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Relationships among bather density, levels of human waterborne pathogens, and fecal coliform counts in marine recreational beach water

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Abstract

During summer months, samples of marine beach water were tested weekly for human waterborne pathogens in association with high and low bather numbers during weekends and weekdays, respectively. The numbers of bathers on weekends were significantly higher than on weekdays (P < 0.001), and this was associated with a significant (P < 0.04) increase in water turbidity. The proportion of water samples containing Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi was significantly higher (P < 0.03) on weekends than on weekdays, and significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with enterococci counts. The concentration of all three waterborne pathogens was significantly correlated with bather density (P < 0.01). The study demonstrated that: (a) human pathogens were present in beach water on days deemed acceptable for bathing according to fecal bacterial standards; (b) enterococci count was a good indicator for the presence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and microsporidian spores in recreational marine beach water; (c) water should be tested for enterococci during times when bather numbers are high; (d) re-suspension of bottom sediments by bathers caused elevated levels of enterococci and waterborne parasites, thus bathers themselves can create a non-point source for water contamination; and (e) exposure to recreational bathing waters can play a role in epidemiology of microsporidiosis. In order to protect public health, it is recommended to: (a) prevent diapered children from entering beach water; (b) introduce bather number limits to recreational areas; (c) advise people with gastroenteritis to avoid bathing; and (d) use showers prior to and after bathing.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fulbright Senior Specialist Fellowship (grant no. 2225 to Graczyk), Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) (grant no. AGR/PR20071), Paris, France; Johns Hopkins NIEHS Center in Urban Environmental Health (grant no. P30 ES03819); and the US Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program (grant no. RD83300201). The views expressed herein have not been subjected to the U.S. EPA review and therefore do not necessarily reflect the views of the agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of Environmental Health Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Thaddeus K. Graczyk, Deirdre Sunderland, Grace N. Awantang, Yessika Mashinski & Patrick N. Breysse

  2. Johns Hopkins Center for Water and Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Thaddeus K. Graczyk

  3. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Thaddeus K. Graczyk

  4. Department of Environmental Science, School of Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland

    Frances E. Lucy

  5. Centre for Biomolecular Environmental and Public Health Research, School of Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland

    Thaddeus K. Graczyk & Frances E. Lucy

  6. Environmental Services Ireland, Lough Allen, Carrick on Shannon, Co, Leitrim, Ireland

    Frances E. Lucy

  7. Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Zofi Graczyk & Lidia Chomicz

Authors
  1. Thaddeus K. Graczyk
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  2. Deirdre Sunderland
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  3. Grace N. Awantang
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Correspondence to Thaddeus K. Graczyk.

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Graczyk, T.K., Sunderland, D., Awantang, G.N. et al. Relationships among bather density, levels of human waterborne pathogens, and fecal coliform counts in marine recreational beach water. Parasitol Res 106, 1103–1108 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1769-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1769-2

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