CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WELLSAND RIVERS IN LEBANESE URBAN CITIES

Unsafe drinking water has been implicated in numerous health problems in developing countries. This latter is a result of the increase in human population and urbanization. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the water contamination in the Lebanese urban cities. Consequently, it has become necessary to monitor the chemical and microbiological parameters of different wells and rivers in Lebanese Urban Cities. In this present study, we analyzed the chemical and microbiological characteristics of water coming from different wells in Urban Cities (Baakline, Hasbaya, Kfarchakhna, Kesrwan, Antelias, Fanar, Lebaa, Tal Amara, Tyre) and seven Lebanese rivers (Hasbani, Rachiine, Kadisha, Awali, Ghzayel, Berdawni, Litani). Heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ar, Hg), various chemical elements (Ca, Mg, Bicarbonate, Na, K, Nitrate and sulfur) and different microbial strains were determined for each source. The samples collected from the wells of the different cities were not conform (20 to 82%) in heavy metals, not conform (20 to 85%) in chemical elements as well as not conform (52 to 100%) in the microbial load to the Lebanese standard of water (LIBNOR). The chemical and microbiological characteristics of all river samples were not conform to the Lebanese standard of the water, with some samples even contaminated with mercury. Noting that many cases of bacterial infections were detected in some cities due to the bacterial contamination of the wells, a need of ensuring a reliable access of a safe drinking water is important to sustain our Lebanese cities

OCCURRENCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 IN GROUND MEATCOMMERCIALIZED IN LEBANESE URBAN CITIES

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) has been recognized as a major cause of diarrhea and hemolytic- uremic syndrome (HS). The consumption of raw or undercooked meat of bovine origin has been the most common mean of transmitting this organism. No screening of E.coli has been performed in the ground meat commercialized in the Lebanese market. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of E. coli serotype O157:H7 recovered from ground fresh raw meat collected from different butcheries in Lebanese Urban cities. A total of 73 samples of fresh ground meat was collected from Sin el fil area (n=23), Hadath (n=16), Ghoubayri (n=16) and Antelias (n=18), and investigated for the presence of E. coli O157: H7. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated in 16 (22%) out of 73 meat samples examined. This high prevalence was variable between the different cities, with the highest one in Ghoubayri (43%), followed by Sin el fil (21%), Hadath (12%) and Antelias (11%). This study revealed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in retail raw meats reaching consumers, especially in crowded urban city such as Ghoubayri. This result is an indication of the poor hygienic level in the different butcheries localized in the Lebanese urban cities, thus reflecting possible risks of infection to people through the consumption of fresh raw/under-cooked meat