Hey coffee lovers, you know that recurring dream where you're swimming in a sea of caffeine? Your subconscious might be onto something.
Hey coffee lovers, you know that recurring dream where you're swimming in a sea of caffeine? Your subconscious might be onto something.
Unfortunately, the reality is a bit less dreamy if its implications mean heightened levels of pollution. A Portland State University study published last month in Marine Pollution Bulletin examined Oregon coastal waters and found elevated amounts of caffeine at some of the sites. The study, "Occurrence and concentration of caffeine in Oregon coastal waters," found that onsite waste disposal systems might be sending contaminants into the region's waters, polluting the ocean.
Although past studies have found caffeine in other bodies of water, this is the first to examine pollution off Oregon's coast.
According to a Washington State University press release, 14 locations were analyzed, and the researchers found that while waste water treatment plants were not a major contributor, "high rainfall and combined sewer overflows flush the contaminants out to sea" and "septic tanks, such as those used at the state parks, may be less effective at containing pollution."
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