- Title: Dispatches
- Date: 25th January 1995
- Summary: This programme investigates the state of British seawater and the worryingly high level of viruses. Research by Dr. Steven Myint,of the University of Leicester is highlighted,which draws on samples from many British beaches. A new type of virus has been identified,Astrovirus,which is found in the blood of people who regularly swim in sea water. Newquay in Cornwall is found to be the worst affected area,with 100,000 per litre. 10 per litre can cause illness. The programme looks into claims that the Water companies are at fault. The Government claims that water is safe,based on information from the Water Research Centre,claims that some scientists from the centre refute. The case of a private beach in Croyde,North Devon,is looked into. South West Water paid compensation and removed its sewage outfall but declined to appear on the programme. Oxwich Bay,South Glamorgan,won an award for cleanliness,though there are claims that the beach caused at least one person's paralysis. South West Water are also being sued for the contamination of mussel farms on The Taw/Torridge Estuary. Even 'Grade A' oysters have been known to cause food poisoning. Jersey is looked at as at the forefront of sewage treatment where 'virus free waters' are advertised. While in Cornwall,even after South West Water's ÌøåÀå?100m scheme to clean,viruses are still present. Leading players: Dr Steven Myint (University of Leicester) Neil hendriksen (sufferer from illness) Prof. Richard Tedder (UCL Hospital) Charles Hopkins (solicitor) Dr. Gareth Rees (Farnborough College of Technology) Prof. David Kay Mike Saltmarsh (owner,Croyde beach) Cassandra Lewis (sufferer from paralysis) Heather Lewis (mother of above) Brian Hill (Mussel farm) Lorraine Frost,Mark Annison (shellfish poisoning) Dr. David Brown (Public Health Laboratory Services) Gerry Jackson (Enviromental chemist) David de Carterer (Jersey Tourism) Chris Massie (Civil Engineer) Prof. Bruce Denness (Ocean Engineering,Univ. of Portsmouth) Paul Siveter (Newquay Hotel and Caterers Assn)
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:Unspecified
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:25/01/1995
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s