The advantages of outdoor water sports like surfing and wild swimming for health and well-being are being embraced by an increasing number of individuals.
But according to studies, agriculture runoff and sewage pollution pose a threat to the freshwaters and coastal areas of the United Kingdom.
Interaction with polluted natural waters can lead to a variety of problems, such as skin rashes, respiratory disorders, diarrhea, cramping in the stomach, and ear infections. It can also expose people to germs that are growing more and more resistant to antibiotics.
The Poo-Sticks project at the University of Exeter is looking for volunteers who frequently swim in rivers and lakes in the UK to learn more about how antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” may enter the bodies of wild swimmers.
The project’s chief researcher, PhD candidate Elitsa Penkova, stated: “Many people have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their stomachs, but they are totally unaware of it.
illnessHowever, the treatment won’t work if the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to antibiotics, which could result in a more serious sickness.
“This is a serious problem, and we hope that our research will contribute to the development of strategies that slow the spread of antibiotic resistance.”
