Assessment of local and regional strategies to control bacteria levels at beaches with consideration of impacts from climate change

Henry Barreras Jr; Elizabeth A Kelly; Naresh Kumar; Helena M Solo-Gabriele

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.046

Assessment of local and regional strategies to control bacteria levels at beaches with consideration of impacts from climate change

Mar Pollut Bull. 2019 Jan:138:249-259. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.046. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Authors

Henry Barreras Jr¹, Elizabeth A Kelly², Naresh Kumar³, Helena M Solo-Gabriele⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Miami, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; University of Miami, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Environment & Public Health, Miami, FL, USA.
² University of Miami, Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, Coral Gables, FL, USA; NSF NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Center, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Key Biscayne, FL, USA; University of Miami, College of Engineering, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, USA.
³ University of Miami, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Environment & Public Health, Miami, FL, USA.
⁴ University of Miami, Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, Coral Gables, FL, USA; NSF NIEHS Oceans and Human Health Center, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Key Biscayne, FL, USA; University of Miami, College of Engineering, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, USA. Electronic address: hmsolo@miami.edu.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate relationships between local factors (beach geomorphology and management) and regional factors (infrastructure improvements and temperature changes) against levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) at recreational beaches. Data were evaluated for 17 beaches located in Monroe County, Florida (Florida Keys), USA, including an assessment of sanitary infrastructure improvements using equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) connections. Results show that elevated FIB levels were associated with beach geomorphologies characterized by impeded flow and by beaches with lax management policies. The decrease in EDUs not connected coincided with a decrease in the fraction of days when bacteria levels were out of compliance. Multivariate factor analysis also identified beach management practices (presence of homeless and concession stands) as being associated with elevated FIB. Overall, results suggest that communities can utilize beach management strategies and infrastructure improvements to overcome the negative water quality impacts anticipated with climate change.

Keywords: Beach; Climate change; Fecal indicator bacteria; Infrastructure; Temperature.

MeSH terms

Bacteria
Bathing Beaches*
Climate Change*
Environmental Monitoring
Feces / microbiology*
Florida
Multivariate Analysis
Temperature
Water Microbiology*
Water Quality

Grants and funding

P50 ES012736/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States