UK seashores the place physician says swimming may current threat to well being
Sea swimming has lengthy been thought of an exercise good to your well being, with analysis displaying it has advantages for each your psychological and bodily wellbeing.
However, with growing stories that the water at sure seashores within the UK is contaminated on account of air pollution, one physician has warned of the varied sicknesses you possibly can be liable to.
Speaking solely with Express.co.uk, Doctor Deborah Lee from the Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, mentioned: “The sea becomes polluted when run-off rainwater and untreated sewage are released into the seawater and it becomes contaminated with pathogenic organisms – germs that are harmful to human health.
“Untreated sewage is liquid waste containing human faeces, literally teeming with bacteria and viruses. It could also be farm waste, carrying microorganisms from pigs, sheep, cows and chickens and their excrement.
“The highest concentration of microbes will be at the site where the spill went into the water. Sea pollution is also caused by litter and animal excrement left behind on beaches.”
What sicknesses may we be uncovered to?
Dr Lee defined that greater than 100 pathogenic viruses are present in human and animal faeces.
“As a result of sewage dumping, these find their way into seawater, estuaries, and rivers. Any of these pathogens can cause illness in humans,” she mentioned.
“The most common cause of illness in humans are coliform bacteria and enteroviruses.
“Dumping waste in the sea means it becomes a cocktail of pathogens. Some specific strains of coliforms (E.coli) produce toxins which cause hemorrhagic enterocolitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
“Enteroviruses, noroviruses, adenovirus, coxsackie virus, poliovirus, rotavirus and hepatitis A viruses are all found in polluted seawater.
“Salmonella, clostridium, klebsiella, and giardia are also present – and all can cause gastroenteritis.
“Cyanobacteria are blue-green algae found in seawater that are toxic, also causing diarrhoea and vomiting, headaches, muscle and joint pain.”
She warned of the next sicknesses and their signs to look out for:
- Gastroenteritis – tummy ache, illness and diarrhoea, which when extreme can result in dehydration and collapse
- Hepatitis – hepatitis A causes ache within the higher proper a part of the stomach, lack of urge for food, nausea, vomiting, and yellow jaundice with yellowy pores and skin and eyes, pale stools and dark-coloured urine
- Meningitis – coxsackie virus could cause meningitis, hand foot and mouth illness, and conjunctivitis
- Respiratory infections – colds and flu-like sicknesses, infections of the inside and outer ear, throat infections, and chest infections
- Eye infections – conjunctivitis, keratitis
- Skin illness – cercarial dermatitis (swimmer’s itch) is a rash brought on by an allergic response to the larvae of a parasitic flatworm, which could be acquired from swimming in contaminated water.
She mentioned: “Look out for symptoms which come on soon – often within a few hours – of swimming in the sea.
“The most common symptoms are tummy pain, feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, a skin rash, a sore throat, sore ears, cough or cold, flu-like symptoms, or pink eye.”
Which seashores within the UK are notably dangerous for swimming?
The Environment Agency, which displays water high quality at UK seashores, advises against swimming at the following beaches in England:
- St Mary’s Bay, Kent
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex
- Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach, Dorset
- Watcombe, Devon
- Dunster Beach, Devon
- Instow, Cornwall
- Rock Beach, Cornwall
- Ilfracombe, Devon
- Burnham Jetty North, Somerset
- Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay, Somerset
- Weston Main, Somerset
- Wolvercote Mill Stream, Oxfordshire
- Blackpool North, Lancashire
- Wharfe at Cromwell, Yorkshire
- Tunstall, Yorkshire
- Scarborough South Bay, Yorkshire
- Bridlington South Beach, Yorkshire
- Tynemouth Cullercoats, Tyneside
- Heacham, Norfolk
- Allonby South, Cumbria
- Silloth, Cumbria
- Clacton, Essex.
In comparability, in response to businesswaste.co.uk, the highest 10 seashores for swimming within the UK (primarily based on their ranges of E.coli within the water) are:
- Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall
- Shell Bay, Dorset
- Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset
- Kennack Sands, Cornwall
- Durdle Door East, Dorset
- Constantine Bay, Cornwall
- Combesgate Beach, Devon
- Church Cove, Cornwall
- Poole Shore Road Beach, Dorset
- Praa Sands East, Cornwall.
Dr Lee added: “Unfortunately, the risk of acquiring an infection from swimming in the sea is very real.
“Surfers Against Sewage conducted a survey in May 2022. They found that over 50 percent of those who had participated in wild water and open water swimming had become unwell.
“By far and away the most common illness was gastroenteritis, but ear, nose and throat infections, viral illnesses, respiratory conditions and skin rashes were also common.
“Before you go for a swim in the sea, it’s best to check the quality of the water by checking on the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs website.
“When you arrive at the beach, look for the blue flag which should ensure the water is safe. Look for safety notices and don’t swim if there is a warning not to do so.”