Abstract: Viruses are responsible for a variety of diseases in human bodies as well as animals and plants of economic importance. Depending on environmental conditions, many of these viruses can survive in environmental media for several hours to several months.This can result in water, soil and aerial dissemination of such infectious agents over distances of several kilometers. Studies show that sd:\PDF\.pdfuch viruses, at least of enteric nature which are shed in feces, can easily survive under present methods of sewage treatment.Raw sludge land disposal can present a risk of human illness through enteric virus contamination of market fruits and vegetables harvested from sewage-irrigated fields. Because as little as one tissue-culture infectious dose of virus may cause an infection in humans, it is im portant to eliminate even minute numbers of these microorganisms from environmental me dia, especially drinking water and food. Current indicators are not accurate monitors of fecal pollution and do not adequately reflect the presence of human enteric viruses. Coliphages are readily recovered from stwage from all parts of the world. In most cases, the persistence of coliphages in surface water, groundwater and sewage is greater than that of human enteric viruses and enteric bacteria. Coliphages have a number of unique characteristics which permit selective analytical techniques. In some ways, coliphages may serve as indicators when assessing the likely fate of human enteric viruses. Further research needs concerning the ecology of virus in China has been suggested by the author.

Key words: Enterovirus, Coliphage, Sewage sludge, Aerosol, Groundwater