Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment as support for bathing waters profiling. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Federigi, Ileana; Bonadonna, Lucia; Bonanno Ferraro, Giusy; Briancesco, Rossella; Cioni, Lorenzo; Coccia, Anna Maria; Della Libera, Simonetta; Ferretti, Emanuele; Gramaccioni, Liana; Iaconelli, Marcello; La Rosa, Giuseppina; Lucentini, Luca; Mancini, Pamela; Suffredini, Elisabetta; Vicenza, Teresa; Veneri, Carolina; Verani, Marco; Carducci, Annalaura
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 157(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Bathing waters -- Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) -- Fecal indicators -- Virus -- Salmonella -- Vibrio; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111318
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Profiling bathing waters supported by Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) is key to the WHO's recommendations for the 2020/2021 revision of the European Bathing Water Directive. We developed an area-specific QMRA model on four pathogens, using fecal indicator concentrations ( E. coli, enterococci) for calculating pathogen loads. The predominance of illness was found to be attributable to Human Adenovirus, followed by Salmonella, Vibrio, and Norovirus. Overall, the cumulative illness risk showed a median of around 1 case/10000 exposures. The risk estimates were strongly influenced by the indicators that were used, suggesting the need for a more detailed investigation of the different sources of fecal contamination. Area-specific threshold values for fecal indicators were estimated on a risk-basis by modelling the cumulative risk against E. coli and enterococci concentrations. To improve bathing waters assessment, we suggest considering source apportionment, locally estimating of pathogen/indicator ratios, and calculating site-specific indicators thresholds based on risk assessment. Highlights: Development of QMRA model to improve bathing water profiling Use of fecal indicators monitoring data for pathogens load estimation Calculation of fecal indicator threshold limits on a risk-basis