Conference on Water and Health, Chapel Hill, NC, Monday, October 29, 2012
Convenors:
Al Dufour, Jerry Stelma and Larry Wymer
Children and risk from exposure to pathogens in recreational waters
Swimming-associated risks in adult swimmers have been well defined over many years, but this
information is not readily available for children. Although the fact that “children are not just little adults”
has been addressed in some detail in the toxicological and chemical literature, there is a paucity of
similar information with regard to pathogens and exposure to recreational waters. The goal of this
workshop is to examine several aspects of children’s risk associated with exposure to contaminated
recreational waters. Biological and behavioral characteristics of children, which provide indirect
evidence for increased susceptibility of children exposed to contaminated recreational waters, will be
addressed. The risks of infection associated with exposure to contaminated recreational waters will be
approached from two directions. First, empirical evidence from epidemiological studies will be examined
to compare the susceptibilities of children and adults, after exposure to various levels of fecal
contamination in bathing beach waters. Second, quantitative microbial risk assessment will be used to
look at the potential for risk in children exposed to contaminated bathing waters. A specific behavioral
characteristic, water ingestion during swimming, will then be addressed and contrasted between
children and adults. A short summary of the presentations will synthesize a general conclusion regarding
children’s susceptibility to waterborne pathogens in recreational waters.
Agenda
1:15 – 1:55 Biological and behavioral characteristics of children that make them more susceptible to
waterborne microbial pathogens Charles Gerba, University of Arizona
1:55 – 2:35 The relationship between swimming-associated health effects and water quality in children
Tim Wade, USEPA
2:35 – 3:15 Quantifying age related differences in ingestion of water during swimming activities: a novel
approach, Larry J Wymer, USEPA
3:15 – 3:55 Quantitative microbial risk assessment and predicting health risk in children exposed to
contaminated bathing beach waters Jeff Soller, Soller Environmental
3:55 – 4:35 What lessons have we learned pertaining to the increased risk of waterborne infections in
children and what knowledge gaps should we fill? Jerry Stelma, USEPA