Microbiology of beach sands and its Impact on Human Health: a systematic review

Brandão, João; Namorado, Sónia; Neto, Mariana

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/4949

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Authors

Brandão, João

Namorado, Sónia

Neto, Mariana

Abstract(s)

Recent studies suggest that sand serves as a vehicle for humans’ exposure to potential pathogenic microorganisms at beach sites, sandboxes and recreational areas world-wide. Recreational water quality focuses on monitoring bacterial indicators of possible fecal contamination (FIB) by pathogens that cause gastrointestinal illness. The most recent European bathing water directive indicates that areas surrounding recreational water constitute a possible contamination source in itself. However it lacks the 2003 WHO recommendation of sand monitoring, especially in regions where beach users stay mainly on the sand due to low water temperatures. In order to raise the regulatory agents’ awareness to the relevance of exposure to sand and to assess this exposure, it seems important to collect and systematize updated information that the scientific community has been generating exponentially since mainly 2012, about the role of sand in recreational zones in the transmission of agents causing gastrointestinal, dermatological and respiratory pathologiesy Relevant articles were identified by systematic literature queries in PubMed, Web of Science, B-on and Google Scholar. A standardised search string with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. Articles reporting observational studies of any design were included. Three independent individuals evaluated the publications returned by the queries in three subsequent phases: (i) title–abstract screening, (ii) full-text screening and (iii) checklist-based quality assessment. Methodical evaluation of the identified articles resulted in the selection of 20 studies with adequate quality A narrative synthesis of the selected articles was performed and results indicated that sand beaches have high probability to be a reservoir for pathogenic agents associated both with gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases in humans, alone or through the contamination of recreational waters Attention should be given to beach sands surveillance regarding all microbial groups in order to keep a good and healthy environment for leisure and physical exercising activities