Microbiology of Sands and Its Impact on Human Health

Brandão, João

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/3734

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Authors

Brandão, João

Abstract(s)

Recent studies suggest that sand can serve as a vehicle for exposure of humans to potential pathogenic microorganisms at beach sites, sandboxes and recreational areas. Recreational water quality, world-wide, focuses on monitoring bacterial indicators of possible faecal contamination by pathogens that cause Gastro-intestinal illness. The most recent bathing water directive in Europe hints on recreational water surrounding areas as a possible contamination source in itself. Yet, it leaves behind a clear message that sand is a relevant source of microorganisms, despite WHO’s recommendation of sand monitoring in 2003; especially in regions where beach users stay mainly on the sand due to low temperatures of the water. This recommendation has been backed up recently by an epidemiological study conducted by Heaney et al. (2012) and the information collected during a 5 year beach sand monitoring program of the whole of the coast of Portugal (Sabino et al. 2011). Given the diversity of microbes found in sand, studies are urgently needed to identify the most significant aetiologic agents of disease that may be conveyed through sand, and to relate microbial measurements to human health risk. Currently monitoring in sandboxes is limited to measurements of Toxocara eggs, although other microbes have been documented. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi and in non-coastal settings, Cryptococcus gattii has been gaining significance already given to endemic and fungi resistant to antimicrobials, especially in Children and immune-impaired individuals. Sampling for microorganisms in sand should therefore be considered for inclusion in regulatory programs aimed at protecting recreational users from infectious disease (Solo-Gabriel et al. in press). Overall, environmental and epidemiological studies to support the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts are recommend. Also, sand analysis and sampling procedures need to be reviewed and asserted in order to ensure that representativity of samples and other potential pathogens are covered, including GI tract viruses; known to be the biggest cause of GI illness in beach environments.