WHO in action: risk-free beaches

World Health • 47th Year, No.4, July- August 1994 31 WHO in action Risk·free beaches contain broken glass or rusting cans? Is it flat, sloping or does it drop suddenly into deep water? The guidelines will provide clear expla- nations about what constitutes qual- ity, and offer practical advice on how to achieve it. n WHO 's European Region, more than 100 million people each year use salt-water and fresh-water beaches for their recreation. Naturally, they want to be sure that they can enjoy their beach games or water-sports without the risk of falling ill from diseases caused by contamination or pollution. However, different countries have different ways of measuring water quality standards; most of them foc us only on swimming and bathing as the main activities, and limit themselves to checking only the bacteria con- tents of the water. The "new" coun- tries of Eastern Europe are also wondering what standards they should adopt. The Mediterranean Action Plan- an initiative covering 17 coastal states and involving the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as the WHO Regional Offices for Europe, Africa and the Eastern r. '"t l Mediterranean -laid down the microbiological basis for new, more comprehensive guidelines. Now the WHO Regional Office for Europe is developing broader guidelines for the health-related monitoring of salt and fresh water as well as beaches. Dr Bent Fenger, water and waste scientist at the Rome-based WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, com- ments: "Recreational use does not begin at the water's edge. Beaches themselves are just as important, and guidelines are needed to evaluate their quality as well. Not only that, but service facilities and amenities such as toilets and food vending places have a health significance that needs to be considered." The guidelines will also cover aspects that have hitherto received little attention. While people want bathing water that is free from any risk of infection, they also want "Our final customers are the people who use these recreational resources," says Dr Fenger. "We want to send a clear message to them about what WHO as a health organi- zation recommends as good recre- ational quality." • Further details available from Dr Bent Fenger, W HO European Centre for Environment and Health, Via Vincenzo Bona 67, 00 156 Rome, Italy. Photo Credits Front cover: WHO/ M. Halamandaris/ CARING mogozine Poge 3: WHO/ M. Holamondoris/ CARING magazine; WHO/ A. Bodowi Poge 4: Still Pictures/ J. Schytte ©; WHO/W. Schwab Poge 5: WHO/B. Genier; WHO/E. Schwab; WHO/L. Taylor Poge 6: Still Pictures/ J. Schytte © Poge 7: Mainichi Shinbun, Jopon © Poge 8: WHO/ L. Taylor; WHO/Zafor Poge 9: WHO/Zofor; WHO/ J. & P. Hubley Pages 10 & 11: WHO/Zofor; WHO/ S. Hirst Poge 12: WHO/ N. Rumano Pages 13 & 14: WHO/ M. Holomandaris/ CARING magazine Poge 15: Visiting Nurse SeiVice of New York/ B. Stein © Poge 16: WHO/ M. Holomandoris/ CARING mogozine; WHO/ H. Johnsen; WHO/ Or Dy Poge 17: WHO/ H . Roy; Still Pictures/M. Edwards ©; Visiting Nurse SeiVice of New York© Poge 18: WHO/J. -l. Roy/AKF; WHO/M. Holmondoris/CARING magazine Poge 19: WHO/ D. Henrioud; WHO/ Zofar Page 20: Visiting Nurse SeiVice of New York©; WHO/ G. Oiez Poge 21: WHO/ L. Gubb; WHO/ M. Holomondoris/ CARING mogozine Poge 22: WHO/ G. Oiez Poge 23: WHO/ UNHCR; WHO/ J. -l. Roy/ AKF Poge 24: WHO/ J. Schytte; WHO/ H. Roy/ AKF Page 25: WHO/ J. -l. Roy/ AKF Page 26: WHO/ PAHO/ J. Vizcarra; WHO/Zofor Page 27: WHO/ J. -l. Roy/ AKF; WHO/Zafor Pages 28 & 29 WHO Guidelines will provide precise explanations about what constitutes good quality for bathing water and surroundings. water that does not stink, look cloudy, taste nasty or have oil, scum or litter floating in it. Then there are the physical characteristics of the bathing area. Is the bottom sandy or filled with sharp rocks? Does it Page 30: WHO Photo Campetitian/W. Spiegel© Page 31: L. Sirman© Bock cover: WHO/ J. -l. Roy/ AKF In the next issue As we are approaching the 2 1st cen tury many new develop- ments are emerging in the socio- medical field . The next issue of World Health wi ll describe some of the current trends wh ich are shaping the medicine and the public health scene of tomor- row. • Did you enjoy this issue? Why not take out o subscription to World Health and enjoy reading about the world's major health issues six times a year. 1994 subscription prices are listed below. WHO also offers its popular "Health Horizons' subscription, o combined subscription (at a reduced rate( Ia World Health and the quarterly World Health Forum. 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