Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the main sources of fecal pollution at popular beaches and rivers in the island of Trinidad. Escherichia coli enumeration and microbial source tracking (MST) were used to identify the primary sources of fecal bacteria contamination at the sites. Nineteen sites exceeded USEPA water quality standards for safe recreational use. Highest levels of fecal contamination were recorded on the central and west coasts of the island and included Brickfield River (4,839 MPN 100 ml-1), Orange Valley Bay (2,406.6 MPN 100 ml-1) and Chaguaramas Bay (1,921.2 MPN 100 ml-1). MST detected human (HF183) fecal pollution at ∼63%, birds at ∼67%, chicken at ∼36% and cattle (BacCow) at ∼34% of the sites. MST is a useful and rapid method for identifying major sources of fecal pollution in rivers and beaches. In Trinidad water bodies, the main sources of fecal pollution were humans and birds. The large number of sites with elevated levels of fecal pollution detected is particularly alarming and represents a serious public health risk.
Highlights
IntroductionAdesh Ramsubhag Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
The observed temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and salinity values at the sampling sites were typical for the island (Khatri & Tyagi ; Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) )
E. coli were enumerated at each sampling site based on USEPA recommendations STV (320–410 CFU 100 mlÀ1) (US EPA ), and sites exceeding an STV of 400 CFU 100 mlÀ1 were deemed unsafe for recreational purposes
Summary
Adesh Ramsubhag Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. In the Caribbean, fecal contamination of freshwater and marine environments is a growing threat to human health, tourism and the food industry (Shuval ; Walker et al ; Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) ). In the island of Trinidad, heavy industrial development and a long period of agricultural development have contributed to the input of fecal bacteria in freshwater, estuarine and marine systems (Alleng ; Bachoon et al ). Over the past two decades, there have been several reports of high levels of fecal contamination at some of the popular beaches, rivers and swamps (Rampersad et al ; Bachoon et al ; Environment Management Association (EMA) ; Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) ).
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