The pressure group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has identified 16 beaches in Cornwall that it deems at risk of pollution following heavy rain. It says the waters around Looe, Newquay, Penzance and several others are likely to be affected.
It says that the chief contributing factor to polluted beaches is urban runoff, which sees fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and untreated human and animal waste all entering waterways, such as rivers, with the contaminants winding up on beaches and in the sea.
Pollutants and contaminants tend to stay on or close to the surface of the water, making it potentially dangerous to swim, dive or surf, reports CornwallLive.
READ MORE Devon beaches deemed a pollution risk after heavy rainfall
According to Surf Today, some experts even suggest waiting 72 hours before entering the sea again after it rains. Swallowing water that could be contaminated with faecal matter could lead to gastroenteritis, hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, nose, ear, and throat problems, pink eye, and other respiratory illnesses.
Symptoms to look out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.
Cornish beaches marked as pollution risks
Kingsand
Seaton (Pollution risk warning)
East Looe
Readymoney Cove
Polstreath
Portmellon
Porthluney (Pollution risk warning)
Long Rock
Crantock
Porth
Harlyn Bay
Trebarwith Strand
Crackington Haven
Widemouth Bay
Summerleaze (Pollution risk warning)
Crooklets (Pollution risk warning)
To find out more and to see where is safe to swim visit Surfers Against Sewage's website here.
