by What happens when you pee in a lake
“When you urinate, the urethra opens and this water has direct access to your bladder,” says Fosnight. This is especially worrying for people with a vulva or people who are defined as female at birth, as they have a shorter urethra making them more susceptible to bacteria entering the bladder. When bacteria enter the urethra, you may develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) that requires antibiotic treatment. Urinary tract infections are common and treatable, but they are not pleasant. Symptoms include burning in the urethra, pain, urgency to urinate and burning when urinating.
The thing is, it is possible to pee in a lake, river, pond or ocean and nothing will happen. It is not necessarily a guarantee that you will get an infection, but it carries risks. Immersed urination, according to Fosnight, is also less than ideal for your bladder because you want the least possible resistance when urinating (meaning only the air around you — not the water) and the pressure of being in the water. can do It Your flow fights gravity and you may not empty your bladder (which is known as dysfunctional emptying).
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How urination in a lake affects the environment
This situation is essentially the opposite of a symbiotic relationship: It benefits neither you nor the party who decides to empty your bladder. On the environmental side of things, Fosnight shares that many organizations and experts point out that urine is not good for water bodies, especially fresh water. Human urine contains something called nitrates, which can cause increased algae in the water, making it toxic to fish and other wildlife.
“Urine, although sterile, is considered a biological hazard and should be disposed of properly. Water treatment plants help us have safe, clean drinking water. It may seem innocent, but it can pose environmental risks,” says Fosnight. In addition, because many of us secrete drugs into our urine, these by-products are discarded in the water, making it an unsafe environment for humans, fish, frogs and other wildlife. Although a person who uses a lake to urinate will not kill all the fish, it is good to know how your behavior affects the environment.
Sometimes, though, you may have no choice but to swim or swim. When you have to go, you have to go, so Fosnight recommends that the safest way to pee outdoors is to go to a sealed container and throw it in the trash. If you do not have a container or access to rubbish, Fosnight recommends finding a place about 200 meters away from foliage-free water sources such as poison ivy. Squat as low as you can without touching the ground and dab with a tissue or toilet paper (which you must dispose of properly). It’s the best way to do business in the desert.
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