Scientists Clarify: That’s Why It’s Okay To Pee In The Sea
Almost everyone has done it, but it is rarely talked about: quietly and secretly, as far away from other bathers as possible, the bladder is emptied into the vastness of the sea. But is that actually allowed?
And does it harm the sea water? Not at all, say scientists from the American Chemical Society – and even officially endorse peeing in the sea. A study shows that urine is even good for the oceans.
Who doesn’t know this: You’ve chosen a nice, secluded piece of beach, with no loungers to rent and no loud beach bars. And suddenly you have to. The bladder is pressing more and more, but there is no toilet in sight far and wide, and also no forest or bushes where you could quickly disappear. So what to do? Running back the 500 meters to the next public toilet? nope Instead: off to the sea!
Yes, what otherwise only small children are officially allowed to do, enough adults do. Only nobody talks about it. But urinating in the sea is nothing to be ashamed of. At least that’s what the scientists at the American Chemical Society (ACS) say.
There is nothing in urine that is not already there
Our urine consists of 95 percent water (H2O). There are also about one to two grams of sodium and chloride per liter of urine. And sea water? Consists of 96.5 percent H2O and has a higher concentration of sodium and chlorides than urine. Both urine and seawater also contain small amounts of potassium.
The urine hardly matters
Urea is the main waste product of our urine. For one thing, urea is considered non-toxic. Furthermore, the amount of urea that enters the sea from humans is very small. For example, imagine the Atlantic Ocean containing 350 trillion liters (18 zeros after the first digit!) of water. Even if every person on earth were to pee in the Atlantic at the same time, the urea excreted as a result would only account for one 60 trillionth of the total amount of water.
Finding number 2: The amount of urea excreted in the urine is so small that it hardly matters in the vast amounts of water in the oceans.
plant food
Urea contains almost 50 percent nitrogen. Nitrogen combines with water to produce ammonium. This in turn is absorbed as a nutrient by aquatic plants and algae.
Insight number 3: The tiny amounts of urea that enter the sea through humans even benefit the growth of plants.
We swim in urine
What you should not forget: every animal in the sea, no matter how small, also pees in its habitat every day. A whale, for example, releases up to 970 liters of urine into the sea – every day! “So if it won’t do any harm, then certainly don’t do it,” says the American Chemical Society video.
Please not in the pool!
With their video, the ACS scientists are giving mankind a license to empty their bladders into seawater. However, in the end they emphasize: “Peing in the sea is completely okay. But please do not urinate in protected areas such as coral reefs or in smaller bodies of water. Above all: don’t do it in the pool!”
