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Untreated sewage contamination of beach sand from a leaking underground sewage system

2020-06-15Journal article Restricted access
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dc.contributor.authorBrandão, J.
dc.contributor.authorAlbergaria, I.
dc.contributor.authorAlbuquerque, J.
dc.contributor.authorJosé, S.
dc.contributor.authorGrossinho, J.
dc.contributor.authorFerreira, F.C.
dc.contributor.authorRaposo, A.
dc.contributor.authorRodrigues, R.
dc.contributor.authorSilva, C.
dc.contributor.authorJordao, L.
dc.contributor.authorSousa, M.
dc.contributor.authorRebelo, M.H.
dc.contributor.authorVeríssimo, C.
dc.contributor.authorSabino, R.
dc.contributor.authorAmaro, T.
dc.contributor.authorCardoso, F.
dc.contributor.authorPatrão-Costa, M.
dc.contributor.authorSolo-Gabriele, H.
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-26T14:19:40Z
dc.date.available2020-06-26T14:19:40Z
dc.date.issued2020-06-15
dc.descriptionSupplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140237.pt_PT
dc.description.abstractThirty people (mostly children) experienced an episode of skin rash days after a sand sifting beach operation at Porto Pim Beach in Faial, Azores during June 2019. An environmental and epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify the cause of the outbreak of skin rash. The epidemiologic investigation found that some of the patients experiencing symptoms had never entered the beach water. During the pollution period and throughout the epidemiologic investigation, faecal indicator bacteria levels (94 CFU/100 ml for intestinal enterococci and 61 CFU/100 ml for Escherichia coli) in water remained under the limits used for the ninety-five percentile calculation of an Excellent coastal and transitional bathing water defined in the Portuguese Legislation (100 CFU/100 ml for intestinal enterococci and 250 CFU/100 ml for Escherichia coli). Thus sand contact was considered as a likely primary exposure route. Sand microbiological analysis for faecal indicator organisms and electron microscopy strongly suggested faecal contamination. Chemical analysis of the sand also revealed a concomitant substance compatible with sodium-hypochlorite as analysed using gas chromatography and subsequently confirmed by free chlorine analysis. Inspection of the toilet facilities and sewage disposal system revealed a leaking sewage distribution box. Collectively, results suggest that the cause of the outbreak was the leaking underground sewage distribution box that serviced the beach toilet facilities (40 m from beach), where sodium-hypochlorite was used for cleaning and disinfection. This sewage then contaminated the surficial sands to which beach goers were exposed. Chlorine being an irritant substance, was believed to have been the cause of the symptoms given the sudden presentation and dissipation of skin rashes. No gastro-intestinal illness was reported during this episode and during the following 30 days. Like water, beach sand should also be monitored for safety, especially for areas serviced by aged infrastructure.pt_PT
dc.description.abstractHighlights: An episode of skin rash was experience by 30 people at a beach; Analysis of the sand revealed a substance compatible with NaOCl concomitant high levels of faecal indicator organisms; Sodium-hypochlorite was used for cleaning and disinfection of toilet facilities; A leakage in the sewage system was found to have been the cause of the outbreak.pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorshipFinancial support from CESAM (UID/AMB/50017-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638), via FCT/MCTES, from national funds (PIDDAC), cofounded by FEDER, (PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020).pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationSci Total Environ. 2020 Jun 15;740:140237. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140237. [Epub ahead of print]pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140237pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn0048-9697
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/6992
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherElsevierpt_PT
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972033758Xpt_PT
dc.subjectWaterbornept_PT
dc.subjectSandpt_PT
dc.subjectBathingpt_PT
dc.subjectBeachpt_PT
dc.subjectPollutionpt_PT
dc.subjectPublic healthpt_PT
dc.subjectÁgua e Solopt_PT
dc.subjectAgentes Microbianos e Ambientept_PT
dc.subjectInfecções Sistémicas e Zoonosespt_PT
dc.subjectAçorespt_PT
dc.subjectPortugalpt_PT
dc.titleUntreated sewage contamination of beach sand from a leaking underground sewage systempt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876/UID%2FAMB%2F50017%2F2013/PT (2020)
oaire.citation.startPage140237pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleScience of The Total Environmentpt_PT
oaire.citation.volume740pt_PT
oaire.fundingStream5876
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
rcaap.embargofctDe acordo com a política editorial da revista.pt_PT
rcaap.rightsembargoedAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isProjectOfPublication48a51e27-c8e5-440c-ba6e-2e37e29924fe
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery48a51e27-c8e5-440c-ba6e-2e37e29924fe

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