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The variability of levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and a human-associated genetic marker (HF183) during wet and dry weather conditions was investigated at two urban coastal watersheds in Southern California: Santa Monica Canyon channel (SMC) and Ventura Harbor, Keys, and Marina. Seventy-eight to 86 % of the samples collected from SMC sites exceeded standard water quality standards for FIB ( n = 59 to 76). At SMC, HF183 was present in 58 % of the samples ( n = 78) and was detected at least once at every sample site. No individual site at SMC appeared as a hotspot for the measured indicators, pointing to a likely chronic issue stemming from urban runoff in wet and dry weather. In Ventura, the Arundell Barranca, which drains into Ventura Harbor and Marina, was a source of FIB, and HF183 was most frequently detected off of a dock in the Marina. Rainfall significantly increased FIB levels at both SMC and Ventura; only at Ventura did HF183 detection increase with wet weather. Sample locations that were high in FIB were geographically distinct from the sites that were high in HF183 in Ventura, which supports the importance of measuring host-associated parameters along with FIB in chronically impaired watersheds to guide water quality managers in pollution remediation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many parents are reluctant to educate their Asian American adolescents on sexual health topics because sexuality is taboo in most Asian cultures. A survey was conducted with Chinese, Filipina, Korean, and Vietnamese college females ages 18-25 to assess sources of abstinence and birth control education and age of sexual debut. Parents were the least reported source of sex education for all four ethnic groups, with the majority of respondents reporting school as their source of sex education. Respondents who reported family as their source of abstinence education had a sexual debut of 6 months later than those who did not. Females who reported family as their source of birth control education began having sex more than 7 months later than those who reported other sources. Disaggregation of data by Asian ethnic groups and examining differences in delivery of sex education among ethnic groups may improve school curricula and sexual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]