Ques. 1AIPMT 2003
Escherichia coli is used as an indicator organism to determine pollution of water with :-
- Faecal matter
- Pollen of aquatic plants
- Heavy metals
- Industrial effluents
Answer
(1) Faecal matter
Solution
Escherichia coli is a normal inhabitant of the human (and animal) large intestine and is passed out in faeces.
⇒ Its presence (coliform count) in a water sample shows that the water has been contaminated with sewage, i.e. faecal matter.
∴ E. coli is the indicator organism for faecal pollution of water.
Answer: (1)
Out of syllabus