RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESSES

The safety of recreational waters is affected by numerous variables as the microbiological and chemical quality of water, the number and health conditions of the users, the correct functioning of all technological installations used for water treatment. By evaluating the various health risks related to exposure to swimming pools, spas and surface waters, this Special Issue contributes to address the necessary risk-informed approach for the proper management of waters used for recreational purposes, both in natural and built environments. The Issue contains 12 scientific papers. The first four, three of those are literature reviews, illustrate the epidemiological picture of infections related to recreational waters, by describing cases and outbreaks caused by both traditional and emerging microorganisms. The next four papers concern the microbiological water monitoring of swimming pools, gardens, estuarine areas, therapeutic spas. Two of these also analyse the distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the associated transmission risk. The relationship between microbial indicators and pathogens in recreational water is analysed by the next two papers, one of which is an experimental study on the survival of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in estuarine bank sediments and the other is an exhaustive literature review. The last paper is focused on the development of microbiological risk control approaches, including the application of traditional and innovative technologies.