You are here:
The relationship between microbial DNA concentrations and swimming associated health effects at a tropical environment bathing beach
Citation:
WADE, T. J. AND E. A. SAMS. The relationship between microbial DNA concentrations and swimming associated health effects at a tropical environment bathing beach. Presented at USA Chapter of the Inter-American Association of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering (USAIDIS) Meeting, N/A, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, November 07 - 10, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
These studies demonstrated that FIB measured using a much faster method based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) are also good predictors of swimming-associated GI illness.
Description:
The relationship between microbial DNA concentrations and swimming associated health effects at a tropical environment bathing beach. Timothy 1. Wade, presenter. Co-authors: Alfred P. Dufour, Kristen Brenner, Rich Haugland, Larry Wymer, Elizabeth Sams Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Enterococcus and E. coli are used as indicators of recreational water quality and have been linked to risk of gastrointestinal illness (GI illness) among swimmers. In 2003-2007, the EPA conducted a series of epidemiology studies. These studies demonstrated that FIB measured using a much faster method based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) are also good predictors of swimming-associated GI illness. In 2009, the EPA conducted an epidemiology study to evaluate associations between FIB measured by qPCR and risk of GI illness among swimmers at a beach in a tropical climate. The study was conducted at Boqueron Beach in south west Puerto Rico. A sewage treatment plant discharges within 1 mile of the beach. Existing data indicated variability in water quality. Over 15,000 subjects were enrolled on 26 days of study. Approxirnatelv 75% of respondents immersed their body and nearly 70% immersed their head in water. Swimmers reported more skin rash compared to non-swimmers but other illnesses, including GI and respiratory, were not elevated among swimmers. Measurements of FIB were low, indicating good water quality. No single day exceeded the culturable Enterococcus geometric mean standard of 35 colony forming units per 100 ml. A high proportion of fecal indicator bacteria measured by qPCR were not detected or showed inhibition or interference. Preliminary results indicate that none of the measures of FIB were associated with illnesses among swimmers. Interpretation of results were complicated because of the high qualitv of water and the interference of the qPCR signal. This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy