Evaluation of sewage source and fate on southeast Florida coastal reefs

2011

Authors

• J. Carrie Futch The University of Georgia Department of Environmental Health Science
• Dale W. Griffin US Geological Survey Florida Integrated Science Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies
• Kenneth Banks Broward County, Florida Natural Resources Planning and Management Division
• Erin Lipp The University of Georgia Department of Environmental Health Science

Description

Water, sponge and coral samples were collected from stations impacted by a variety of pollution sources and screened for human enteric viruses as conservative markers for human sewage. While human enteroviruses and adenoviruses were not detected, noroviruses (NoV; human genogroups I and II) were detected in 31% of samples (especially in sponge tissue). Stations near inlets were the only ones to show multiple sample types positive for NoV. Fecal indicator bacteria and enteric viruses were further evaluated at multiple inlet stations on an outgoing tide. Greatest indicator concentrations and highest prevalence of viruses were found at the mouth of the inlet and offshore in the inlet plume. Results suggest that inlets moving large volumes of water into the coastal zone with tides may be an important source of fecal contaminants. Efforts to reduce run-off or unintended release of water into the Intracoastal Waterway may lower contaminants entering sensitive coastal areas.

Marine Pollution Bulletin volume 62 pages 2308-2316

DOI : 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.046

Cited by chapter 6, and usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016. (reference: b44dfd8b)