[The risk associated with bathing activities and problems in its prevention through the use of bacterial indicators of fecal contamination].
There are many elements and factors that intervene to affect the quality of the coastal areas as all and none of them, taken individually, seems fundamental in defining the characteristics and to determine in a coherent way the risk associated to its use. Despite evident successes in the protection of public health, the present approach to the regulation of bathing water quality suffers several limitations. Difficulties in risk assessment due to the use of indicators of faecal contamination as parameters stated by law are discussed.
Bonadonna
Lucia
L
Laboratorio di Igiene Ambientale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V.le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma. lucybond@iss.it
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D014871:Water Microbiology