The Atlantic Ocean might have been choppy and cold, but that didn’t stop 11-year-old David Calderone from plunging into the waves for some surfing.

He was one of nearly 80 autistic boys and girls who spent several hours last week surfing on Brick Beach 3, thanks to the efforts of the lifeguards and township recreation department staff who volunteered their time.

David not only surfed, he also rode a Waverunner, his mother Brenda Calderone said.

“When we got in the car, he said ‘Mommy, I had the best day ever!,'” she said.

The weather was iffy on July 8. A southwest wind dropped the ocean temperature to a chilly 68 degrees. The seas were running 2 to 3 feet, a little bit more than beach captain Dan Santaniello had hoped for. Lightning flickered on the horizon and the event had to be delayed for about half an hour, he said.

Add playing in the sand to the long list of fun things that may be bad for your health.

A new study says you risk getting an upset stomach and diarrhea if you dig into the granular stuff to fill toy pails, build sand castles or bury yourself. You’re better off walking along the shore or swimming in the surf.

Is the federal government, which paid $63,500 for the research, throwing a major bummer into the beach-going season? San Diego County’s 76 miles of coastline are dotted with dozens of state and city-run beaches.

Or maybe yesterday’s publication of the information is a nefarious plot against the 29th annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, which is expected to attract 300,000 people to Imperial Beach this weekend.

The report’s authors said they don’t mean to put a damper on summer fun. They just think it’s important to caution people about the bird droppings, urban runoff, sewage and other contaminants that pollute sand.

“Take care to use a hand sanitizer or wash hands after playing in the sand,” said Tim Wade, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who helped write the study.

Debbie Longley, chairwoman of the sand-castle contest, said she isn’t aware of participants being sickened by tainted sand during past competitions. The event is a bright spot for Imperial Beach, the long-suffering recipient of Tijuana River sewage overflows that have caused many shoreline closures.

“Going to any beach presents some element of health hazards, but I think (the study) will be the last thing on people’s minds when they are out . . . at the sand-castle competition,” Longley said.

As part of a larger assessment of water quality at beaches, EPA researchers interviewed more than 27,000 beach-goers in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. There were four sites on the Great Lakes and one each in Mississippi, Alabama and Rhode Island.

SEA LIFE™ Aquarium turns one August 11th and LEGOLAND® California Resort is celebrating with the launch of the Celebrity Mosaic Project to benefit the Surfrider Foundation. Celebrities including Al Pacino, Brooke Shields, Heidi Klum, Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Facinielli, Thomas Gibson, Tom DeLonge and Tony Hawk have built their own unique ocean-themed LEGO® mosaics that will be on display at LEGOLAND California Resort from August 11 to September 8, 2009 and as a listed auction on Charitybuzz.com with proceeds donated to the Surfrider Foundation.

“We are excited to be celebrating SEA LIFE Aquarium’s first birthday and partnering with them for the Celebrity Mosaic Project,” says Matt McClain, Surfrider Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Communications.  “Their idea to use unique celebrity mosaics as a creative way to educate the public about our fragile ocean and marine environments is fantastic and aligns perfectly with our mission.”

“It is exciting to see so many of today’s most popular celebrities come together to support Surfrider Foundation,” said Peter Ronchetti, General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort. “What a fun tribute to the Aquarium’s first birthday! I may even be tempted to bid on a few of the mosaics myself.”

The Surfrider Foundation is one of the world’s largest non-profit organizations dedicated to the protection and preservation of our oceans, waves and beaches.  Now in its 25th year, the Foundation continues to carry out initiatives for clean water, free and open access, and the preservation of coastlines through its global grassroots networks made up of all types of ocean lovers.