Water Resources Research Act Program

Principal Investigators: Gary Toranzos, Henry Smith

Abstract: In the Caribbean and other tropical areas of the world beaches are frequented by both tourists and native visitors throughout the year because of the warm climate conditions. Thus, the microbial water quality of the waters is of great concern to protect swimmers health. Sewage effluents, and run-off are sources of fecal bacteria, which may include enteric pathogens, in these coastal waters. To the present, no study has been carried out to quantify the risk of morbidity in those beach-goers who may be exposed to contaminated waters. We propose to carry out such a study in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in order to quantify the prevalence of illness symptoms in swimmers from beaches in Puerto Rico and to make inferences as to the best possible microbial indicators of pollution in the waters.