College
College of Public Health
Mentor Information
John Johnson
Description
Coastal microbial contamination is a major threat to public health especially in urbanized estuaries such as Tampa Bay, because elevated Enterococci concentrations can indicate fecal pollution, which can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses including diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. This study investigated how infrastructure and environmental conditions influence Enterococci concentrations across different areas of Tampa Bay watershed, which is home to 3 million people, and visited by 5 million more each year. A multiyear dataset of over 6,600 Enterococci measurements from Tampa Bay Waterkeeper and the City of St. Petersburg Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Program was analyzed using spatial and statistical approaches. Concerning results demonstrated substantial spatial variation in Enterococci concentrations across Tampa Bay, with several high concentration areas occurring near drainage features and potential points of contamination such as beaches and frequent fishing locations. These findings suggest that coastal infrastructure and urbanization may influence water quality and pose a potential risk to public health. Future research should integrate additional socioeconomic variables to improve predictions of contamination hotspots and support more effective coastal water management strategies.
The Role of Infrastructure in Enterococci Contamination and Human Health in Tampa Bay
Coastal microbial contamination is a major threat to public health especially in urbanized estuaries such as Tampa Bay, because elevated Enterococci concentrations can indicate fecal pollution, which can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses including diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. This study investigated how infrastructure and environmental conditions influence Enterococci concentrations across different areas of Tampa Bay watershed, which is home to 3 million people, and visited by 5 million more each year. A multiyear dataset of over 6,600 Enterococci measurements from Tampa Bay Waterkeeper and the City of St. Petersburg Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Program was analyzed using spatial and statistical approaches. Concerning results demonstrated substantial spatial variation in Enterococci concentrations across Tampa Bay, with several high concentration areas occurring near drainage features and potential points of contamination such as beaches and frequent fishing locations. These findings suggest that coastal infrastructure and urbanization may influence water quality and pose a potential risk to public health. Future research should integrate additional socioeconomic variables to improve predictions of contamination hotspots and support more effective coastal water management strategies.
