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RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY AND SWIMMING ASSOCIATED HEALTH EFFECTS
Citation:
DUFOUR, A. P. RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY AND SWIMMING ASSOCIATED HEALTH EFFECTS. Presented at 22nd Annual NCASM Fall Meeting, San Ramon, CA, October 07 - 08, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
The objectives of this research are: (1) to evaluate rapid state-of-the-art measuement methods of pathogens that may indicate the presence of fecal pollution in recreational waters (beaches); (2) to obtain, jointly with a sister laboratory (NHEERL), a new set of water quality data and related health effects data at a variety of beaches across the U.S., in both marine and non-marine waters; (3) to analyze the research data set to evaluate the utility of the tested measurement methods, the new EMPACT monitoring protocol, and the health effects data / questionnaire, in order to establish a relationship between measured pathogens and observed health effects; and (4) to communicate the results to the Office of Water in support of their efforts to develop new state and/or federal guidelines and limits for water quality indicators of fecal contamination, so that beach managers and public health officials can alert the public about the potential health hazards before exposure to unsafe water can occur.
Description:
The U.S. EPA's National Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of Recreational Water study is currently underway with the goal of determining if new rapid methods for measuring water quality can be used to predict illness in swimmers. This lecture will provide a historical perspective on the evolution of water quality standards and the rationale for risk-based regulations for recreational waters.