Spatial and temporal variation in indicator microbe sampling is influential in beach management decisions

WATER RESEARCH

卷:46

Article

Enns, Amber A.^1,2  Vogel, Laura J.^1,2  Abdelzaher, Amir M.^1,2  Solo-Gabriele, Helena M.^1,2  Plano, Lisa R. W.^1,3,4  Gidley, Maribeth L.^1,5  Phillips, Matthew C.^1,2  Klaus, James S.^1,6,7  Piggot, Alan M.^1,7  Feng, Zhixuan^1,8  Reniers, Ad J. H. M.^1,8  Haus, Brian K.^1,8  Elmir, Samir M.⁹  Zhang, Yifan^1,2  Jimenez, Nasly H.^1,2  Abdel-Mottaleb, Noha^1,2  Schoor, Michael E.^1,2  Brown, Alexis¹  Khan, Sumbul Q.²  Dameron, Adrienne S.^3,4  Salazar, Norma C.^3,4  Fleming, Lora E.^1,10 

[1] Univ Miami, NSF NIEHS Oceans & Human Hlth Ctr, Miami, FL 33149 USA

[2] Univ Miami, Dept Civil Architectural & Environm Engn, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA

[3] Univ Miami, Dept Pediat, Miami, FL 33136 USA

[4] Univ Miami, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Miami, FL 33136 USA

[5] NOAA, Atlantic Oceanog & Meteorol Labs, Ocean Chem Div, Miami, FL 33149 USA

[6] Univ Miami, Dept Geol Sci, Coral Gables, FL 33146 USA

[7] Univ Miami, Div Marine Geol & Geophys, Rosenstiel Sch Marine & Atmospher Sci, Miami, FL 33149 USA

[8] Univ Miami, Rosenstiel Sch Marine & Atmospher Sci, Div Appl Marine Phys, Miami, FL 33149 USA

[9] Miami Dade Hlth Dept, Div Environm Hlth & Engn, Miami, FL 33056 USA

[10] Univ Exeter, European Ctr Environm & Human Hlth, Truro TR1 3HD, Cornwall, England

关键词: Enterococci;    S. aureus;    Beaches;    Management;    Variability;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.040

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Fecal indicator microbes, such as enterococci, are often used to assess potential health risks caused by pathogens at recreational beaches. Microbe levels often vary based on collection time and sampling location. The primary goal of this study was to assess how spatial and temporal variations in sample collection, which are driven by environmental parameters, impact enterococci measurements and beach management decisions. A secondary goal was to assess whether enterococci levels can be predictive of the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, a skin pathogen. Over a ten-day period, hydrometeorologic data, hydrodynamic data, bather densities, enterococci levels, and S. aureus levels including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were measured in both water and sand. Samples were collected hourly for both water and sediment at knee-depth, and every 6 h for water at waist-depth, supratidal sand, intertidal sand, and waterline sand. Results showed that solar radiation, tides, and rainfall events were major environmental factors that impacted enterococci levels. S. aureus levels were associated with bathing load, but did not correlate with enterococci levels or any other measured parameters. The results imply that frequencies of advisories depend heavily upon sample collection policies due to spatial and temporal variation of enterococci levels in response to environmental parameters. Thus, sampling at different times of the day and at different depths can significantly impact beach management decisions. Additionally, the lack of correlation between S. aureus and enterococci suggests that use of fecal indicators may not accurately assess risk for some pathogens. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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