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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Wenthi Quirino1, Lora E Fleming, MD PhD, MPH, MSc2, Helena Solo Gabriele, Phd3, Dominick Squicciarini, BS MPH2, Samir Elmir, PE4, T Shibata, BS MS3, and Margia Arguello2. (1) NIEHS Marine & Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, 305-361-4738, lfleming@med.miami.edu, (2) NIEHS Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, (3) Environmental Engineering, University of Miami College of Engineering, McArthur Building, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0620, (4) Environmental Health, Miami Dade County Dept of Health, 1725 NW 167th St, Miami, FL 33056
Microbial water quality indicators are used to determine whether a water body is safe for recreational purposes. There have been concerns raised about appropriate use of microbial indicators to regulate recreational uses of water bodies, in particular those located in tropical and sub-tropical environments.
The prospective cohort study evaluated the relationship between microbial water quality indicators and public health within 2 beaches without known sewage discharge but with historically high microbial levels for one beach in Miami-Dade County (Florida). Water samples were collected daily at each beach during a wet and dry season month. An epidemiological questionnaire from a Los Angeles recreational beach-goer study was used to assess the swimming-related symptoms and exposures. The data were evaluated for differences in self-reported symptoms between the 2 beaches, and between the dry and wet months, as well as other analyses.
63 families were recruited with 208 individuals, having a mean age of 20.5+ 16.7 (range: 1-76 yrs). The majority were White Hispanics (75%) and male (53%). 35 (17%) reported > 1 symptom occurring since their visit to the beach, most frequently cough (7%) and skin rash (5%). There was no significant association between the number or type of reported symptoms, and the different sampling months or beach sites, although persons who returned repeatedly to the beach were more likely to report symptoms. The number of indicator organisms correlated negatively with the frequency of symptoms reported by recreational beach goers. Larger epidemiologic studies are recommended to further evaluate these associations.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Water Quality, Health Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.