Microbiological and mycological beach sand quality in a volcanic environment: Madeira archipelago, Portugal

Pereira, Elisabete Monteiro de Aguiar; Figueira, Celso; Aguiar, Nuno; Vasconcelos, Rita P.; Vasconcelos, Sílvia; Calado, Graça; Brandão, João; Prada, Susana

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.025

Cited by 31 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Based on variations in the concentrations of these microorganisms from beach to beach we proposed certain threshold values for selected microbiological indicators. The results of this study provided a useful baseline for assessment of sand beach microbiological flora, and served as a reminder of the occurrence of potentially harmful fungi and bacteria in these environments (Pereira et al, 2013;Sabino et al, 2011). The conclusions of this study are that beach cleaning improves the recreational qualities of the beach in terms of organic content in the sand, but that the impact of water quality is less evident.…”

Section: Recommendations For Addressing Human Health Riskmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Epidemiological studies have shown that the presence of these FIB at densities higher than those recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (US) are linked to swimmer's gastro-intestinal (Haile et al, 1999;Wade et al, 2003) and skin illnesses . Although existing legislation focuses on measuring bacteria in water, sand is not included within the regulatory framework (Pereira et al, 2013). Transmission of microbes from the sand to the water can occur through tidal washing in the intertidal zone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Sabino

Rodrigues

Costa

et al. 2014

Science of The Total Environment

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Beaches worldwide provide recreational opportunities to hundreds of millions of people and serve as important components of coastal economies. Beach water is often monitored for microbiological quality to detect the presence of indicators of human sewage contamination so as to prevent public health outbreaks associated with water contact. However, growing evidence suggests that beach sand can harbor microbes harmful to human health, often in concentrations greater than the beach water. Currently, there are no standards for monitoring, sampling, analyzing, or managing beach sand quality. In addition to indicator microbes, growing evidence has identified pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a variety of beach sands worldwide. The public health threat associated with these populations through direct and indirect contact is unknown because so little research has been conducted relating to health outcomes associated with sand quality. In this manuscript, we present the consensus findings of a workshop of experts convened in Lisbon, Portugal to discuss the current state of knowledge on beach sand microbiological quality and to develop suggestions for standardizing the evaluation of sand at coastal beaches. The expert group at the "Microareias 2012" workshop recommends that 1) beach sand should be screened for a variety of pathogens harmful to human health, and sand monitoring should then be initiated alongside regular water monitoring; 2) sampling and analysis protocols should be standardized to allow proper comparisons among beach locations; and 3) further studies are needed to estimate human health risk with exposure to contaminated beach sand. Much of the manuscript is focused on research specific to Portugal, but similar results have been found elsewhere, and the findings have worldwide implications.

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Section: Recommendations For Addressing Human Health Riskmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Sabino

Rodrigues

Costa

et al. 2014

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Although several studies have been conducted on sediment resuspension within aquatic ecosystems, these have been in beach environments, mostly used for recreational activities in developed countries like the USA [50,51,52] and Portugal [53,54]. Studies reporting on sediment resuspension, especially in developing Sub-Saharan countries, are limited or not available.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Remobilisation on Riverbed Sediment Disturbance in Experimental Flumes and a Human-Impacted River: Implication for Water Resource Management and Public Health in Developing Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abia

James

Ubomba-Jaswa

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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Resuspension of sediment-borne microorganisms (including pathogens) into the water column could increase the health risk for those using river water for different purposes. In the present work, we (1) investigated the effect of sediment disturbance on microbial resuspension from riverbed sediments in laboratory flow-chambers and in the Apies River, Gauteng, South Africa; and (2) estimated flow conditions for sediment-borne microorganism entrainment/resuspension in the river. For mechanical disturbance, the top 2 cm of the sediment in flow-chambers was manually stirred. Simulating sudden discharge into the river, water (3 L) was poured within 30 s into the chambers at a 45° angle to the chamber width. In the field, sediment was disturbed by raking the riverbed and by cows crossing in the river. Water samples before and after sediment disturbance were analysed for Escherichia coli. Sediment disturbance caused an increase in water E. coli counts by up to 7.9–35.8 times original values. Using Shields criterion, river-flow of 0.15–0.69 m3/s could cause bed particle entrainment; while ~1.57–7.23 m3/s would cause resuspension. Thus, sediment disturbance in the Apies River would resuspend E. coli (and pathogens), with possible negative health implications for communities using such water. Therefore, monitoring surface water bodies should include microbial sediment quality.

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“…However since no specification on the level of species is described, the statement above should be considered as an assumption, and not a proof. Pereira et al [41] in the study of the beach sand in the Madeira archipelago have also demonstrated the presence of Dermatophytes from the genus Trichophyton. Since as stated by the authors, no speciation was carried out, it would be difficult to conclude as to the origin of the Dermatophytes found in the sand.…”

Section: Beach Sand and Dermatophytosesmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…These studies also aim to draw conclusions leading to the possibility of controlling the safety of beach sands. Of particular interest are the studies of Sabino et al [42,43] and Pereira et al [41] who investigated the beaches in Portugal and the Madeira archipelago. Sabino et al [43] found in the sand Trichophyton and Microsporum species, but no Epidermophyton.…”

Section: Beach Sand and Dermatophytosesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dermatophyte infections in environmental contexts

Segal

Frenkel

2015

Research in Microbiology

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Microbiological and mycological beach sand quality in a volcanic environment: Madeira archipelago, Portugal

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Routine screening of harmful microorganisms in beach sands: Implications to public health

Microbial Remobilisation on Riverbed Sediment Disturbance in Experimental Flumes and a Human-Impacted River: Implication for Water Resource Management and Public Health in Developing Sub-Saharan African Countries

Dermatophyte infections in environmental contexts

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