Spring Break
Swallowing ocean water hazardous to Oregon surfers
Although Oregon waters are cleaner than most, surfers can experience GI tract infections due to ingesting excess water
Regi Seitz
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: News
Avid surfers learn to dodge rip tides, hazardous rocks and powerful undertows, but a danger many surfers haven't anticipated from a serious wipeout is swallowing too much water.
Scientists from OSU and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have teamed up to create a unique study that examines the amount of water surfers ingest.
"Overall results indicate that surfers ingest 10 times more water compared with swimmers," said David Stone, assistant professor of environmental and molecular toxicology.
Accidentally swallowing contaminated water puts surfers at a higher risk of getting gastrointestinal illnesses, ear or sinus infections. But the study suggests that because Oregon beaches are not as highly contaminated as surfing spots in other states, the risk of GI illness is lower among Oregon surfers.
"There have been a number of studies done with swimmers, but none with surfers," said Anna Harding, a professor in the department of public health.
The survey was web-based and was posted on an OSU site, which was linked to Surfrider Foundation and Oregon Surf, according to Harding. Surfers were asked to estimate the amount of water they ingested. Answers ranged from a few drops, one to three teaspoons, the amount in a shot glass or the amount in a small juice glass.
"I do surf often, but so far I have only gotten one infection due to the quality of the water," said Eric Horbatiuk, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering. "I got my ear infection surfing right after a heavy rainfall in the winter, and all the storm drains from the nearby houses were running directly into the ocean."
Other questions included frequency of ingestion, as well as frequency of surfing and location of surfing route.
"The survey was posted from May through July 2007, with 519 participants," Stone said.
Participants were also recruited through surf shops, where interested surfers were directed to the website.
"Surfers are always online checking the weather and surf conditions, so doing the survey on the web went very well," Harding said. "Within two months we had about 520 unique responses, and we expected to have that many in about six months."
Scientists from OSU and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have teamed up to create a unique study that examines the amount of water surfers ingest.
"Overall results indicate that surfers ingest 10 times more water compared with swimmers," said David Stone, assistant professor of environmental and molecular toxicology.
Accidentally swallowing contaminated water puts surfers at a higher risk of getting gastrointestinal illnesses, ear or sinus infections. But the study suggests that because Oregon beaches are not as highly contaminated as surfing spots in other states, the risk of GI illness is lower among Oregon surfers.
"There have been a number of studies done with swimmers, but none with surfers," said Anna Harding, a professor in the department of public health.
The survey was web-based and was posted on an OSU site, which was linked to Surfrider Foundation and Oregon Surf, according to Harding. Surfers were asked to estimate the amount of water they ingested. Answers ranged from a few drops, one to three teaspoons, the amount in a shot glass or the amount in a small juice glass.
"I do surf often, but so far I have only gotten one infection due to the quality of the water," said Eric Horbatiuk, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering. "I got my ear infection surfing right after a heavy rainfall in the winter, and all the storm drains from the nearby houses were running directly into the ocean."
Other questions included frequency of ingestion, as well as frequency of surfing and location of surfing route.
"The survey was posted from May through July 2007, with 519 participants," Stone said.
Participants were also recruited through surf shops, where interested surfers were directed to the website.
"Surfers are always online checking the weather and surf conditions, so doing the survey on the web went very well," Harding said. "Within two months we had about 520 unique responses, and we expected to have that many in about six months."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.