Health effects of white-water canoeing.
There is little quantitative information on the relation between water quality and disease attack rates after recreational activities in fresh water. We conducted a prospective cohort study to measure the health effects of white-water and slalom canoeing in two channels with different degrees of microbial contamination. Site A, fed by a lowland river, showed high enterovirus concentrations (arithmetic mean 198 pfu per 10 litre and moderate faecal coliform concentrations (geometric mean 285/dl); at site B, from an upland impoundment, all samples were free of enteroviruses and the geometric mean faecal coliform concentration was 22/dl. Between 5 and 7 days after exposure canoeists using site A had significantly higher incidences of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory symptoms than canoeists using site B or non-exposed controls (spectators). Like seawater bathers, fresh-water canoeists can be made ill by sewage contamination. The hazard of fresh water may be best measured by counting of viruses rather than bacteria.
Centre for Research into Environment and Health, University of Wales, Lampeter, UK.
L
L
Fewtrell
A F
AF
Godfree
F
F
Jones
D
D
Kay
R L
RL
Salmon
M D
MD
Wyer
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012722:Sewage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013177:Sports; D006113:United Kingdom; D014871:Water Microbiology
D012722:Sewage