Term of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health in Epidemiology (Dr.P.H.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Environmental Health Sciences
Committee Chair
Asli Aslan
Committee Member 1
Haresh Rochani
Committee Member 2
Kelly Sullivan
Abstract
Exposure to waterborne pathogens in recreational waters is an underreported public health issue. The USEPA requires states to routinely monitor their recreational waters. Coastal Georgia has a unique environment with semi-diurnal tides that is challenged by sea-level rise, increased population, and impacting existing wastewater infrastructure. Routine beach monitoring is conducted weekly, which may not represent daily short-term variability in water quality impacted by tides, human activities, and the rapidly changing environment.
Two beaches on Tybee Island were observed during July and August 2021. Occurrence of Enterococci, P. aeruginosa, and environmental factors were evaluated in the beach water to understand short-term changes in water quality caused by human or wildlife presence and tides. Further, a relationship between Enterococci and P. aeruginosa was found to be strongest in tidal pools (r = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Found relationships with environmental factors included turbidity of water, water temperature, and human count for Enterococci and air temperature, water temperature, and pH of water for P. aeruginosa.
This study found a 50.7% higher average of Enterococci than reported numbers at the beach where human activity was the heaviest. The tidal pools had higher concentrations of Enterococci and P. aeruginosa (65.9% and 80.3%, respectively) than the water column itself.
Short-term variability should be considered to better protect human health at these recreational beaches. Tidal pools are a public health concern for this area as they promote bacteria to persist in stagnant, shallow water bodies where vulnerable populations, in particular, children have the most risk for exposure.
OCLC Number
1366106484
Catalog Permalink
https://galileo-georgiasouthern.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01GALI_GASOUTH/1r4bu70/alma9916470444902950
Recommended Citation
Jillson, Sarah H., "Microbiological Water Quality of Tybee Island and Occurrence of Human Pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Beach Water and Tidal Pools" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2394.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2394
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
