1. Daily measures of microbes and human health at a non-point source marine beach.
- Author
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Abdelzaher AM, Wright ME, Ortega C, Hasan AR, Shibata T, Solo-Gabriele HM, Kish J, Withum K, He G, Elmir SM, Bonilla JA, Bonilla TD, Palmer CJ, Scott TM, Lukasik J, Harwood VJ, McQuaig S, Sinigalliano CD, Gidley ML, Wanless D, Plano LR, Garza AC, Zhu X, Stewart JR, Dickerson JW, Yampara-Iquise H, Carson C, Fleisher JM, and Fleming LE
- Subjects
- Coliphages isolation & purification, Enterococcus isolation & purification, Enterovirus isolation & purification, Environmental Exposure adverse effects, Environmental Monitoring methods, Epidemiological Monitoring, Florida epidemiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases epidemiology, Humans, Rain, Respiratory Tract Infections epidemiology, Respiratory Tract Infections transmission, Bathing Beaches, Gastrointestinal Diseases microbiology, Respiratory Tract Infections microbiology, Seawater microbiology, Water Microbiology
- 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 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.
- Published
- 2011
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