The waters could be contaminated with mix of pesticides, oils, and untreated human and animal waste (Image: PA)
UK beachgoers have been hit with new sewage pollution warnings, with 57 locations across the South West likely to be affected.
The heavy rainfall over the past few days has resulted in a "sewage pollution alert" for 33 beaches in Cornwall and a "pollution risk forecast or incident alert" for 21 others, according to Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).
Based on these calculations, up to 80 per cent of beaches in the area could be contaminated. Popular tourist destinations such as Falmouth and Penzance are among the affected beaches.
SAS defines a pollution alert as "storm sewage being discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours".
A "pollution risk forecast or incident alert" indicates the likelihood of sewage discharge in the area.
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The primary source of contamination in these instances is urban runoff, which consists of a mixture of pesticides, oils, and untreated human and animal waste entering rivers.
This contamination makes it potentially unsafe to enter the water in the affected areas. Swallowing faecal material can be very harmful, resulting in various illnesses such as hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, and other ailments affecting the nose and ears, among others.
Symptoms to watch out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Experts suggest waiting for three days before re-entering the water after rainfall, although more rain is expected in the coming days.
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The situation makes it potentially unsafe to even enter the water (Image: PA)
List of beaches with pollution risk:
Kingsand
Cawsand
Portwrinkle
Downderry
Seaton
Millendreath
East Looe
Readymoney Cove
Polkerris
Par Sands
Shorthorn Beach
Charlestown
Duporth
Porthpean Beach
Pentewan
Portmellon
Gorran Haven Little Perhaver
Porthluney
Pendower
Porthcurnick
Gyllyngvase
Swanpool
Maenporth
Porthallow
Porthoustock
Coverack
Kennack Sands
Polurrian Cove
Poldhu Cove
Perranuthnoe
Marazion
Long Rock
Penzance
Wherry Town
Porthgwidden
Porthkidney
Gwithian Towans
Godrevy Towans
Portreath
Trevaunance Cove
Perranporth
Crantock
Fistral South
Fistral North
Porth
Mawgan Porth
Porthcothan
Harlyn Bay
Trevone Bay
Polzeath
Trebarwith Strand
Crackington Haven
Summerleaze
Crooklets
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