Let us take a break from food and exercise, obesity, over medication and sun damage... let's go to the BEACH. I love the ocean. It is calming and peaceful. The ocean is vast, at times still and others turbulent. I go there alone. I go with family. I revigorate with friends.
I am even overcoming my fear of swimming with the fishies(sic)... because the water is often warm and good for my running muscles.
But according to the National Resource Defense Council.. I should be worried about a lot more than the fish. Indeed, we are swimming with much smaller vectors. Microorganisms that carry disease or pathogens, have been a growing problem in our oceans and bays for years with no improvement in the last four years. The disease causing bacteria are mostly accumulated from storm water run off and from sewer system leaks or overflows. In other words, we are getting sick from human and animal waste.. not marine waste.. but waste from our pets and livestock.
Measures to curtail the storm water run off can be put in place with policy and monetary support. Some bills in congress now would enable states and localities to do so.
Other causes of ocean related illness are chemicals, from spills, dumping, and run off as well as harmful algal blooms or HAB. It is not true for example, that red tide is harmless.
The illnesses associated with beach pollution include, but are not limited to, respiratory infections, rashes, hepatitis, dysentery (bloody, mucus filled diarrhea - aren't you glad I said dysentery), stomach flu, and neurological disorders... which include problems with the central, peripheral and or vascular nervous systems. The illnesses can be especially harmful if not fatal to the elderly, children and those with impaired immune systems.
It is best to avoid swimming in the ocean for 24 hours after a significant rainfall.
If you have the opportunity, let your legislators know that you support policy that would address beach pollution.
resource used: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090729.asp
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