Inland and coastal water-users are being asked to join two university studies to help protect people from the health risks related to pollution.

The University of Exeter’s Poo-Sticks project is looking for information from wild swimmers in rivers and lakes, while its BlueAdapt survey was focusing on people who went in the sea, researchers at the institution’s Penryn campus said.

Poo-sticks participants, external would be asked to provide a faecal sample using a pre-paid postal kit, and share information about recent freshwater swimming activities, dietary habits, and overall lifestyle and health, organisers said.