Analysis of sand quality health in Santos beach, coast of Sao Paulo state

In Santos, coast of Sao Paulo State, the evaluation of the microbiological quality of the beach water is performed weekly by the Companhia Ambiental do Estado de Sao Paulo (CETESB), the environmental agency of the Sao Paulo state government. However, the same attention is not given to the sand of the beaches. Sand represents a potential contamination vector and may constitute a reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of sands from Santos beaches throughout the quantification of bacteria colonies from the groups of fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli) and Enterococcus, using the membrane filter technique. The analyses were executed monthly during 8 months and the results, expressed in bacteria colony forming units (CFU) per 100 grams of sand, vary from 40,000 to 2,700,000 for E. coli and from not detected to 95,000 for Enterococcus, being above the currently guideline values in national (3,800 CFU.100g(-1)) and international (100,000 CFU.100g(-1)) levels. It's important to mention that these guideline values were based on results from microbiological analyses of sands collected from beaches that are distant from large urban areas. The contact with contaminated sand may cause diseases, provoking impacts on the population's life quality. There is a need for further studies based on epidemiological evidences of exposure and risk analysis, in order to establish quality standards and public policies aimed to monitoring and managing the sanitary quality of sands from Sao Paulo's coast beaches.