Children and Sand Play: Screening of Potential Harmful Microorganisms in Sandboxes, Parks, and Beaches

Daniela Romão; Raquel Sabino; Cristina Veríssimo; Carla Viegas; Helena Barroso; Aida Duarte; Helena Solo-Gabriele; Nina Gunde-Cimerman; Monika Novak Babič; Tal Marom; João Brandão

doi:10.1007/s12281-015-0230-5

Children and Sand Play: Screening of Potential Harmful Microorganisms in Sandboxes, Parks, and Beaches

Daniela Romão, Raquel Sabino, Cristina Veríssimo, Carla Viegas, Helena Barroso, Aida Duarte, Helena Solo-Gabriele, Nina Gunde-Cimerman, Monika Novak Babič, Tal Marom, João Brandão

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sand serves as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Children, a high-risk group, can acquire infections from sand in sandboxes, recreational areas, and beaches. This paper reviews the microbes in sands, with an emphasis on fungi. Recreational areas and beach sands have been found to harbor many types of fungi and microbes. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi. After establishing that sand is a reservoir for fungi, clinical manifestations of fungal infections are described with an emphasis on ocular and ear infections. Overall, we recommend environmental studies to develop monitoring strategies for sand and studies to evaluate the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	155-163
Number of pages	9
Journal	Current Fungal Infection Reports
Volume	9
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-015-0230-5
Publication status	Published - 17 Sept 2015

Keywords

Children
Fungi
Infection
Pathogenic microorganisms
Sand

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s12281-015-0230-5

Cite this

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title = "Children and Sand Play: Screening of Potential Harmful Microorganisms in Sandboxes, Parks, and Beaches",

abstract = "Sand serves as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Children, a high-risk group, can acquire infections from sand in sandboxes, recreational areas, and beaches. This paper reviews the microbes in sands, with an emphasis on fungi. Recreational areas and beach sands have been found to harbor many types of fungi and microbes. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi. After establishing that sand is a reservoir for fungi, clinical manifestations of fungal infections are described with an emphasis on ocular and ear infections. Overall, we recommend environmental studies to develop monitoring strategies for sand and studies to evaluate the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts.",

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doi = "10.1007/s12281-015-0230-5",

language = "English",

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AU - Romão, Daniela

AU - Sabino, Raquel

AU - Veríssimo, Cristina

AU - Viegas, Carla

AU - Barroso, Helena

AU - Duarte, Aida

AU - Solo-Gabriele, Helena

AU - Gunde-Cimerman, Nina

AU - Babič, Monika Novak

AU - Marom, Tal

AU - Brandão, João

PY - 2015/9/17

Y1 - 2015/9/17

N2 - Sand serves as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Children, a high-risk group, can acquire infections from sand in sandboxes, recreational areas, and beaches. This paper reviews the microbes in sands, with an emphasis on fungi. Recreational areas and beach sands have been found to harbor many types of fungi and microbes. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi. After establishing that sand is a reservoir for fungi, clinical manifestations of fungal infections are described with an emphasis on ocular and ear infections. Overall, we recommend environmental studies to develop monitoring strategies for sand and studies to evaluate the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts.

AB - Sand serves as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Children, a high-risk group, can acquire infections from sand in sandboxes, recreational areas, and beaches. This paper reviews the microbes in sands, with an emphasis on fungi. Recreational areas and beach sands have been found to harbor many types of fungi and microbes. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi. After establishing that sand is a reservoir for fungi, clinical manifestations of fungal infections are described with an emphasis on ocular and ear infections. Overall, we recommend environmental studies to develop monitoring strategies for sand and studies to evaluate the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts.

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KW - Fungi

KW - Infection

KW - Pathogenic microorganisms

KW - Sand

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Children and Sand Play: Screening of Potential Harmful Microorganisms in Sandboxes, Parks, and Beaches

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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