RESEARCH AND THE PROBLEMS OF LITTER AND MEDICAL WASTES ON THE UK COASTLINE

Recent research has shown that recreational water and bathing beach qu ality are associated with injury, infection and personal well-being, C ontinued surveillance is essential to audit the environmental and asso ciated health trends, In the Coastwatch UK project and since 1989, ann ual surveys each autumn have been undertaken during a two-week study p eriod, into the extent of littering of the UK coastline. The Public He alth Laboratory Service also collects data on the use of hepatitis B i mmunoglobulin. In these studies it is now possible to examine time tre nds, The findings are not reassuring. They help to justify present con cern about the health effects of discarded litter and medical waste an d fears that environmental degradation could lead to loss of income fr om tourism, In response, some health and local authorities have starte d public education programmes, supplying litter bins on or near bathin g beaches, emptying them regularly and undertaking beach cleansing dur ing the summer months, The UK government is also introducing new legis lation that will require 6 mm fine mesh wire screens on all shore-base d sewage outlets around the UK coastline. Continued monitoring is need ed to assess the effectiveness of these interventions, The need for gr eater personal responsibility is particularly identified.