%0 Journal Article
%T An Alternative Approach to Water Regulations for Public Health Protection at Bathing Beaches
%A Amir M. Abdelzaher
%A Helena M. Solo-Gabriele
%A Matthew C. Phillips
%A Samir M. Elmir
%A Lora E. Fleming
%J Journal of Environmental and Public Health
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/138521
%X New approaches should be considered as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moves rapidly to develop new beach monitoring guidelines by the end of 2012, as these guidelines serve as the basis by which states and territories with coasts along the oceans and Great Lakes can then develop and implement monitoring programs for recreational waters. We describe and illustrate one possible approach to beach regulation termed as the ¡°Comprehensive Toolbox within an Approval Process (CTBAP).¡± The CTBAP consists of three components. The first is a ¡°toolbox¡± consisting of an inventory of guidelines on monitoring targets, a series of measurement techniques, and guidance to improve water quality through source identification and prevention methods. The second two components are principles of implementation. These include first, ¡°flexibility¡± to encourage and develop an individualized beach management plan tailored to local conditions and second, ¡°consistency¡± of this management plan to ensure a consistent national level of public health protection. The results of this approach are illustrated through a case study at a well-studied South Florida recreational marine beach. This case study explores different monitoring targets based on two different health endpoints (skin versus gastrointestinal illness) and recommends a beach regulation program for the study beach that focuses predominately on source prevention. 1. Introduction There is a growing health concern related to swimming in contaminated waters. Globally, each year, there are in excess of an estimated 120 million cases of gastrointestinal disease and in excess of an estimated 50 million cases of more severe respiratory diseases associated with swimming and bathing in wastewater-polluted coastal waters [1]. Since the 1950s, epidemiologic studies have been designed to evaluate the relationship between swimming in point source-impacted beaches and health risks (i.e., gastrointestinal disease, respiratory, eye, nose, and throat illnesses); they have concluded that symptoms for all these illnesses were increased in swimmers compared to nonswimmers [2, 3]. Outbreak reports from the CDC also confirm that illnesses in the USA are occurring from swimming in contaminated waters [4]. The excess illnesses associated with coastal water pollution can also result in substantial economic burdens. A study in Orange County, CA, estimated 3.3 million US dollars per year in excess illness costs for Newport and Huntington Beaches associated with bathing in marine waters [5]. Swimming-related illness is predominately
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2013/138521/