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Re: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously
Birds are warm blooded animals but are not mammals of course. Thus probably
because of their body temperature (unlike amphibians and fish etc) they can
support these enteric bacteria.
Fish only have these bacteria in their gut when they are raised in sewage.
this has been shown in a number of countries. Remember that some
amphibians can be colonized with Salmonella and are sources of infection.
So there is always an exception.
Joan
Joan B. Rose, PhD
Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research
Michigan State University
13 Natural Resources
E. Lansing MI 48824
517-432-4412 (ph)
517-432-1699 (fax)
rosejo@msu.edu
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alm, Elizabeth Wheeler" <alm1ew@cmich.edu>
To: "Shannon Briggs" <briggssl@michigan.gov>; <beachnet@great-lakes.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously
I have a question for the group. Articles like this and others say that E.
coli is found in warm-blooded animals. Birds are not "warm-blooded animals"
are they? yet we know that some birds, particularly in the US carry E. coli
(although David Gordon from Australia says that birds have very low levels
of E. coli, Australian birds I presume). Also reptiles carry E. coli and I'm
pretty sure amphibians do too. Do fish? I haven't ever looked myself, has
anyone of the group?
I've been taking transects this summer at beaches along the west coast of
Lake Michigan and I can have 0 CFU/mL E. coli in the beach water, 60 CFU/mL
in the subsurface sand directly below where the water came from, and 1050
CFU/mL E. coli in the swash sand just a meter up beach from the sub and
water samples... and these are dry weather days.
When I read this article I am still thinking that re-suspension of E. coli
from the beach face is as likely as washing of pet waste and duck droppings
into the bay. Any thoughts???
Elizabeth Alm, Ph.D.
Professor, Microbiology
Central Michigan University
________________________________
From: owner-beachnet@great-lakes.net on behalf of Shannon Briggs
Sent: Wed 7/18/2007 8:35 AM
To: beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously
please see editorial in local paper
http://www.record-eagle.com/2007/jul/17edit.htm
07/17/2007
Editorial
Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously
The issue:
E. coli warnings
Our view:
It's a serious issue
See related story:
Advisory warns of E. coli at area beaches - July 11, 2007
Send a letter to the editor
Swimmers should take E. coli warnings seriously
Get used to it.
If we have more big rainstorms, we're probably going to see more E. coli
warnings this summer like those issued last week for West and East Bay
beaches.
Local health officials changed their protocol this year for putting out the
advisories. In past years, they issued alerts after the second day of high
counts because the counts often went down within 24 hours after a storm.
This year, public warnings are issued on the first day.
High E. coli counts are an indicator of unhealthy water and the need for
individuals, local governments and state agencies to ratchet up monitoring,
public education efforts and policies that safeguard Grand Traverse Bay and
the people who use it.
Here are some things we can do:
* Take the warnings seriously.
A high E. coli count is an indicator of fecal matter in the water. Warnings
are issued if more than 300 colonies of E. coli are found in 100 milliliters
of water, or about a tenth of a quart. The bacteria is found naturally in
the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including humans. High counts
mean that full-body contact with contaminated water can cause stomach aches,
diarrhea, vomiting or other illnesses. Older adults, young children and
people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable.
* Understand the underlying cause.
E. coli warnings in this region rarely have something to do with sewage
spills. Most alerts come after heavy rains. Storm drains fill, overflow and
flush duck droppings and animal waste as well as fertilizer and other debris
into the bay. Such was the case with last week's warnings. Sections of beach
closest to storm drains had the highest readings, said Sarah U'Ren, project
coordinator for the Watershed Center Grand Traverse, which has the water at
local beaches tested every Monday.
* Do something to protect yourself and others.
If you're thinking about going swimming after a heavy rainstorm, think
again. Where do you want to go? Know where the storm drains are. Clinch Park
Beach is not near a storm drain and rarely has a high E. coli count, U'Ren
said.
* Educate yourself and support public education efforts.
Clean up pet waste and dispose of it in trash bins. Don't discharge boat and
recreational vehicle sewage into the water or onto the ground where it can
get in the groundwater. Report those who do. It's illegal for a very good
reason - your health. The Department of Environmental Quality has a Web
site - www.deq.state.mi.us/beach/public/default.aspx - that lists public
beaches that are monitored by county. It also gives a history of test
results.
Copyright 1998-2007 Traverse City Record-Eagle
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