Health warnings issued when beaches have high levels of bacteria do not keep many surfers out of the water, according to a new study by Oregon State University.
Nearly three in 10 surfers admit they knowingly surf during health advisories – nearly the same amount that chooses not to surf during periods of elevated bacteria. About 40 percent of surfers said they were unaware if they had ever surfed during an active health advisory.
The data can help public officials better warn surfers of potential health risks, said Anna Harding, co-author of the study and professor in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences.
“Beach advisories for bacteria are not having their intended effect of dissuading surfers,” Harding said. “The lack of awareness about advisories – and willingness to take risks surfing in water that may be contaminated – suggests the need to educate surfers about behaviors that make them vulnerable to illness.”
More than 500 surfers from the Pacific Northwest provided information for OSU’s study and spanned a wide range of ages, incomes, surfing frequency and other demographics.
Of those surveyed by OSU, nearly 40 percent reported ear infections or discharge at some point during surfing; 30 percent, a sore throat or cough; 16 percent experienced diarrhea; 10 percent, fever; and 7 percent had vomited. Results were consistent across experience levels and were not lessened by showering after surfing.
Surfing during and after rain also led to higher rates of waterborne illnesses. Surfers are attracted to large waves that accompany a storm, but rain can send fecal bacteria from storm water outfalls into the Pacific Ocean, as well as flush harmful microbes from animal feces present in streams and rivers onto beaches.
“Surfers cannot avoid swallowing water – which can include harmful bacteria – during wipeouts,” Harding said. “They ingest 10 times more ocean water than swimmers, about 170 milliliters a day, or half a can of soda,” she added.
“Health advisories are posted online and on signs around the West Coast. But not every beach entrance has a warning sign, and many surfers do not notice them,” said Dave Stone, co-author of the study and an environmental and molecular toxicology professor in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
“Beach sampling by states is intermittent, tends to lag behind current conditions and cannot cover all waters,” Stone added.
“The best thing surfers can do is pay attention to the weather and where storm water outfalls are located,” said Stone, a toxicologist with OSU Extension. “They should also bookmark beach advisory websites with the latest information.”
“Surfers can go far in minimizing their exposure to microbes just by choosing when and where to surf,” he added.
When an advisory is issued for a particular beach, water contact is discouraged and state websites advise beach-goers to avoid any activities during which they might swallow water, such as swimming, surfing, diving, and kayaking.
Using earplugs during surfing also leads to higher rates of ear infections, OSU researchers found. Generic earplugs tend to let water and bacteria inside the ear, Stone said, and then trap it inside the canal.
OSU’s study was funded by Oregon Sea Grant and is available online in the Journal of Water and Health.
Other takeaways from the study:
Big waves: Surfers like the big waves that come with storms, but all that rain and churn can flush fecal bacteria from storm water discharge and animal feces into the ocean – increasing the chance of getting sick.
Surfer illnesses: About 40 percent of the surfers surveyed reported ear infections or discharge while surfing; 30 percent reporting having a sore throat or cough; 16 percent experienced diarrhea; 10 percent had a fever; and 7 percent vomited.
Wipe-out factor: Surfers swallow up to 10 times more water than the average swimmer .
Advisory notices: The health warnings go up online and also are posted on signs at beaches along the West Coast, but some beach entrances don’t have the signs, so surfers miss them.
Sampling system: States also do sampling only intermittently – that is, not at every beach and often behind the curve of current conditions, so gaps exist.
Best Advice: Pay attention to websites that monitor local beaches where you are planning to surf.