It is estimated that 2 billion items of sanitary protection are flushed down British toilets every year. Children, bathers and other beach users regularly come across this and other used debris, and to a child, the potential dangers of a condom, syringe needle or used sanitary towel is not always obvious.

In the Beachwatch 2000 survey an estimated 12,000 separate items of SRD were identified and in an average kilometre of beach over 110 items were located.

Marine wildlife can also suffer. Seabirds have been found with condoms in their stomachs, whilst others gather tampon applicators mistaking them for nesting materials.