Is pollution a problem on Britain’s beaches?
Untreated sewage, animal waste and byproducts from industry and agriculture are the main contaminants of our beaches. A growing environmental problem is caused by farm waste, such as nitrates and phosphates used in fertilisers, which can bypass the sewage system and end up in rivers and seas. This can lead to a build-up of toxic micro-organisms that can reduce the oxygen in the water and cause fish and other animals to suffocate.
