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Beach sand microbiology : geo-climatic contextualization and public health implications
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Good recreational water quality at a beach means that it is possible to bathe with a negligible probability of becoming ill, from exposure to waterborne pathogens. However, this does not tell the whole story since most of the time spent at the beach is not in the water. Sand became a subject of study a few decades ago, but for some reason, the implementation of quality standards never took place until recently. In 2017 Argentina took the first step and added sand inspection to the national bathing water regulation. In 2018, Lithuania added helminths in sand to its own regulation. Yet, the validation of the need to monitor sand happened in 2003, with the publication of the Guidelines for safe recreational water environments by the World Health Organisation. Since then, publications continued to emerge at a slowly on-growing pace but without clear recommendations of monitoring parameters and levels, water continued to be the focus of national regulations everywhere for almost fifteen years. In 2012, a paper was published with the first report of health effects of unmonitored sand, during an epidemiological study performed in the United States of America. In 2015, a broad white paper was published recommending methods and stating reasons for monitoring sand. It was the result of an international meeting and covers direct exposure by being at the beach, regardless of the level of contact, and water quality parameters levels rise due to run off.
Bird droppings on sand are a known contribution to faecal indicator bacteria levels in sand and consequently in adjacent waters. Beaches can get closed due to their excessive presence, according to regulation. Sand needs therefore to be regulated too. This thesis was designed to fill gaps in the knowledge and produce a sustained recommendation on methods, parameters and needs-to-do in the future.
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Microbiologia de areias Água balnear Fungos Dermatófitos FIB Sand microbiology Bathing water Fungi Dermatophytes