Polluted beach sand can cause disease

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Beachgoers who stay out of the water in polluted areas and play in the sand are more likely to get sick than swimmers, a U.S. study finds.

A research team headed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tracked people who visited two beaches, one in Warwick. R.I., and the other in Fairhope, Ala., the Los Angeles Times reported. Both beaches are near the outfalls of sewage treatment plants.

The team took samples of wet sand from both beaches and tested them for pathogens.

Researchers also asked 5,000 visitors to the beaches about their activities. Two weeks later, they called them to find out if they had become sick.

While the link between swimming in polluted water and developing gastrointestinal disease has been known for years, this study was the first to link illness to sand fouled by polluted water.

"The symptoms we observed are usually mild and should not deter people from enjoying the beach," said Timothy Wade, head of the Environmental Public Health Division Epidemiology Branch and the senior author of the study. "But they should consider washing their hands or using a hand sanitizer after playing in the sand or water."