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Re: at what temperatures do bacterial levels significantlyincrease during warm weather



William,
 
Two references RE: the relationship between water temperature and fecal indicator bacteria density in recreational water that I have on hand (these might lead to others too):
 
1.  Lessard, Evelyn J. and John Sieburth.  Survival of Natural Sewage Populations of Enteric Bacteria in Diffusion and Batch Chambers in the Marine Environment.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology.  Vol. 45, No. 3 p. 950-959
 
Looks at survival times of e.coli and enterococci at varying temperatures and light exposure
 
2.  Lipp, Erin K., Raymond Kurz, Robert Vincent, Cesar Rodriguez-Palacios, Samuel R. Farrah, and Joan B. Rose.  The Effects of Seasonal Variability and Weather on Microbial Fecal Pollution and Enteric Pathogens in a Subtropical (Florida) Estuary.  Estuaries.  Vol. 24, No. 2, p 266-276.
 
Models the effects of temperature and other parameters on fecal indicator bacteria survival.
 
Take a look at #1 especially.  These researchers distinguish between light and dark survival given temperature fluctuations.  There is a VERY large literature demonstrating the negative effects of light (solar radiation) on fecal bacteria survival in water.  Since increases in water temperature are coincident with bright, sunny days, controlling for light vs dark seems important.
 
Enjoy.
 
Joel M. Sherman
Environmental Public Health
Department of Human Services
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 608
Portland, Oregon 97232
971.673.0441 - phone
joel.m.sherman@state.or.us

>>> "wsimmons" <wsimmons@co.monmouth.nj.us> 7/7/2006 12:19 PM >>>
does anyone have any references for papers that have documented what temperature indicator bacteria levels start escalating during the summer ?
 
we have been sampling the ocean since 1986 and have noticed that bacteria exceedences at bathing sites start increasing around july 4th, when the ocean water temperature starts getting into the high 60's 
 
i am interested in sediment as well as water for the temperatures at which bacterial levels significantly increase during warm weather
 
Thanks
 
William Simmons
Environmental Health Coordinator
Monmouth County Health Dept
3435 Rt. 9
Freehold N.J. 07748
Phone (732)431-7456
Fax  (732)409-7579
wsimmons@co.monmouth.nj.us
 
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