Methods for Sanitary Inspection of Microbiological and Parasitary Quality of Water and Sand of Recreation Areas

Recreation areas have primary environmental contact matrices (water and sand) with the population and therefore need to be monitored periodically,dueto to the risks to human and animal health posed by the potencial presence of pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this work was to recommend methods which can be used in the investigation of bioindicators of importance in the area of environmental sanitation, and discussed the standards used in the legal regulations to support the monitoring, which ensure the actions of the environmental and health systems. Protocols used in scientific research and by sanitation companies and bibliographic reviews were described. In Brazil, the National Council for the Environment has determined the acceptable standard limits for coliforms found in the water matrix used for bathing only. There are simply recommendations for the environmental agencies the evaluation of the parasitological and microbiological quality of the sand for future standardizations. Isolated initiatives of municipal environmental agencies established classification limits for sand matrix, considering only the bacteriological parameters. We recommend incorporating new protocols for evaluation of environmental sanitary conditions. The protocols proposed for evaluation of the presence of fungi and parasites can be used to determine the sanitary quality of the recreation areas.