Scientists at Oregon State University and Oregon Dept. of Environmenta Quality have recently published a study 'Exposure Assessment and Risk of Gastrointestinal Illness Among Surfers'. The study used a web-based survey to collect responses from hundreds of surfers in Oregon. The results show that surfers ingest more water during a typical recreational day compared to swimmers and divers, and need to be considered in the context of public health or regulatory efforts. While the risk for Oregon surfers was not high for Gastrointestinal Illness (GI), their findings suggest that surfers who spend more time in recreational waters or who surf in highly contaminated locations are likely to be at higher risk of GI illness. The graphic illustration of risk is useful for public health and environmental officials who are responsible for beach sampling and advisory programs. To read the paper click here
Surfer%20Exposure%20Article.pdf