Health Threats from Polluted Coastal Waters

Introduction

Recreational use of ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean remains immensely popular in the U.S. and includes activities such as swimming, surfing, snorkeling, paddling, and diving. According to the National Survey on Recreation and Environment (NSRE), more than 143 million people in the U.S. (61% of the population over the age 16) use surface waters to engage in non-motorized water sports. While some pollutants in the water are easily identifiable and avoidable, such as plastic and garbage, unseen microbial threats continue to pose serious risk to recreational water users health.

Health Effects

Swimming in polluted water exposes recreational users to these disease causing microorganisms, called pathogens, which are associated with a range of enteric and non-enteric illnesses. Enteric simply means residing in the human intestines, and the most common recreational water illness (RWI) is acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI). AGI Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, and fever. Many different types of pathogens in polluted water (such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) can cause AGI and other serious infectious diseases.

In addition to AGI, bacterial exposure can cause salmonellosis and cholera, viruses can cause respiratory infections and hepatitis, and protozoans can cause dysentery, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis. Although rare, deadly infectious agents such as MRSA, V. Vulnificus (“flesh-eating bacteria”), and Leptospira can be contracted from swimming in polluted recreational waters.

Non-enteric illnesses include ear, eyes, nose, and throat infections. Fortunately, most RWI cases are mild and non-serious. AGI typically requires little-to-no treatment and generally does not have long-term health effects. However, vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with weak immune symptoms are more likely to develop severe illness when infected. Those who frequent the water more often, like avid swimmers and surfers, also face an increased risk of infection. Although RWIs are generally mild, they are uncomfortable and widespread.

Researchers estimate that 90 million RWIs occur annually and cost the U.S. economy $2.2-$3.7 billion each year. Furthermore, a recent meta-analysis of 19 research studies was conducted on the risk of RWI infections for bathers vs non-bathers (“bathing” was defined as any recreational activity taking place in or on natural bodies of untreated water, such as the sea and lakes). The results were statistically significant and provide the strongest evidence to date of this association. The study found that bathers had a 86% higher risk of developing any symptoms of illness, a 105% increased risk for ear ailments, and a 29% risk increase for AGI compared to non-bathers. 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.

Extreme Health Effects

Transworld Surf has published an article Seven Surf Sicknesses which are actually a mixture of illnesses and the pathogens that cause illnesses. Their list is: MRSA, Hepatitis A, Encephalitis and Meningitis, Gastroentiritis, Vibrio Vulnificus, Leptospirosis, and Unknown and Bizarre illnesses.

Personal examples of extreme health effects from exposure to polluted runoff and/or sewage spills include:

• Long time Sunset Cliffs (San Diego) surfer Barry Ault contacted a massive staph infection and died within a few days of surfing after a major rain event.
• In October 2016 CBS News reported that 67-year-old Mike Funk died from a vibrio vulnificus infection after entering the water at Assawoman Bay in Ocean City, Maryland with an open sore on his leg. Maryland health officials stated they they deal with at least 30 to 50 reports of vibrio each year–some fatal.
• Chris O'Connel had a cut on his arm and went in Mission Bay, San Diego after a rain event. 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.
• 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.
• A long-time Surfrider Legal Issues Team member nearly had to have his foot amputated after a blister (and subsequent surfing) turned into a nasty MRSA infection (see Staph Infections).
• Mike Rhodes, another long-time Surfrider Legal Issues Team member, developed a massive ear infection and build-up of fluid in the inner ear after surfing in Del Mar, CA after a rain.
• A young surfer was reportedly diagnosed with Bell's Palsey after surfing in the Cardiff, CA area shortly after a rain event.
• Surfer Timmy Turner nearly died after an aggressive staph infection attacked his brain.

Marine Life is Affected Too!

Sea Otters, Dolphins and other marine life are also affected by pollutants that are discharged into the ocean. In fact, because they spend all their life in the ocean and subsist entirely on food from the ocean, they are more vulnerable to pollutants and infectious agents than humans. This National Geographic article explores some of the issues and specific pollutant threats.

References

Learn more about the problem with CSOs in NYC and how green infrastructure is being applied as a solution.

Some of this information was gleaned from NRDC's Testing the Waters reports.

A Threat to Human Health (American Rivers)

Effects of Sewage-Contaminated Water on Human Health, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) at the University of Miami.

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 Implementation Guidance for Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 2004.

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.

Other Resources & Factsheets

Health threats from ocean pollution by DIVE.in.

Global water pollution issues from Waterlogic's 29 Scary Facts About Global Water Pollution infographic.

This article is part of a series on Clean Water which looks at various threats to the water quality of our oceans, and the negative impacts polluted waters can have on the environment and human health.

For information about laws, policies, programs and conditions impacting water quality in a specific state, please visit Surfrider's State of the Beach report to find the State Report for that state, and click on the "Water Quality" indicator link.