Hang tight, surfer friends. The future of your ocean adventures is at stake.
The photo series, “Hazmat Surfing,” by Dyrland Productions draws attention to what the future of surfing could like if we continue to pollute oceans recklessly.
Washington-based Michael Dyrland created the series in reaction to polluted Southern Californian waters he encountered during a 2015 visit. Rather than ride the waves, Dyrland was confined beachside after a rain storm filled the ocean before him with billions of tons of urban toxic runoff.
As most California beach-goers know, it’s best to stay out of the water for 72 hours post-heavy rains because storm drains from city streets carry untreated debris, chemicals, animal feces, and general city crud straight to the sea. People exposed to these contaminated waters can develop sicknesses from flu-like fevers and aches, to ear, eye, nasal, and skin infections. Some surfers with prolonged exposure to tainted waters have even contracted staph infections, respiratory illnesses, MRSA, and Hepatitis C.
Unfortunately, untreated urban runoff is only one source of ocean pollution, and humans aren’t the only ones at risk. Sea life is threatened by everything from millions of tons of plastic to deadly underwater noise pollution to acidification from our warming climate. We can’t always see how we’re contaminating their marine habitats, but we can help protect the place animals call home and that we sometimes call one tubular ride.
Help NRDC be an ocean defender.
Beach lovers and surfers especially want more swells, not a total pollution wipeout.
