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A special warning to Southern California surfers
by Pat Zabrocki
01/12/2007:// Simply put, STAY OUT OF THE OCEAN!
Most surfers in southern California realize that the runoff from land into the ocean after a rain is full of trash, residues from animal poop, fertilizers and oil from streets. Local governments and environmental groups issue a “General Advisory” to stay out of the ocean after 0.2” or more rainfall to alert the public of ocean water contamination by urban runoff.
Today, November 30, 2007 is not a normal day of rain.
For at LEAST the three days after today’s rain (likely up to five or seven) the ocean will contain extremely high levels of toxins that the environment and our bodies are not accustomed to. Here is why:
1) The ash from the fires not only contains residues from plant material (including poison oak) but also from the homes, electronics, cars, paints, chemicals, plastics, fire retardants, etc that were burned. As the ingredients from all the ash are mixed in water, the concoction turns very toxic.
2) Fires increase the runoff and flooding from wildland burned areas, as the vegetation has been removed and the soil hydrologic properties have been altered.
As an environmental consultant Pat is very aware of the conditions of their surroundings. He is also aware that nobody has EVER done testing of how much toxins are in the water and what they have on the environment or on surfers.
The potential for harm is high and he feels a responsibility to spread the knowledge about this condition.
Please heed this warning and do not be a guinea pig. Contact your local health officials to determine when it may be safe to go surfing again.
For more information on Pat Zabrocki and his efforts to further “green” surfing visit:
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