by Hoyt SmithIf you spend ANY time in the ocean, there are some things you need to know ...
onsider the lure of the chocolate tube: The days immediately
following a storm are often when the surf is at its best. Unfortunately,
it's also a time when sewage spills and urban run-off pollute the local
shoreline, creating the highest risk of illness or infection. Yet few wave-starved
surfers can resist the appetizing site of a brown, muddy barrel.
That chocolate tube may look good, says John Crumb of
the Surfrider Foundation, but you don't want to eat it out there."Anywhere we have a storm water outfall, or a river
mouth or lagoon opening, we suggest avoiding contacting the water for up
to three days after it rains," says Crumb, who along with other Surfrider
volunteers conducts weekly bacteria tests at eight surf sites in San Diego
County.Public health officials concur. There are numerous risks associated with surfing in sewage discharge, says Kathy Stone, Environmental Health Specialist with the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.
"The number one threat is hepatitis, because you
get it for life," says Stone. "Then there are intestinal diseases;
ear and nose viruses and bacteria; sinus and ear infections; shigella, typhoid,
cholera, E. coli and others I hate to think of. There may be some diseases
out there we don't even know." Stone mentions a Navy diver who claims
he contracted the flesh-eating streptococcus bacteria recently in San Diego
waters, though experts from the Center for Disease Control say the possibility
is highly unlikely.Nonetheless, epidemiologists agree that new, drug-resistant
diseases are appearing almost daily, and old diseases such as cholera and
tuberculosis, once though extinct, are reappearing. Combine that trend with
the fact that San Diego County has had more beach closures than any other
County in the United States in the past two years (727 in 1993 alone), and
the threat to public health is apparent. How many surfers are there in the
local food service industry who may travel directly from polluted beaches
to the restaurants where they work, exposing dozens of others to potential
illness?Another problem is that one can't assume that surfers
will act in their own self interest. There is already a high risk factor
inherent to the sport. Many surfers regularly chance drowning. Why should
they fear the possibility of illness?"I would say about 90 percent of surfers don't
really care, or even know if there is danger in the water," says Crumb.
Ironically it is surfers, more than anyone else in the ocean, who should
be the most concerned.There is very little dilution of pollutants within the
surf zone, according to Oceanographer Mia Tegner of the Scripps Institution
of Oceanography. "Because oncoming waves act to concentrate contaminants
along the shore, coliform concentrations are often highest in the surf zone,"
says the marine research biologist.Polluted waters aren't always obvious. Surfers shouldn't
count exclusively on posted warning signs to deter them from contaminated
surf. Though sewage treatment facilities are required by law to report leaks
and spills, such problems aren't always immediately identified. Coliform
testing often requires 72 hours, and it may take up to three days before
a dirty beach is quarantined."You can't tell (polluted water) by looking at
it," says Stone. "You can have the clearest water, and [the bacteria
counts] can still go off the Richter scale. That's happened to me a few
times at Mission Bay."How then, can the surfer minimize his or her exposure
to pollution-borne disease? Just say no to those chocolate tubes."Use some common sense," says Tegner. Avoid
surfing near river mouths, bay and lagoon inlets, or drainpipes after it
rains.Obey all quarantine signs (you can get a ticket if you
don't). Check with the lifeguard regarding beach closures, or contact the
Surfrider Foundation. They now publish their water testing results in their
bimonthly newsletter.Additionally, it is probably wise to wear earplugs and
avoid swallowing ocean water. Shower off with soap and water, as soon as
possible after surfing in questionable waters. If an illness does occur
and appears to be related to surfing, report it to the Environmental Health
Department (see phone numbers on page 4). Support ecological-minded businesses
and organizations. Get involved with Surfrider, the Sierra Club, and other
environmental groups working to create long-term solutions."I think our ocean is basically in pretty good
shape," says Tegner, who is an avid scuba diver. "That's not to
say that we don't have problems, but by using common sense and working together,
I think we can protect ourselves and our natural resources."
