Fecal contamination in beach sand and perceived health symptoms among beachgoers in Port Dickson, Malaysia

Hashin, Siti Shafiqa Shamira (2016) Fecal contamination in beach sand and perceived health symptoms among beachgoers in Port Dickson, Malaysia. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Port Dickson coastal water is the one of the attractive beaches in Peninsular Malaysia. Port Dickson beach received pollution to the growth in tourism, shipping, small industries and urbanization. The sewage discharge of domestic effluents and strongly sources from hotels and many of accommodation there also led to increase in the microbiological pathogenic contamination such as E.coli. Moreover beachgoers spend more time in sand than in the seawater especially children generally spend much more time in the sand than in water. Objectives: This study is to quantify the E.coli contamination in beach sand and also to determine the perceived health symptoms among beachgoers who had sand contact in Port Dickson beach. Methodology: Sand samples (n=90) were collected across three distinct transects of each beach at each 5 meter with depth of 5cm from the ten beaches in Port Dickson. The locations took place in Port Dickson coastal beach from north to south which starts from Tanjung Gemuk, Teluk Pelanduk, Bagan Pinang, Pantai Cahaya, Pantai Saujana, Teluk Kemang, Pantai Purnama, Blue Lagoon, Tanjung Tuan and Pantai Cermin. Membrane filtration technique with Lauryl Sulphate Broth was used to analyse E.coli in the sand samples. Results and Discussion: The high levels of E.coli were found at several beaches which are Pantai Saujana, Blue Lagoon, Tanjung Tuan and Pantai Cermin with more than 100 cfu of E.coli colonies per lOOg of sand. A negative correlation (r=-0.238) existed between E.coli counts and moisture levels in the 5cm depth sand sample. The most commonly reported perceived health symptoms among respondents were skin symptoms 11.3%.Conclusion: This study showed the E.coli colonies has presence at every beach. Therefore, beach sand may act as a reservoir for E.coli. Keywords: beach sand; coastal water; faecal bacteria; perceived health symptoms.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Muhamad Fazril Awang
Date Deposited:	23 Nov 2022 03:55
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2022 03:55
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/500

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