A Review of the Human Health Risks from Microbial Hazards in Recreational Beach Sand

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Public health
• Coastal ecology

Background:

• Recreational beach safety often relies on water quality monitoring.
• Beach sand can harbor microbiological pathogens, posing potential exposure risks through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.
• Pathogens in sand may originate naturally or be introduced by humans, animals, or water.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the presence and implications of microbiological pathogens in recreational beach sand.
• To assess the current evidence linking sand-borne pathogens to human health effects.
• To provide recommendations for integrating sand testing into recreational water safety plans.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies detecting microbiological pathogens in beach sand.
• Analysis of World Health Organization recommendations on recreational water safety.
• Evaluation of the challenges in attributing human illness to sand versus water exposure.

Main Results:

• A variety of faecal and non-faecal pathogens are detectable in beach sand.
• Current evidence is insufficient to definitively link sand-borne pathogens to adverse human health effects due to exposure pathway uncertainties.
• Faecal indicator bacteria are useful for identifying risks from faecal contamination.

Conclusions:

• Proactive integration of beach sand testing into recreational water safety programs is crucial for risk management assessment.
• Prioritizing faecal indicator bacteria and sanitary surveys is recommended for managing faecal contamination risks.
• Further epidemiological studies and human health risk assessments are needed to justify the inclusion of non-faecal pathogens in monitoring programs.