The following article comes from Oregonlive.com:
(As if E. coli would be the cause of River Nose anyway)
Columbia River tests show low levels of bacteria
Posted by jholman August 10, 2007 12:42PM
Columbia Riverkeeper's initial tests for E. coli near popular windsurfing sites in the Columbia Gorge show very low levels of the bacteria, the group's water quality specialist said today.
The advocacy group began testing Columbia River water for E. coli this week after a spike in complaints this summer from windsurfers and kiteboarders about "river nose." That's a description for symptoms among heavy river users that can include sinus infections, constant sneezing, cuts that don't heal, nausea and fatigue.
Rachael Pecore of Columbia Riverkeeper is conducting the testing with help from Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality and Willamette Riverkeeper. She and a DEQ specialist tested at four sites in and near Hood River this week.
The highest result for E. coli was a "most probable number" of 7 bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, she said, far lower than federal standards for recreational water of 235 mpn. The lowest state standard, in Vermont, is 77 mpn. At that level, the state predicts that four in 1,000 swimmers will become ill, according to Willamette Riverkeeper.
Some types of E. coli, present in human and animal waste, are harmful. Its presence also can indicate that other harmful germs may be in the water.
It will take at least a month of test results to come up with a firm conclusion about E. coli at the Columbia testing sites, Pecore said. The group plans to continue testing for E. coli through the end of the windsurfing season, usually in October, and to test regularly in future seasons.
This summer, Pecore also plans to test for blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, which can be harmful to humans in some forms, and may move to other bacteria, viruses and toxics.
-- Scott Learn
scottlearn@news.oregonian.com