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Swimming in the USA: beachgoer characteristics and health outcomes at US marine and freshwater beaches
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Swimming in lakes and oceans is popular, but little is known about the demographic characteristics, behaviors, and health risks of beachgoers on a national level. Data from a prospective cohort study of beachgoers at multiple marine and freshwater beaches in the USA were used to describe beachgoer characteristics and health outcomes for swimmers and non-swimmers. This analysis included 54,250 participants. Most (73.2%) entered the water; of those, 65.1% put their head under water, 41.3% got water in their mouth and 18.5% swallowed water. Overall, 16.3% of beachgoers reported any new health problem. Among swimmers, 6.6% reported gastrointestinal (GI) illness compared with 5.5% of non-swimmers (unadjusted χ2p < 0.001); 6.0% of swimmers and 4.9% of non-swimmers reported respiratory illness (p < 0.001); 1.8% of swimmers and 1.0% of non-swimmers reported ear problems (p < 0.001); and 3.9% of swimmers and 2.4% of non-swimmers experienced a rash (p < 0.001). Overall, swimmers reported a higher unadjusted incidence of GI illness and earaches than non-swimmers. Current surveillance systems might not detect individual cases and outbreaks of illness associated with swimming in natural water. Better knowledge of beachgoer characteristics, activities, and health risks associated with swimming in natural water can improve disease surveillance and prioritize limited resources.
- Subjects :
- Microbiology (medical)
Disease surveillance
Ecology
business.industry
Natural water
Incidence (epidemiology)
Oceans and Seas
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Outbreak
Fresh Water
Health outcomes
Bathing Beaches
Article
United States
Infectious Diseases
Environmental health
Medicine
Humans
Prospective cohort study
business
Waste Management and Disposal
Swimming
Water Science and Technology
Cohort study
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....06e932ec4dd7ff6d9b3fd7a211b9329f