According to a new study released by Oregon State University surfers “unintentionally ingest 10 times more water than swimmers or divers, putting them at higher risk of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses when surfing in contaminated waters.” Having experience “shit-mouth” while surfing dirty third-world river mouths we believe it.
The results of this Sea Grant study could be useful to public health and environmental officials responsible for beach sampling and advisory thresholds. . . . “On beaches popular with surfers, for example, officials might want to consider lowering the advisory threshold because surfers ingest higher doses of water than swimmers,” said Anna Harding, a professor in the OSU Department of Public Health who collaborated with Stone on the study.
That would be a start. How about lowering the amount of pollution that gets into the ocean in the first place? Until then we’re following the advice of our old social drinking coach: swallow less, spit more.
[Link: KVAL.com]
