Faecal contamination on lettuce irrigated with different water sources in Maputo, Mozambique

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

Celma Niquice (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University)

A. Marques Arsenio (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

G Medema (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

JB Van Lier (TU Delft - Sanitary Engineering)

Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2024.2325264
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering
Issue number
2
Volume number
49
Pages (from-to)
201-218
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

Faecal contamination across the lettuce value chain was assessed in Maputo, Mozambique. Escherichia coli was used as an indicator of faecal contamination, with concentrations ranging from 3.4 to 5.7 log units/100 ml in groundwater, river water and partially treated wastewater. Municipal tap water used to wash lettuce heads in the markets had lower than 1 log unit/100 ml. Irrespective of the source of irrigation water, the lettuce heads were contaminated throughout the value chain, with concentrations ranging between 6.5 and 7.8 log units/100 g. Interventions and awareness raising should be applied at every stage of the value chain.