Rainfall-driven dynamics of faecal pollution in river bathing sites: coupling hydrological events, and DNA-assisted tracking to improve pollution management in recreational waters.

Isabel Douterelo, Steve Juggins, Laura Díaz Garcia, Carlos Rubio Paniagua, Isabel Volz, Rick Battarbee

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Isabel DoutereloSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Steve JugginsSchool of Geography, Politics & Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Laura Díaz GarciaSchool of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Carlos Rubio PaniaguaSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Isabel VolzSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Rick BattarbeeEnvironmental Change Research Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study assesses the use of Microbial Source Tracking (MST) alongside 16S rRNA gene sequencing to overcome the limitations of Faecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB) in rivers by enabling source attribution of faecal pollution, improving microbial risk assessment, and supporting more effective bathing water management. During the 2023 bathing season, weekly samples were collected by citizen scientists at two River Wharfe sites: the Cromwheel, the Environment Agency's (EA) bathing monitoring site upstream of the Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works (STW), and the Stepping Stones, downstream of the STW. Samples for DNA analysis were taken concurrently with the EA statutory FIB monitoring. The EA measured water physico-chemical parameters and modelled rainfall upstream in the catchment. DNA-based analyses included Microbial Source Tracking (MST) using droplet digital-PCR (ddPCR) to quantify general, human, and ruminant

Indexed as

bacterial communitybathing water qualitycitizen science monitoringmicrobial source trackingriver management strategiesstormwater impacts

Identifiers

PMID42639420

DOI10.3389/fmicb.2026.1796625

PMCPMC13501524

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.