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ARTICLE TITLE:Wading in Waste AUTHOR/SOURCE: Michael A.

Mallin MAIN POINTS: Millions of Americans have moved to coastal areas, particularly in the Southeast to take advantage of their balmy climate, recreational opportunities and natural beauty Growing number of beaches and shellfish beds along the coast have been contaminated by disease-causing-microorganisms coming from animal and human wastes In 2004, coastal states ordered 19.950 days of closures and pollution advisories affecting 1,234 ocean and freshwater beaches, or 1/3 of all the beaches monitored by health officials. The reason for 85% of closures and advisories was the detection of excessive counts of fecal bacteria in beach waters Waterborne microbes move downstream with animal feces in storm water runoff or human waste in sewage overflows and septic-tank leaks. They can cause liver disease, respiratory infections and fatal gastroinestinal disorders. These illnesses are common in Third World countries with poor sanitation The problem in the U.S steams from unwise growth, not poverty Construction of so many homes, roads, shopping centers and parking lots disrupted natural drainage systems in coastal areas, and wastes that were once filtered by forests or wetlands are regularly fouling marinas and beaches How to reduce microbial pollution? Issue led to conflicts pitting developers and pro-growth politicians against regulatory authorities, commercial and recreational shellfishers,surfers, swimmers, divers and conservationists. Innovative solutions are available: "Smart Growth" strategies can restore polluted coastlines and provide economic benefits as well Adoption of reasonable controls on coastal development would safeguard the shoreline economy as much as it would protect the public's health. In 2004, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that 153 million Americans lived in the countries bordering the seacoasts and the Great Lakes which make up only 17 percent of continental U.S land area. Seven million people expected to join the coastal population by 2008. Total is seasonally expanded by hordes of vacationers Large areas that used to be forests are being turned into resorts, subdivisions, strip malls, restaurants, office complexes and industrial parks. Construction companies are draining wetlands and covering formerly vegetated soils with asphalt, concrete and housing materials When it rains, water flows over the surfaces, picking up animal feces and other pollutants and wash them down to drainages ditches or storm drains, leading directly to lakes, creeks or beach areas. Storm water runoff isn't treated.

Storm water runoff carries fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals and petrochemicals, but it's the disease-causing microbes-the bacteria, viruses and protozoa from feces that pose a threat to human health Microscopic algae can concentrate the harmful organisms that are present in water. Humans that eat food that are contaminated with fecal microbes might have a risk of getting gastroenteritis Microbial pollution poses a danger to people involved in common recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, wading, diving, snorkeling, waterskiing and boating. Illnesses include gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, cellulitis, ear infections, respiratory infections and more serious diseases like hepatits and paralysis. Some of the waterborne bacteria that can cause the health problems are E coli, salmonella, yersinia, etc. Among many waterborne disease-causing viruses are hepatitis A and Norwalk. The microbes triggered severe disease outbreaks in U.S and Canada in 1999, outbreak of E coli and campylobacter resulted in two deaths and 116 illnesses in fairgoers in NY's Washington County. 2000- E coli and campylobacter caused 2,3000 illnesses and 7 deaths among elderly and infants EPA recommends states use Enterococcus bacteria as a safety indicator for ocean and bay water. Storm water runoff from developed areas may have a multiplier effect on bacterial concentrations downstream. High flows come from large parking lots or subdivisions may erode the drainage ditches and stream banks, bringing suspended sediments into the water. Sediments can physically and chemically bind with pollutants such as phosphate, metals, fecal bacteria and viruses Microbes can survive for extended periods in sediment because they are protected from ultraviolet radiation and have ready access to nutrients. Poorly designed sanitation systems con contribute to microbial pollution. Heavy rains cause overflows that dump untreated human waste into rivers, lakes and bays A new dilemma is emerging: in coastal areas where resident do not have sewage hookups and must put waste in septic tanks instead. Areas with sandy soils and high water tables are unsuitable for septic systems, because the soils saturate with water, and bacteria can move along through them. Poor planning allowed their presence in many rapidly growing coastal regions. Erin K. Lipp and her colleagues determined that Florida Gulf Coast communities, fecal bacteria counts in bays and tributaries increase with the outgoing tide. Facilities of livestock dispose of manure by spraying it as a liquid or spreading it as litter on fields. When this happens, fecal microbes from waste can enter nearby streams Designers must minimize use of impervious surfaces and maximize amount of vegetated areas when planning new places. A site with plenty of green spaces will have less runoff.

Wetlands need to be preserved and enlarge to maintain natural filtering of storm water runoff Developers should take advantage of new technologies that can reduce storm water runoff and treat it on site Without careful planning, the gorgeous beaches will become nothing but hazardous receptacles of our waste. We must ensure that unchecked development does not ruin the very qualities that brought people to the coast in the first place.

AUTHOR'S MAIN POINT: Waterborne diseases/microbes come from storm water runoff due to animal feces and human waste. Waterborne diseases travel into our oceans and may cause harm in us humans in many different ways. If you get these microbes into your system, you can get liver disease, respiratory infections, fatal gastrointestinal disorders, conjunctivitis, cellulitis, ear infections, respiratory infections and more serious diseases like hepatitis and paralysis. These microbes have triggered outbreaks in the past, including one in 1999 in New York from E coli and campylobacter and in 2000. The way microbes get into our water is because of construction of so many homes, roads, shopping centers and parking lots that disrupt natural drainage systems in coastal areas, and wastes that were once filtered by forests or wetlands are regularly fouling marinas and beaches. Solutions include preserving wetlands so that it can maintain a natural filtering of storm water runoff, take advantage of new technologies that can reduce the storm water and prevent microbes to get into our oceans. MY THOUGHTS: There should be more warnings to people who do recreational activities in water. If there are more warnings, then less people can get harmed from these waterborne-diseases. I also think that places that have the most storm water runoff should have more wetlands. Like it said in the article, there should be more wetlands to maintain a natural filtering of the storm water runoff. Researchers should find different ways rather than preserving wetlands. So What? Microbes and waterborne diseases are harming our beaches' beauty and is also harming humans doing recreational activities in our beaches. What if..? Microbes were harmless? Says Who? Michael A. Mallin

What does this remind you of? Contagion- Outbreaks of multiple diseases

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