After reading an article in the monthly newsletter from the Surfrider Foundation (South Florida Chapter), I was in shock to find out the recent findings. As you all know (I hope), our waters are becoming contaminated because we still dispose our disgusting human waste in our own beaches. But did you know that even though the disposal is done miles away from shore, it still reaches us and causes illnesses? Recent research shocked me and shows how hazardous this can be.
“Children and adults who build castles and dig in the sand at the beach are at greater risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea than people who only walk on the shore or swim in the surf, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Environmental Protection Agency.” (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709204841.htm)
We focus so much on the water quality and hardly put into perspective that the sand may also be contaminated. Does any town test the quality of the sand? Hopefully soon everyone does. I always thought of the beach of being a place to heal the body and relax. Now it’s a complete different story. I’m gonna stock up on hand sanitizer for my next visit to the beach and put Dylan in a bubble. There goes the idea of a summer vacation on the local beach and building sandcastles. The last thing I need after eliminating Dylan’s allergies is for him to develop an illness.
“Researchers found evidence of gastrointestinal illnesses, upper respiratory illnesses, rash, eye ailments, earache and infected cuts. Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses were more common in about 13 percent of people who reported digging in sand, and in about 23 percent of those who reported being buried in sand.” (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709204841.htm)
If you are a local and interested in stopping these types of activities log on to www.surfrider.org to join! Don’t swim in your own poop!
Tags: fecal contamination, florida beach, florida sand, gastrointestinal illness, surfrider foundation