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

Abstract

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 Fþ 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.

Coliphages as Model Organisms in the Characterization and Management of Water Resources

“…In groundwater these failures have been identified for enteroviruses, rotaviruses, hepatitis-A viruses, and noroviruses [131,139]; noroviruses, enteroviruses, rotaviruses, adenoviruses, and hepatitis-A viruses [129]; enteroviruses and noroviruses [127]; and enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and reoviruses [143]. In surface waters, a lack of co-occurrence or correlation has been reported for adenoviruses and enteroviruses [136]; enteroviruses and adenoviruses [142]; enteroviruses and adenoviruses [124]; adenoviruses and noroviruses [144]; and enteroviruses and polyomaviruses [145]. In contrast, some studies on surface waters have shown correlations among different pathogenic viruses, such as astroviruses, noroviruses, rotaviruses, and adenoviruses [23]; enteroviruses, reoviruses, noroviruses, and rotaviruses [78]; and adenoviruses and noroviruses [141].…”

“…Wiedenmann et al only studied somatic coliphages and found some correlation [150]. In the studies where both phages were tested, the results are incongruent, since Von Schirnding et al failed to show any correlation with either somatic or F-specific phages [151], Colford et al found a correlation with F-specific phages [152], and Abdelzaher et al found a correlation with somatic coliphages [145]. No epidemiological studies to correlate phages and disease in drinking water have been performed.…”

“…Epidemiological studies on the relationship between the presence of human viruses and disease associated with water are scarce and those available fail to show any association between pathogenic viruses in surface waters and infections associated with bathing [145,152].…”

Seasonal variations in the risk of gastrointestinal illness on a tropical recreational beach

“…The lack of a consistent association between enterococci densities in water and bather health has been observed in previous studies of subtropical marine beaches impacted by non-point sources (Fleisher et al . 2010; Abdelzaher et al . 2011).…”

“…Few studies have been conducted in subtropical and tropical marine waters except for those performed by Fleisher et al . in Florida (2010), Abdelzaher and collaborators (2011), also in Florida, and the Boquerón Beach study in Puerto Rico by Wade et al . (USEPA 2009).…”