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A data analysis of the irradiation parameter D(10) for bacteria and spores under various conditions.

Author(s) : GERWEN S. J. C. van, ROMBOUTS F. M., RIET K. van 't, et al.

Type of article: Article

Summary

This paper provides approximate estimates for the irradiation parameter D(10) to globally predict the effectiveness of any irradiation process. D(10) is often reported to depend on many specific factors, implying that D(10) cannot be estimated without exact knowledge of all factors involved. For specific questions these data can be useful but only if the conditions reported exactly match the specific question. Alternatively, this study determined the most relevant factors influencing D(10) by quantitatively analyzing data from many references. The best first step appeared to be a classification of the data into vegetative bacteria and spores. As expected, spores were found to have significantly higher D(10) values (average 2.48 kGy) than vegetative bacteria (average 0.762 kGy). Further analyses of the vegetative bacteria confirmed the expected extreme irradiation resistance of nonpathogenic Deinococcus radiodurans (average 10.4 kGy). The analysis identified Enterococcus faecium, Alcaligenes spp., and several members of the Moraxella-Acinetobacter group as having very high resistance at very low temperatures (average 3.65 kGy). After exclusion of high- and low-resistance spores and some specific conditions showing relevant high or low D(10) values, the average for spores was estimated to be 2.11 kGy. For vegetative bacteria this average was estimated to be 0.420 kGy. The estimates obtained are approximate but are useful tools in designing and evaluating irradiation processes.

Details

  • Original title: A data analysis of the irradiation parameter D(10) for bacteria and spores under various conditions.
  • Record ID : 2001-0257
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Journal of Food Protection - vol. 62 - n. 9
  • Publication date: 1999/09
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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