Abstract
Particle agitation in water can lead to the natural formation of foams along aquatic shores. Foams can accommodate many types of microorganisms, and past research shows they can transfer harmful algal toxins into the atmosphere. The objective of this study was to observe the ability of foams to transmit residing bacterial microorganisms to aerosols. Study sites included five Barnegat Bay and Atlantic Ocean beaches along coastal New Jersey. Bacteria in foams and residing waters were analyzed by swabbing samples collected into sterile Whirl-Pak® bags, and bacteria in foam aerosols and coastal air samples were analyzed by exposing Petri dishes to volatilizing foams and atmospheric conditions (passive culturing). This study found that foams had significantly higher bacterial concentrations compared to their counterpart waters, atmospheres, and aerosols (P < 0.001). A significant relationship between bacteria in foams and their aerosols was also identified; as bacterial concentrations of foams increased, bacteria in their resulting aerosols also increased (R2 = 0.5996, P = 0.0012). This study suggests that foams and their aerosols can transmit airborne bacteria into surrounding coastal communities, therefore posing potential health risks to swimmers, beachgoers, and nearby residents.