Laboratory tests

Viruses are the smallest forms of micro-organisms capable of causing disease, particularly those of faecal origin that are infectious to humans through waterborne transmission.

Some examples: Poliovirus, Norovirus, Rotavirus

The Norovirus genus is a class of infectious agent that is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in humans. 

Bacteriophages use bacteria as hosts for replication. Bacteriophage MS2 is a small virus that particularly infects E. coli. It has an RNA genome. Because of its small size and simplicity, it is often used in scientific research and to evaluate disinfection methods in the water industry.

Ahlstrom Munksjö

Water contaminated with :

- Virus (Bacteriophage MS2) influent concentration of 105 or 106 per ml (influent = untreated raw water)

Biological Consulting Services

Flat sheet with a surface area of 63.6 cm².

The water was contaminated with :

- Virus (Bacteriophage MS2): influent concentration 105 (influent = untreated raw water)

Bacteria are generally single-celled micro-organisms that can cause health problems in humans, animals or plants.

Raoultella terrigena is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is generally associated with soil and water environments, but has also been identified in the digestive systems of various animals.

The presence of R. terrigena in water can be the result of contamination by sewage or animal waste.

Ahlstrom Munksjö

Water contaminated with :

- Bacteria (Raoultella Terrigena) influent concentration 105 or 106 per ml (influent = untreated raw water)

Biological Consulting Services

Flat sheet with a surface area of 63.6 cm².

The water was contaminated with :

- Bacteria (Raoultella Terrigena) influent concentration 105 (influent = untreated raw water)

The cryptosporidium parasite causes symptoms akin to severe gastroenteritis. It can cause death (rarely in humans, but frequently in calves. It is the leading cause of death in calves under one month of age).

Often referred to as "beaver fever", giardiasis is a disease of the digestive system.

Signs of this disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, stomach upset, feelings of fatigue and weight loss.

This is a small spherical particle, about 3 micrometers in diameter, which is used to simulate certain micro-organisms or particles in water of the same size.

Ahlstrom Munksjö

Water contaminated with :

- Cyst (3-micron pearl substitute) influent concentration 105 or 106 per ml (influent = untreated raw water)

Escherichia coli is a bacterium found in the intestines of humans and many animals. Most strains are harmless and form part of the normal intestinal flora. However, some strains can cause illness in humans, ranging from simple intestinal disorders (diarrhea, abdominal cramps) to more serious infections such as urinary tract infections, meningitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or life-threatening kidney disease.

Ahlstrom Munksjö

40 litres/m²/min

- Water: Ringer

- Bacteria - E. Coli

- Internal protocol used: TM 140

- Temperature 22˚C ± 1˚C

- PH 7.75 ± 0.25

- Soaking: a few seconds with DI water (deionized water)

- Analysis: ATP metry (molecular biology technique based on the principle of bioluminescence, which measures the quantity of ATP in a sample).

Endotoxins or Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria that can cause severe immune reactions in people, such as :

* Temperature rise

* Increased breathing

* Lower blood pressure

* Endotoxin shock (which can be fatal)

Ahlstrom Munksjö

By the end of the study, each disc had been subjected to 3.85 x 106 EU. The Disruptor range removed a higher percentage of endotoxins than Millipore's MF filters.

Despite the smaller pore size of the MF filters, the Disruptor removed more endotoxins. This shows that loading is more effective at retaining endotoxins than pore size.

Northview Laboratories

Chlorine and chloramine are the main disinfectants used in public water systems.

It is widely criticized for its real health hazards and for altering the taste of water (bleach taste).

* NSF 42 requires a 50% reduction in chlorine.

* Disruptor™ PAC is above 50% retention up to 28,000 L/m

Ahlstrom Munksjö

Flat sheet with a surface area of 3.9 cm².

15.9 ml/min

Tap water from Pont Eveque-PEV :

- Temperature 20 ˚C

- TDS* 310 mg/L

- pH 7.4

- Initial chlorine concentration of 2 ppm*.

- Concentration range 0 to 2 ppm

The widespread use of lead has resulted in widespread environmental contamination. At high levels of exposure (or long-term exposure), it attacks the brain and central nervous system, leading to a range of diseases and disorders.

Aquadiagnostics (recognized by the Water Quality Association, USA)

Flat sheet with a surface area of 17.3 cm².

Pressure maintained at 0.65 bar and measurement of flow variation

NSF 401 certification for filters covers "accidental contaminants and emerging compounds".

This means that the NSF Safety and Public Health Organization has verified that the Disruptor™ filter meets their high standards for the reduction of emerging compounds and incidental contaminants (such as pesticides, herbicides, drugs and detergents) through a variety of tests carried out by NSF experts.

NSF International Laboratories

NSF 401

Tests based on estimated service life of 1000 litres/ft2 (ft2 = square feet) corresponding to 100% in tables

Phenytoin : an anti-epileptic drug

Atenolol : a beta-blocking drug

Carbamazepine : an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer

Trimethoprim : an antibiotic drug

Estrone : a prescription contraceptive drug

Ibuprofen : an over-the-counter analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug

Naproxen : an over-the-counter analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug

DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) : a pesticide and common active ingredient in insect repellents

Metolachlor : an organic compound widely used as a herbicide

Linuron : a herbicide often used for grass and weed control.

NSF 401 certification for filters covers "accidental contaminants and emerging compounds".

This means that the NSF Safety and Public Health Organization has verified that the Disruptor™ filter meets their high standards for the reduction of emerging compounds and incidental contaminants (such as pesticides, herbicides, drugs and detergents) through a variety of tests carried out by NSF experts.

NSF International Laboratories

NSF 401

Tests based on estimated service life of 1000 litres/ft2 (ft2 = square feet) corresponding to 100% in tables

TCEP : a chemical compound used as a flame retardant, plasticizer and viscosity regulator in various types of polymers, including polyurethanes, polyester resins and polyacrylates.

TCPP : a chemical compound used as a flame retardant.

BPA (Bisphenol A): a chemical compound used as a plasticizer. It is produced on an industrial scale by the condensation of phenol and acetone. Worldwide production is expected to reach 10 million tonnes by 2022.

Nonylphenol : a collection of compounds often used as precursors for commercial detergents.

Various micro-contaminants are now detected in many wastewaters and some drinking water sources.

Although the dangers posed by these contaminants to humans and the environment are not well understood, the reduction or elimination of these compounds is a concern for many organizations and health authorities.

NSF International Laboratories

Penicillin G was used as a representative antibiotic for the tests.

It was first studied using a 2 mg/l challenge solution. This graph shows that all the antibiotic was removed from 13 liters of water. At more typical concentrations in the 2 micrograms per liter range, 0.093 m² of Disruptor could theoretically treat over 900,000 liters of water if it were free of other contaminants.

Flumequine is a chemotherapeutic antibiotic implicated in tendon rupture, DNA damage and anaphylactic shock. It has been withdrawn from the market, but is representative of the flumequine class of drugs. Data show complete elimination from 3 liters of water at a concentration of 10 mg/l. At more typical concentrations in the 2 micrograms per liter range, one square foot of Disruptor could theoretically treat over a million liters of water if free of other contaminants.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are man-made organic chemicals known for their toxic and carcinogenic effects. Independent tests have shown that Disruptor is effective in removing PCBs from water, as shown in the graph above.

Pesticides and herbicides are widely used in agriculture and gardening to increase productivity and prevent pest damage.

These chemicals can have harmful effects on the environment and human health. They can leach into surface water and groundwater through runoff or infiltration, contaminating drinking water sources.

NSF International Laboratories

- Herbicide 2,4 -D eliminated at more than 95% with an initial influent concentration of 70 μg +/-10% /L ;

- Atrazine herbicide eliminated over 95% with an initial influent concentration of 3 μg +/-10% /L ;

- 9 additional herbicides more than 95% eliminated according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;

- Pesticide Chlordane more than 95% eliminated with an initial influent concentration of 2 μg +/-10% /L;

- Pesticide Heptachlor eliminated at more than 95% with an initial influent concentration of 0.4 μg +/-10% /L ;

- Lindane pesticide eliminated at more than 95% with an initial influent concentration of 0.2 μg +/-10% /L ;

- 11 additional pesticides more than 95% eliminated, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency;

By its very nature, plastic naturally breaks down into tiny plastic particles.

Read our article on the subject: here

NSF International Laboratories

Over 99% elimination at an initial concentration of 100 parts/L, each larger than 2 μg

EUROFINS | EURACETA (Laboratoire d'Analyses et de Contrôles Environnementaux, Toxicologiques & Agro-alimentaires)

Tap water from Limal - Samples taken by Euraceta

July 2023

Most of the contaminants below are derived from the chemical degradation of herbicides: Atrazine, dichlobenil, chlorothalonil, S-metolachlor and chloridazone, most of which are harmful or very harmful to health and are banned or in the process of being banned.

See our dedicated blog post here.

EUROFINS | EURACETA (Laboratoire d'Analyses et de Contrôles Environnementaux, Toxicologiques & Agro-alimentaires)

Tap water with voluntary addition of 20 µg/l of 12 metals (cf. Sb, Se, As, Cr,Cd,Pb, Ni, Mn, Fe,Cu, Ag & Zn)

July 2023

If your water is too rich in nitrates or chlorates and you want to prevent this, you can use an osmosis unit to filter out these contaminants.

In laboratory analysis, the thresholds found after filtration are infinitesimal and in line with the manufacturer's official filtration table (and with independent laboratories that have come up with the same results).

EUROFINS | EURACETA (Laboratoire d'Analyses et de Contrôles Environnementaux, Toxicologiques & Agro-alimentaires)

Tap water with voluntary addition of 2 mg/l Fluoride

August 2023

Fluoride is one of ten major chemicals posing a public health problem, alongside asbestos and arsenic. An EU directive has set the maximum permissible level of fluoride in water at 1.5 mg/l in Europe.

Some bottled waters are also not far from this threshold.

However, a 5-year-old child should not exceed the threshold of 1 mg/day, or risk developing dental fluorosis, as is the case for 2% of children in France.

See our dedicated blog post here.

EUROFINS | EURACETA (Laboratoire d'Analyses et de Contrôles Environnementaux, Toxicologiques & Agro-alimentaires)

Tap water

December 2023

Perfluorochemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a family of chemical compounds widely used for their unique properties, such as resistance to water, stains and grease. They are often found in a variety of everyday products, including non-stick coatings, textiles, food packaging and some fire-fighting equipment. However, their exceptional chemical stability, which gives them their usefulness, also makes these substances particularly persistent in the environment and in living organisms, leading to growing concerns about their potential impact on human health and ecology.