title: Microbial classification of seawaters. The case against arbitrary health standards.
abstract: Various microbial health standards for recreational bathing waters obtain in many parts of the world, including Europe and America. These criteria appear to be a product of water laboratory scientists and legislators, bypassing the person most concerned--the local medical officer with his experience and knowledge of parochial epidemiology. In Natal we have a sophisticated and stringent system of grading bathing beaches which includes pathogenic microorganisms. The system functions as a measuring device for assessing changes in water quality, not as an arbitrary health standard. It is hoped that the practice of setting capricious so-called health standards for marine recreational waters does not spread to this country.
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005062:European Union; D011634:Public Health; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012623:Seawater; D012760:Shigella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013019:South Africa; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States; D014871:Water Microbiology