Environmental Factors Influencing the Abundance of Enterococci in Gulf Coast Beach Waters
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 11
Abstract
Enterococci concentrations in seawater samples collected in 2010 at a Gulf Coast beach in the afternoon were significantly lower () compared with morning samples (). The factors affecting temporal differences of enterococci concentration in beach waters were studied through five laboratory experiments analyzing beach sands, solar radiation, salinity, and turbidity. Enterococci were found in beach sands at a geometric mean of 43 MPN per 100 g of sand, demonstrated the ability to persist for extended periods of time, and increased when incubated (geometric mean of 54 MPN per 100 g sand). Solar radiation inactivated large enterococci concentrations () in as little as four hours in salinities ranging from 0 to 25 parts per thousand (ppt). Increased turbidity (70 and 140 NTU) hindered the effect of solar radiation, suggesting that near-shore turbidity may promote higher enterococci concentrations. The results indicate that enterococci replenishment along Gulf coastal waters is not due to reactivation as found in other areas. This work illustrates that beach sands, solar radiation, salinity, and turbidity impact enterococci concentrations in Gulf Coast beach waters.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported through Grant No. NNX09AR62G from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Special thanks to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Beach Monitoring Program personnel, in particular to Chris Lemaire, Jerome Freedman, Gordon LeBlanc, Susan Krous, and the Lake Charles LDHH laboratory personnel for their logistic support and data share. Thanks also go out to Rong Bai, Blake LeJeune, and Athens Silaban for their assistance with field sampling and laboratory analysis.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 11 • November 2012
Pages: 1130 - 1137
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 11, 2011
Accepted: Mar 23, 2012
Published online: Mar 26, 2012
Published in print: Nov 1, 2012
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