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Coastal A-Z [return to Table of Contents] Health Threats From Polluted Coastal Waters  The
Surfrider Foundation has always advised the public never to
swim or surf within 72 hours after a rain. During these periods,
the coastal waters are polluted with urban run off and sewage
from leaking sewer pipes or overflowing sewer manholes. In most
places, and especially in Southern California, ocean water quality
after a rain typically has high concentrations of bacteria and
may also have high concentrations of pesticides, herbicides,
fertilizers, heavy metals, and petroleum products. In Southern California most counties issue a 72-hour advisory after it rains. Unfortunately, they do not post the beaches after a rain. The Orange County Health Care Agency is quoted as saying, "We just assume all surfers know that the water is polluted after it rains." Surfrider thinks increased outreach must be done to warn surfers of the risks. A study cited in EPA's draft guidance document on water quality found that surfers and divers are at greater risk of illness from contact with contaminated beach water than are swimmers or waders . In addition, an epidemiological study in Santa Monica Bay found that there is an increased health risk when swimming within 400 yards of a flowing storm drain. In Southern California you will be hard pressed to find a stretch of surf that isn't near a storm drain. Waters that are polluted may contain several different disease-causing organisms, commonly called pathogens. Enteric pathogens -- those that live in the human intestine - can carry or cause a number of infectious diseases. Swimmers in sewage-polluted water (or even just "normal" urban runoff) could contract any illness that is spread by migration and inadvertent ingestion of fecal-contaminated water. (AIDS and many other diseases are not carried by enteric pathogens.) Viruses are believed to be a major cause of swimming-associated diseases, and are responsible for many cases of gastroenteritis, hepatitis, respiratory illness, and ear, nose, and throat problems. Gastroenteritis, which can also be caused by bacteria, is a common term for a variety of diseases that can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, nausea, headache, and fever. Other microbial diseases that can be contracted by swimmers include salmonellosis, shigellosis, and infection caused by E. coli (a type of enteric pathogen). Other microbial pathogens found at varying concentrations in recreational waters include amoeba and protozoa, which can cause giardiasis, amoebic dysentery, skin rashes, and pink eye. There is also what can be referred to as a "toxic cocktail" of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and other pollutants that are not monitored regularly and the health effects of which are poorly understood. It is important to understand that the typical ocean water monitoring program used by Orange County, CA and most other municipalities consists only of tests for total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus bacteria. No tests for viruses, hydrocarbons, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, metals, or other pollutants are routinely performed. This is another reason we recommend staying out of the water for 72 hours after a rain and always keeping away from flowing storm drains. To learn more visit Surfrider's Water Quality web site section. ------------- Extreme Surfrider examples from last year that resulted from presumed sewage spills: Chris O'Connel had a cut on his arm and went in Mission Bay San Diego after a recent rain. His arm became infected with the Streptococcus bacteria and he almost died. Three operations and two and half weeks in the hospital saved his life. Also, a member of the Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider Foundation became infected with the same bacteria after surfing near the San Gabriel River Mouth. Charles Moore of Long Beach was also hospitalized for two weeks. ------------- Reference: Much of this information was gleaned from NRDC's Testing the Waters 2001 at http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/chap2.asp Additional References: Balarajan, R., Soni Raleigh, V., Yuen, P., Wheeler, D., Machin, D. and Cartwright, R. 1991. Health Risks Associated with Bathing in Sea Water. Brit. Med. J., cited in USEPA's DRAFT Implementation Guidance for Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. V. Cabelli Health Effects Criteria for Marine Recreational Waters. EPA-600/1-84-004, 1983. R. Haile, et al. An Epidemiological Study of Possible Adverse Health Effects of Swimming in Santa Monica Bay. Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, 1996. |
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