Impacts of a Changing Earth on Microbial Dynamics and Human Health Risks in the Continuum Between Beach Water and Sand

Chelsea Weiskerger, Michigan State University
Joao C. S. Brandão, National Institute of HealthFollow
Warish Ahmed, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, Ecosciences PrecinctFollow
Asli Aslan, Georgia Southern University, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthFollow
Lindsay Avolio, Johns Hopkins UniversityFollow
Brian Badgley, Virginia TechFollow
Alexandria Boehm, Stanford UniversityFollow
Thomas A. Edge, McMaster University
Jay Fleisher, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Christopher Heaney, Johns Hopkins UniversityFollow
Luisa Jordao, Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health
Julie Kinzelman, City of Racine Public Health Department
James S. Klaus, University of Miami
Greg Kleinheinz, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Päivi Meriläinen, Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and WelfareFollow
Jean-Pierre Nshimyimana, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Mantha Phanikumar, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Alan Piggot, Florida International UniversityFollow
Tarja Pitkänen, Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and WelfareFollow
Clare Robinson, Western UniversityFollow
Michael Sadowsky, University of MinnesotaFollow
Chris Staley, University of Minnesota
Zachery Staley, McMaster University
Erin Symonds, University of South Florida
Laura Vogel, Western University
Kevan Yamahara, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteFollow
Richard Whitman, Great Lakes Science Center, United States Geological Survey
Helena Solo-Gabriele, University of Miami
Valerie J. Harwood, University of South Florida

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-3-2019

Publication Title

Water Research

DOI

10.1016/j.watres.2019.07.006

ISSN

0043-1354

Abstract

Although infectious disease risk from recreational exposure to waterborne pathogens has been an active area of research for decades, beach sand is a relatively unexplored habitat for the persistence of pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). Beach sand, biofilms, and water all present unique advantages and challenges to pathogen introduction, growth, and persistence. These dynamics are further complicated by continuous exchange between sand and water habitats. Models of FIB and pathogen fate and transport at beaches can help predict the risk of infectious disease from beach use, but knowledge gaps with respect to decay and growth rates of pathogens in beach habitats impede robust modeling. Climatic variability adds further complexity to predictive modeling because extreme weather events, warming water, and sea level change may increase human exposure to waterborne pathogens and alter relationships between FIB and pathogens. In addition, population growth and urbanization will exacerbate contamination events and increase the potential for human exposure. The cumulative effects of anthropogenic changes will alter microbial population dynamics in beach habitats and the assumptions and relationships used in quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and process-based models. Here, we review our current understanding of microbial populations and transport dynamics across the sand-water continuum at beaches, how these dynamics can be modeled, and how global change factors (e.g., climate and land use) should be integrated into more accurate beachscape-based models.

Comments

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Copyright

Copyright belongs to Elsevier. Information regarding the dissemination and usage of journal articles can be accessed through the following links.

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