Daily measures of microbes and human health at a non-point source marine beach

• Published in: Journal of water and health Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 443 - 457
• Main Authors: Abdelzaher, Amir M, Wright, Mary E, Ortega, Cristina, Hasan, A Rasem, Shibata, Tomoyoki, Solo-Gabriele, Helena M, Kish, Jonathan, Withum, Kelly, He, Guoqing, Elmir, Samir M, Bonilla, J Alfredo, Bonilla, Tonya D, Palmer, Carol J, Scott, Troy M, Lukasik, Jerzy, Harwood, Valerie J, McQuaig, Shannon, Sinigalliano, Christopher D, Gidley, Maribeth L, Wanless, David, Plano, Lisa R W, Garza, Anna C, Zhu, Xiaofang, Stewart, Jill R, Dickerson, Jerold W, Yampara-Iquise, Helen, Carson, Charles, Fleisher, Jay M, Fleming, Lora E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Bathing Beaches; Beaches; Coliphages - isolation & purification; Daily; Detection; Enterococcus - isolation & purification; Enterovirus - isolation & purification; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental factors; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Epidemiological Monitoring; Epidemiology; Florida - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Humans; Illnesses; Markers; Microorganisms; Oceans; Pathogens; Point source pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution monitoring; Pollution prevention; Pollution sources; Public health; Quality assessment; Rain; Rainfall; Respiratory disorders; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - transmission; Seawater - microbiology; Skin; Tides; Tracking; Water Microbiology; Water pollution; Water quality; Florida; ASW, USA, Florida; ASW, USA, Florida, Miami
• ISSN: 1477-8920; 1996-7829
• DOI: 10.2166/wh.2011.146

Studies evaluating the relationship between microbes and human health at non-point source beaches are necessary for establishing criteria which would protect public health while minimizing economic burdens. The objective of this study was to evaluate water quality and daily cumulative health effects (gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory illnesses) for bathers at a non-point source subtropical marine recreational beach in order to better understand the inter-relationships between these factors and hence improve monitoring and pollution prevention techniques. Daily composite samples were collected, during the Oceans and Human Health Beach Exposure Assessment and Characterization Health Epidemiologic Study conducted in Miami (Florida, USA) at a non-point source beach, and analyzed for several pathogens, microbial source tracking markers, indicator microbes, and environmental parameters. Analysis demonstrated that rainfall and tide were more influential, when compared to other environmental factors and source tracking markers, in determining the presence of both indicator microbes and pathogens. Antecedent rainfall and F+ coliphage detection in water should be further assessed to confirm their possible association with skin and gastrointestinal (GI) illness outcomes, respectively. The results of this research illustrate the potential complexity of beach systems characterized by non-point sources, and how more novel and comprehensive approaches are needed to assess beach water quality for the purpose of protecting bather health.