Maintained by

A global health crisis on our coasts

Many scientists believe we face a global health crisis from sewage, whether bathing in polluted seas or eating contaminated fish. Even in lightly contaminated waters bathers may be at risk.

The problems are all local, but the impact is global. The estimated 250 million cases of gastro-enteritis and upper respiratory disease from bathing in polluted seas reduce active life by as many years as diphtheria and leprosy.

The global burden on human health from eating sewage-contaminated shellfish is comparable to all upper respiratory infections and intestinal worm diseases. Around 25,000 people die, while liver damage and infectious hepatitis from this source costs world society an estimated US$ 10 billion a year.