Beach Sand Can Cause Diarrhea
Adults and their children who dig in the sand at the beach are at an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea due to fecal matter in the sand. Children are particularly vulnerable because, after playing in the sand they tend to put hands in their mouths, according to the experts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Individuals who build beach castles and while playing bury their bodies in the sand, are at even greater risk, according to the study authors. "We have known about water-associated illnesses for some time," said Chris Heaney, Ph.D., a postdoctoral epidemiology student at UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health and a principal investigator of the study. "And we have known for some time that beach sand can contain indicators of fecal contamination, but we have not understood what that means for people playing in the sand," Heaney added. This research appears to be the first to demonstrate that there is a link between specific sand contact activities and illnesses.
The conclusions are based on interviews with more than 27,000 people who visited seven freshwater and marine beaches on the Great Lakes, the Gulf Coast, and in Rhode Island between 2003 and 2005, as well as in 2007. Researchers specifically chose sites where solid waste was discharged within seven miles. The quality of water at the beaches was within acceptable limits.
During the study, the investigators asked all the participants about their contact with sand on the day they were on the beach. The questions included whether they were digging in the sand or whether they were burying themselves in it. After that, between 10 to 12 days later, the surveyors were telephoned and asked if they have developed any health issues since their last visit to the beach.
These follow-up interviews have revealed that several days after their beach visit, some beach goers developed gastrointestinal diseases, as well as upper respiratory illnesses, skin rash, eye ailments, earache and infected cuts. Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal conditions were more common in about 13 per cent of individuals who said that they were digging in sand, and in nearly 23 per cent of those who said that they were buried in sand.
According to Tim Wade, Ph.D., an EPA epidemiologist and a lead author of the study, people should not be discouraged from enjoying playing in the sand at the beach, but should take precautions, such as using a hand sanitizer or washing their hands after digging in the sand.
A lot of people like to spend time at the beach, especially in the summertime, the investigators said. They added that in spite of the fact that only a small percentage of individuals who played at the beach developed health issues at a later time - less than 10 per cent in any age group, for any amount of exposure - it is still critical to look at the situation more closely. "If we find evidence that shows exposure to sand really does lead to illness, then we can look for the sources of contamination and minimize it. That will make a day at the beach a little less risky," the experts concluded.
