Marine Pollution Differentiation with Stable Isotopes of Groundwater

Stock and flow pollution differentiation is the basis for efficient pollution-abatement mechanism designs. The focus of our research has been marine pollution from land-based sources. Stable isotope analysis of groundwater is an acknowledged method for karst aquifer characterisation. We have tested whether stable isotopes of water, when used as a proxy for groundwater dynamics in the karst, could also be used as an indicator of marine pollution differentiation in terms of flow and stock pollution. The focus has been on two close coastal locations characterized by differences in terms of open and closed sea as well as anthropogenic pressure. A static Estimated General Least Squares (EGLS) statistical model described the closed bay location suggesting stock pollution. For a good description of the open sea location, we have had to resort to dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) statistical modelling, indicating flow pollution. Stable isotopes of groundwater together with appropriate statistical tools have proved to be a useful tool of marine pollution differentiation into stock or flow

Marine Pollution Differentiation with Stable Isotopes of Groundwater

Stock and flow pollution differentiation is the basis for efficient pollution-abatement mechanism designs. The focus of our research has been marine pollution from land-based sources. Stable isotope analysis of groundwater is an acknowledged method for karst aquifer characterisation. We have tested whether stable isotopes of water, when used as a proxy for groundwater dynamics in the karst, could also be used as an indicator of marine pollution differentiation in terms of flow and stock pollution. The focus has been on two close coastal locations characterized by differences in terms of open and closed sea as well as anthropogenic pressure. A static Estimated General Least Squares (EGLS) statistical model described the closed bay location suggesting stock pollution. For a good description of the open sea location, we have had to resort to dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) statistical modelling, indicating flow pollution. Stable isotopes of groundwater together with appropriate statistical tools have proved to be a useful tool of marine pollution differentiation into stock or flow

Marine Pollution Differentiation with Stable Isotopes of Groundwater

Stock and flow pollution differentiation is the basis for efficient pollution-abatement mechanism designs. The focus of our research has been marine pollution from land-based sources. Stable isotope analysis of groundwater is an acknowledged method for karst aquifer characterisation. We have tested whether stable isotopes of water, when used as a proxy for groundwater dynamics in the karst, could also be used as an indicator of marine pollution differentiation in terms of flow and stock pollution. The focus has been on two close coastal locations characterized by differences in terms of open and closed sea as well as anthropogenic pressure. A static Estimated General Least Squares (EGLS) statistical model described the closed bay location suggesting stock pollution. For a good description of the open sea location, we have had to resort to dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) statistical modelling, indicating flow pollution. Stable isotopes of groundwater together with appropriate statistical tools have proved to be a useful tool of marine pollution differentiation into stock or flow

Marine Pollution Differentiation with Stable Isotopes of Groundwater

Stock and flow pollution differentiation is the basis for efficient pollution-abatement mechanism designs. The focus of our research has been marine pollution from land-based sources. Stable isotope analysis of groundwater is an acknowledged method for karst aquifer characterisation. We have tested whether stable isotopes of water, when used as a proxy for groundwater dynamics in the karst, could also be used as an indicator of marine pollution differentiation in terms of flow and stock pollution. The focus has been on two close coastal locations characterized by differences in terms of open and closed sea as well as anthropogenic pressure. A static Estimated General Least Squares (EGLS) statistical model described the closed bay location suggesting stock pollution. For a good description of the open sea location, we have had to resort to dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) statistical modelling, indicating flow pollution. Stable isotopes of groundwater together with appropriate statistical tools have proved to be a useful tool of marine pollution differentiation into stock or flow

Vorbeugende maßnahmen zur bekämpfung von Legionellen in wasserversorgungssystemen während der pandemie

U ovom su članku opisane i sažete strategije i mjere koje bi se trebale primjenjivati u Hrvatskoj u svrhu sprječavanja kontaminacije bakterijom Legionella vodoopskrbnih sustava različitih ustanova tijekom pandemije COVID-a19. Kolonizacija bakterije Legionella u vodovodnim instalacijama povećava rizik od zaraze ljudi, stoga je važno istaknuti da je ovaj problem javnog zdravstva još veći tijekom drugih epidemija. Legionella može uzrokovati vrlo ozbiljne vrste upale pluća, tzv. legionarsku bolest i manje opasnu pontijačku groznicu. Hrvatska će u svoje zakonodavstvo transponirati preinaku EU Direktive 2020/2184 o kvaliteti vode za ljudsku potrošnju koja po prvi puta uključuje obvezu procjene rizika od bakterije Legionella. To bi trebalo pomoći u smanjenju zdravstvenih rizika ili komplikacija respiratornih infekcija (teške upale pluća) i smrtnosti tijekom drugih epidemija (COVID-a19 ili sl.).This paper describes and summarizes the strategies and measures that should be applied in Croatia to prevent Legionella contamination in drinking water systems in buildings during the COVID-19 epidemic. Legionella colonisation in drinking water installations increases the risk of infection for humans and it is important to point out that this public health problem is even greater during other epidemics. Legionella can cause very severe types of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease and less serious illness Pontiac fever. Therefore, Croatia will implement the new EU Directive 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption into its legislation, which for the first time includes an obligation to assess the risk of Legionella. This should help reduce the health risk or complications of respiratory infections (severe pneumonia) and mortality during other epidemics (COVID-19 and similar).In diesem Beitrag werden die Strategien und Maßnahmen beschrieben und zusammengefasst, die in Kroatien angewendet werden sollen zum Zwecke der Vorbeugung der Kontamination von Wasserversorgungssystemen verschiedener Institutionen mit Legionella-Bakterien während der COVID-19-Pandemie. Die Ansiedlung von Legionella-Bakterien in Wasserinstallationen erhöht das Infektionsrisiko beim Menschen, deswegen ist es wichtig darauf hinzuweisen, dass dieses Problem des öffentlichen Gesundheitswesens noch größer während anderer Epidemien ist. Legionellen können sehr schwere Arten von Lungenentzündungen verursachen, die sgn. Legionärskrankheit und das weniger gefährliche Pontiac-Fieber. Kroatien wird durch seine Gesetze die Richtlinie (EU) 2020/2184 über die Qualität von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch umsetzen, die zum ersten Mal die Anforderung der Risikobewertung eines Versorgungssystems in Bezug auf Legionellen enthält. Das sollte helfen, die Gesundheitsrisiken oder Komplikationen von Atemweginfektionen (schwere Lungenentzündungen) sowie die Sterblichkeit während anderer Epidemien (COVID-19 und ähnliche) zu reduzieren

Safety of drinking water in Gorski Kotar – five-year period 2011 – 2015

Cilj: Osiguranje zdravstveno ispravne vode osnovna je potreba svakog čovjeka. S obzirom na dugogodišnje mikrobiološko onečišćenje u vodoopskrbnoj mreži Gorskog kotara, analizirano je petogodišnje razdoblje. Cilj ovog rada bio je pratiti utjecaj promjena zakonske regulative i sanitarno-tehničkih uvjeta – ugradnje većeg broja automatskih klorinatora na broj ispitanih uzoraka iz vodoopskrbnog sustava, kao i na rezultate ispitivanja parametara zdravstvene ispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju. U radu je uspoređen profil onečišćenja vode za ljudsku potrošnju u Gorskom kotaru i ostalim dijelovima županije. Metode: Statistički su obrađeni i interpretirani rezultati županijskog monitoringa zdravstvene ispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju na području Gorskog kotara u razdoblju od 2011. do 2015. (broj ispitanih uzoraka N = 7.047). Rezultati: Stupanjem na snagu Pravilnika o parametrima sukladnosti i metodama analize vode za ljudsku potrošnju (NN 125/13, 141/13 i 128/15) broj uzoraka na temelju kojih se prati stanje vode u razvodnoj mreži Gorskog kotara je šesterostruko smanjen, ali je broj ispitanih pokazatelja povećan. Ugradnja automatskih klorinatora (2012. g. i 2013. g.) rezultirala je dvostrukim smanjenjem broja nesukladnih uzoraka. Zaključci: Primjena Pravilnika (NN 125/13, 141/13 i 128/15) rezultirala je značajnim smanjenjem broja analiziranih uzoraka u pojedinim vodoopskrbnim sustavima, što je procjenu njihovog stanja uvelike otežalo. Ugradnjom automatskih klorinatora broj nesukladnih uzoraka u Gorskom kotaru upola je smanjen. Glavni razlog zdravstvene neispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju u vodovodima Gorskog kotara je fekalno onečišćenje vode, dok u ostalim dijelovima županije najčešće od zadanih kriterija odstupaju mutnoća vode, povećani broj kolonija (UBB) i nusprodukti klorinacije.Aim: Ensuring the safety of potable water is a necessity of every human being. Taking into account long-term microbiological contamination of water supply network of Gorski Kotar, the results of 5-year County monitoring program of potable water safety in that region have been analysed. The aim of this study was to monitor the impact of amendment of legal standards as well as sanitary and technical requirements – the insertion of higher number of chlorinators on the number of examined samples deriving from the water supply system as well as the influence on the results of testing of the health parameters of water intended for human consumption. This study compared the contamination profile of water for human consumption in Gorski Kotar and other regions of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Methods: This study presents the elaborated and interpreted results of the County monitoring program of potable water safety in the region of Gorski Kotar during the 5-year period (2011–2015; the number examined samples N = 7,047). Results: Application of the Regulations on the parameters of assessment and methods for the analysis of water for human consumption (Official Gazette 125/2013, 141/2013/, 128/2015) provides six times lesser number of samples for the monitoring of water supply system network in Gorski Kotar, but the number of analysed parameters was increased. Installation of automatic chlorinators (2012 and 2013) resulted with twice smaller number of non-compliant samples of drinking water. Conclusions: Application of the the Regulations (Official Gazette 125/2013, 141/2013, 128/2015) resulted with the significant reduction of samples for certain water supply systems making the objective assessment of their condition much harder. The installation of automatic chlorinators reduced the number of non-compliant water samples in Gorski Kotar by half. The main reason for non-complying samples of water for human consumption in the water supply systems of Gorski Kotar is faecal contamination, while for the other parts of the County major deviation from stipulated criteria are turbidity, increased number of colonies (Heterotrophic Plate Count – HPC) and chlorination by-products

Badewasserqualität in Der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und im Bezirk Rijeka im Letzten Jahrzehnt

Obzirom da je Republika Hrvatska turistički orijentirana zemlja, kakvoća mora za kupanje od velike je javnozdravstvene važnosti. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati kakvoću mora na plažama riječkog područja u prošlom desetljeću te je usporediti s kakvoćom u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji (PGŽ), hrvatskoj obali Jadrana (HR) te Europskoj Uniji (EU). U usporedbi s prosječnom kakvoćom mora na plažama riječkog područja, PGŽ i HR tijekom desetogodišnjeg razdoblja, područje Rijeke bilježi najniži udio plaža s izvrsnom kakvoćom mora (76,4%) te najveći udio nezadovoljavajuće ocjenjenih (8,0%). Udio izvrsno ocjenjenih lokacija u PGŽ i HR je sličan (oko 95%). U PGŽ i HR je udio izvrsnih plaža za 12% veći u odnosu na EU, tijekom desetogodišnjeg razdoblja. Unatoč značajnom poboljšanju kakvoće mora na razini EU i HR, na pojedinim se lokacijama još uvijek bilježi fekalno onečišćenje. To je posebno izraženo na nekoliko lokacija u zapadnom dijelu grada Rijeke, koje predstavlja mikrobiološki najopterećenije područje u PGŽ. U cilju boljeg razumijevanja uzroka pojave onečišćenja na pojedinim lokacijama na riječkom području, analiziran je odnos mikrobioloških pokazatelja s okolišnim čimbenicima (temperatura vode i zraka, salinitet, količina oborina, jakost Sunčevog zračenja). Na takvim lokacijama potrebno je učiniti dodatne napore u cilju saniranja izvora onečišćenja.Since the Republic of Croatia is a tourism-oriented country, bathing quality of the sea has a great public-health importance. The objective of this paper is to present the quality of the sea on the beaches in the Rijeka area in the past decade and compare it with the quality of the sea in the Primorje - Gorski Kotar County (PGKC), on the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea (HR) and in the European Union (EU). A comparison of the quality of the sea on the beaches in the Rijeka area, PGKC and HR during a ten-year period shows that the Rijeka area records the lowest share of beaches with excellent quality of the sea (76.4%) and the highest share of those assessed as poor (8.0%). The share of locations assessed as excellent in the PGKC and HR is similar (around 95%). The share of beaches assessed as excellent in the PGKC and HR is higher by 12% in comparison to the EU during a ten-year period. Despite a significant improvement in the quality of the sea both at the level of EU and HR, faecal pollution is still recorded in some locations. This is particularly marked in some locations in Rijeka’s western part, which is the area with the highest microbiological load in the PGKC. In order to improve the understanding of pollution causes in some locations in the Rijeka area, we have analysed the relation between microbiological indicators and environmental indicators (water and air temperature, salinity, precipitation quantity, solar irradiance). In such locations, additional efforts should be made to remediate pollution sources.Da die Republik Kroatien touristisch orientiert ist, ist die Qualität des Meerwassers für öffentliche Gesundheit von größter Bedeutung. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Qualität des Meerwassers an Badestellen im Bezirk Rijeka im letzten Jahrzehnt darzustellen und sie mit der Wasserqualität in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar, an der kroatischen Adria und in der EU vergleichen. Wenn man die durchschnittliche Qualität des Meerwassers an Badestellen des Bezirkes Rijeka, der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und der kroatischen Adria im Zeitraum von zehn Jahren vergleicht, hat der Bezirk Rijeka den kleinsten Anteil an Badestellen mit sehr guten Qualität des Meerwassers (76,4%), und die meisten Badestellen wurden als unbefriedigend (8%) rangiert. Der Anteil der als sehr gut rangierten Badestellen in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und an der kroatischen Adria ist ähnlich, etwa 95%. In der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und an der kroatischen Adria ist der Anteil an sehr guten Badestellen im zehnjährigen Zeitraum um 12% höher als in der EU. Trotz einer wesentlichen Erhöhung der Qualität des Meerwassers in der EU und an der kroatischen Adria wird an einzelnen Badestellen noch immer fäkale Verunreinigung beobachtet. Das ist besonders ausgeprägt an einigen Badestellen im westlichen Teil der Stadt Rijeka, der mikrobiologisch am meisten belastetes Gebiet in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar ist. Mit dem Ziel, die Ursachen der Verunreinigung an einzelnen Badestellen im Bezirk Rijeka besser zu verstehen, wurde das Verhältnis zwischen den mikrobiologischen Parametern und Umgebungsparametern (Wasser- und Lufttemperatur, Salzgehalt, Niederschlagsmenge, Stärke der UV-Strahlung der Sonne) analysiert. An den verunreinigten Badestellen ist zusätzlicher Aufwand erforderlich, damit die Verunreinigungsquellen saniert werde

Supplementary data for article: Vasić, V.; Gašić, U.; Stanković, D.; Lušić, D.; Vukić-Lušić, D.; Milojković-Opsenica, D.; Tešić, Ž.; Trifković, J. Towards Better Quality Criteria of European Honeydew Honey: Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity. Food Chemistry 2019, 274, 629–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.045

Related to accepted version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2917]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2235]Supplementary material for: [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814618316169?via%3Dihub

Badewasserqualität in Der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und im Bezirk Rijeka im Letzten Jahrzehnt

Obzirom da je Republika Hrvatska turistički orijentirana zemlja, kakvoća mora za kupanje od velike je javnozdravstvene važnosti. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati kakvoću mora na plažama riječkog područja u prošlom desetljeću te je usporediti s kakvoćom u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji (PGŽ), hrvatskoj obali Jadrana (HR) te Europskoj Uniji (EU). U usporedbi s prosječnom kakvoćom mora na plažama riječkog područja, PGŽ i HR tijekom desetogodišnjeg razdoblja, područje Rijeke bilježi najniži udio plaža s izvrsnom kakvoćom mora (76,4%) te najveći udio nezadovoljavajuće ocjenjenih (8,0%). Udio izvrsno ocjenjenih lokacija u PGŽ i HR je sličan (oko 95%). U PGŽ i HR je udio izvrsnih plaža za 12% veći u odnosu na EU, tijekom desetogodišnjeg razdoblja. Unatoč značajnom poboljšanju kakvoće mora na razini EU i HR, na pojedinim se lokacijama još uvijek bilježi fekalno onečišćenje. To je posebno izraženo na nekoliko lokacija u zapadnom dijelu grada Rijeke, koje predstavlja mikrobiološki najopterećenije područje u PGŽ. U cilju boljeg razumijevanja uzroka pojave onečišćenja na pojedinim lokacijama na riječkom području, analiziran je odnos mikrobioloških pokazatelja s okolišnim čimbenicima (temperatura vode i zraka, salinitet, količina oborina, jakost Sunčevog zračenja). Na takvim lokacijama potrebno je učiniti dodatne napore u cilju saniranja izvora onečišćenja.Since the Republic of Croatia is a tourism-oriented country, bathing quality of the sea has a great public-health importance. The objective of this paper is to present the quality of the sea on the beaches in the Rijeka area in the past decade and compare it with the quality of the sea in the Primorje - Gorski Kotar County (PGKC), on the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea (HR) and in the European Union (EU). A comparison of the quality of the sea on the beaches in the Rijeka area, PGKC and HR during a ten-year period shows that the Rijeka area records the lowest share of beaches with excellent quality of the sea (76.4%) and the highest share of those assessed as poor (8.0%). The share of locations assessed as excellent in the PGKC and HR is similar (around 95%). The share of beaches assessed as excellent in the PGKC and HR is higher by 12% in comparison to the EU during a ten-year period. Despite a significant improvement in the quality of the sea both at the level of EU and HR, faecal pollution is still recorded in some locations. This is particularly marked in some locations in Rijeka’s western part, which is the area with the highest microbiological load in the PGKC. In order to improve the understanding of pollution causes in some locations in the Rijeka area, we have analysed the relation between microbiological indicators and environmental indicators (water and air temperature, salinity, precipitation quantity, solar irradiance). In such locations, additional efforts should be made to remediate pollution sources.Da die Republik Kroatien touristisch orientiert ist, ist die Qualität des Meerwassers für öffentliche Gesundheit von größter Bedeutung. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Qualität des Meerwassers an Badestellen im Bezirk Rijeka im letzten Jahrzehnt darzustellen und sie mit der Wasserqualität in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar, an der kroatischen Adria und in der EU vergleichen. Wenn man die durchschnittliche Qualität des Meerwassers an Badestellen des Bezirkes Rijeka, der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und der kroatischen Adria im Zeitraum von zehn Jahren vergleicht, hat der Bezirk Rijeka den kleinsten Anteil an Badestellen mit sehr guten Qualität des Meerwassers (76,4%), und die meisten Badestellen wurden als unbefriedigend (8%) rangiert. Der Anteil der als sehr gut rangierten Badestellen in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und an der kroatischen Adria ist ähnlich, etwa 95%. In der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar und an der kroatischen Adria ist der Anteil an sehr guten Badestellen im zehnjährigen Zeitraum um 12% höher als in der EU. Trotz einer wesentlichen Erhöhung der Qualität des Meerwassers in der EU und an der kroatischen Adria wird an einzelnen Badestellen noch immer fäkale Verunreinigung beobachtet. Das ist besonders ausgeprägt an einigen Badestellen im westlichen Teil der Stadt Rijeka, der mikrobiologisch am meisten belastetes Gebiet in der Gespanschaft Primorje-Gorski Kotar ist. Mit dem Ziel, die Ursachen der Verunreinigung an einzelnen Badestellen im Bezirk Rijeka besser zu verstehen, wurde das Verhältnis zwischen den mikrobiologischen Parametern und Umgebungsparametern (Wasser- und Lufttemperatur, Salzgehalt, Niederschlagsmenge, Stärke der UV-Strahlung der Sonne) analysiert. An den verunreinigten Badestellen ist zusätzlicher Aufwand erforderlich, damit die Verunreinigungsquellen saniert werde

Ima li opravdanja za proaktivan pristup kontroli bakterije Legionella u okolišu?

Research background. Legionella are Gram-negative bacteria that are ubiquitous in the natural environment. Contaminated water in man-made water systems is a potential source of transmission of legionnaires’ disease. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of Legionella pneumophila in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) of Primorje-Gorski Kotar (PGK) County, Croatia, for the period 2013-2019, coupled with the incidence of legionnaires’ disease. A number of L. pneumophila-positive samples (>100 CFU/L), serogroup distribution and the degree of contamination of specific facilities (health and aged care, tourism, and sports) were assessed. Based on the obtained results, the reasoning for the implementation of a mandatory Legionella environmental surveillance program was assessed. Experimental approach. Sample testing for Legionella was carried out according to the standard method for enumeration of this bacterium. A heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa number were analysed along with the basic physicochemical indicators of drinking water quality. The research period was divided into two parts, namely, the 2013-2018 period (before implementation of the prevention program, after the outbreak of legionnaires’ disease), and the year 2019 (proactive approach, no disease cases recorded). Results and conclusions. During the 7-year observation period in PGK County, an increase in the number of samples tested for Legionella was found. An increase in Legionella-positive samples (particularly pronounced during the warmer part of the year) was recorded, along with a growing trend in the number of reported legionnaires’ disease cases. In addition to hot water systems, the risk of Legionella colonisation also applies to cold water systems. Health and aged care facilities appear to be at highest risk. In addition to the higher proportion of positive samples and a higher degree of microbiological load in these facilities, the highest proportion of L. pneumophila SGs 2-14 was identified. Due to the diagnostic limitations of the applied tests, the number of legionnaires’ disease cases is underdiagnosed. Novelty and scientific contribution. The introduction of a mandatory preventive approach to monitoring Legionella in DWDS water samples, along with the definition of national criteria for the interpretation of the results will create the preconditions for diagnosis and adequate treatment of larger numbers of legionnaires’ disease cases.Pozadina istraživanja. Legionella spada u skupinu Gram-negativnih bakterija sveprisutnih u prirodnom okolišu. Potencijalni izvor prijenosa legionarske bolesti je onečišćena voda koja se nalazi u vodoopskrbnim sustavima. Svrha je ove studije bila istražiti raširenost bakterije Legionella pneumophila u distribucijskom sustavu vode za piće Primorsko-goranske županije, Hrvatska, u razdoblju od 2013. do 2019. godine te ispitati učestalost pojave legionarske bolesti. Određen je broj uzoraka pozitivnih na L. pneumophila (>100 CFU/L), kao i raspodjela serogrupa te stupanj onečišćenja pojedinih vrsta objekata (zdravstvene ustanove i ustanove za starije i nemoćne osobe, turistički i sportski objekti). Na osnovi dobivenih rezultata procijenjena je opravdanost provedbe obveznog programa nadzora bakterije Legionella u okolišu. Eksperimentalni pristup. Prisutnost bakterije Legionella u uzorcima ispitana je prema standardnoj metodi za brojenje ove bakterije. Analiziran je broj izraslih kolonija i broj bakterija Pseudomonas aeruginosa, zajedno s osnovnim fizikalno-kemijskim pokazateljima kakvoće vode za piće. Razdoblje istraživanja podijeljeno je u dva dijela, od 2013. do 2018. godine (prije provedbe preventivnog programa, nakon pojave legionarske bolesti) i 2019. godina (proaktivan pristup, bez zabilježenih slučajeva bolesti). Rezultati i zaključci. Tijekom sedmogodišnjeg razdoblja istraživanja je u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji utvrđeno povećanje broja uzoraka ispitanih na prisutnost bakterije Legionella. Zabilježen je porast pozitivnih uzoraka (osobito izražen tijekom toplijeg dijela godine), zajedno s rastućim trendom broja prijavljenih slučajeva legionarske bolesti. Osim sustava potrošne tople vode, rizik od kolonizacije bakterijom Legionella povezan je i sa sustavima hladne vode. Najveći rizik javlja se u zdravstvenim ustanovama i ustanovama za njegu starijih osoba. Uz veći udjel pozitivnih uzoraka i veći stupanj mikrobiološkog opterećenja, u tim objektima identificiran je i najveći udjel L. pneumophila SG 2-14. Zbog ograničenja primijenjenih dijagnostičkih testova, određeni broj slučajeva legionarske bolesti ostaje nedijagnosticiran. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Uvođenjem obveznog preventivnog pristupa praćenja bakterije Legionella u sustavima distribucije vode za piće te definiranjem nacionalnih kriterija interpretacije rezultata stvorit će se preduvjeti za dijagnostiku i odgovarajuće liječenje većeg broja slučajeva legionarske bolesti