Workers in the mining and other industries are exposed to micro-organisms transmitted through water distribution systems. High and-or continued exposure to these organisms increases their risk of respiratory disease, especially when immuno-compromised. A number of pathogenic organisms are resistant to free-living amoebae and as such are able to resist most water treatment regimes. The NIOH has recently embarked on a study to determine the prevalence of amoeba resistant bacteria in South African water distribution systems.

The following projects are classified under this focus area:

Project Title (Record 1 - 1 of 1)		Status
	The presence of amoeba resistant bacteria in water distribution systems. Phase 1: development and validation of methods	On-Going