Abstract
Contamination of water systems can not only entail high risks to human health but can also result in economic losses due to closure of beaches and shellfish harvesting areas. Understanding the origin of fecal pollution at locations where shellfish are grown is essential in assessing associated health risks—as well as the determining actions necessary to remedy the problem. The aim of this work is to identify the species-specific source(s) of fecal contamination impacting waters overlying the shellfisheries in the Blackwater Estuary, East Anglia, UK. Over a twelve-month period, water samples were taken from above the oysters and from a variety of upstream points considered to be likely sources of fecal microorganism, together with oyster samples, and the number of fecal streptococci and E. coli were determined. Transition from low to high tide significantly decreased the concentration of fecal streptococci in waters overlying the oyster beds, indicative of a freshwater input of fecal pollution in oyster bed waters. In 12 months, the number of E. coli remained constant throughout, while fecal streptococci numbers were generally higher in the winter months. Analyses of upstream samples identified a sewage outfall to be the main source of E. coli to the oyster beds, with additional fecal streptococci from agricultural sources. The findings may assist in developing approaches for assessing the risks to shellfishery industries of various fecal inputs into an estuary, which could then help local governmental authorities address the problem.
Highlights
IntroductionOutbreaks of enteric and other infectious diseases have been reported worldwide and have been attributed to bathing and eating molluskan shellfish from waters contaminated with fecal matter [1,2]
Outbreaks of enteric and other infectious diseases have been reported worldwide and have been attributed to bathing and eating molluskan shellfish from waters contaminated with fecal matter [1,2].Contamination of water systems exact high risks to human health and result in economic losses due to closure of beaches and shellfish harvesting areas
Understanding the origin of fecal pollution at a particular location where shellfish are grown is essential in assessing associated health risks as well as the actions necessary to remedy the problem [13]
Summary
Outbreaks of enteric and other infectious diseases have been reported worldwide and have been attributed to bathing and eating molluskan shellfish from waters contaminated with fecal matter [1,2]. Contamination of water systems exact high risks to human health and result in economic losses due to closure of beaches and shellfish harvesting areas. Waters contaminated with human feces are generally perceived as constituting a greater risk to human health than those contaminated with animal feces as they are more likely to contain human-specific enteric pathogens [3,4,5]. In the United States, Stelma and McCabe (1992) [8] demonstrated a link between human disease and consumption of shellfish harvested from water contaminated by only animal fecal wastes [7]. The sources of microbial contaminants found in freshwaters
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
