NSF, NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Center, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, FL 33149, USA.
J Water Health. 2011 Sep;9(3):443-57. doi: 10.2166/wh.2011.146.
Studies evaluating the relationship between microbes and human health at non-point source beaches are necessary for establishing criteria which would protect public health while minimizing economic burdens. The objective of this study was to evaluate water quality and daily cumulative health effects (gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory illnesses) for bathers at a non-point source subtropical marine recreational beach in order to better understand the inter-relationships between these factors and hence improve monitoring and pollution prevention techniques. Daily composite samples were collected, during the Oceans and Human Health Beach Exposure Assessment and Characterization Health Epidemiologic Study conducted in Miami (Florida, USA) at a non-point source beach, and analyzed for several pathogens, microbial source tracking markers, indicator microbes, and environmental parameters. Analysis demonstrated that rainfall and tide were more influential, when compared to other environmental factors and source tracking markers, in determining the presence of both indicator microbes and pathogens. Antecedent rainfall and F+ coliphage detection in water should be further assessed to confirm their possible association with skin and gastrointestinal (GI) illness outcomes, respectively. The results of this research illustrate the potential complexity of beach systems characterized by non-point sources, and how more novel and comprehensive approaches are needed to assess beach water quality for the purpose of protecting bather health.
研究非点源海滩上微生物与人类健康之间的关系对于制定标准是必要的，这些标准将在最大限度地减少经济负担的同时保护公众健康。本研究的目的是评估非点源亚热带海洋休闲海滩上游泳者的水质和每日累积健康影响（胃肠道、皮肤和呼吸道疾病），以便更好地了解这些因素之间的相互关系，从而改进监测和污染预防技术。在迈阿密（美国佛罗里达州）进行的海洋与人类健康海滩暴露评估和特征健康流行病学研究中，每天采集综合样本，并对几种病原体、微生物源追踪标记物、指示微生物和环境参数进行分析。分析表明，与其他环境因素和源追踪标记物相比，降雨和潮汐对指示微生物和病原体的存在更具影响力。应进一步评估先前的降雨和 F+噬菌体在水中的检测，以确认它们分别与皮肤和胃肠道（GI）疾病结果的可能关联。本研究的结果说明了非点源特征的海滩系统的潜在复杂性，以及需要采用更新颖和全面的方法来评估海滩水质，以保护游泳者的健康。
