moves away from that range.</td>
<td>McFeters and Stuart, 1972</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Organic content</td>
<td>The increased presence of organic content increases the survival time of pathogens, as well as allows for the potential for some re-growth. This may be due not only to the presence of available nutrients but also to the fact that organic matter has the ability to retain moisture. </td>
<td>Lewis et al., 1980; Tate, 1978</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Predation</td>
<td>Microbial predators in the sub-surface reduce the concentration of pathogens in the soil and water (Tate, 1978).</td>
<td>Tate, 1978</td>
</tr>
</table>
<font size=0.5><sup>a</sup>Representative list only; many additional pollutants can be associated with most of the activities listed</font size><br>
<font size=0.5><sup>b</sup>Combined sewers are very limited in Minnesota, with only a few remnants still existing in the metropolitan area. However, the same concerns apply for sewage spills and accidental overflows.</font size>

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[[category:Table]]
[[category:Table - pollutant information]]
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