Nearly 100 beaches across the country are closed or swimming warnings have been issued


Officials in at least 10 states have closed beaches or warned people not to swim in the water because of high bacteria levels ahead of the July 4 holiday.

Some clogs are caused by bacteria present in sewage waste, while others are caused by high levels of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), which are found in freshwater.

Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York have reported unsafe levels of fecal waste at some beaches over the past week. Illinois has issued advisories for 16 beaches, and Michigan has announced two beach closures and five swimming advisories.

In Vermont, six locations have been placed on high alert because of high levels of cyanobacteria, so the state has advised people not to swim there.

Many beaches across the US are closed each year due to harmful levels of bacteria. Environment America, an environmental research and policy center, found that more than half of the beaches tested in 2022 experienced unsafe levels of fecal contamination on at least one day, based on the Environmental Protection Agency's standards.

Swimming in water with high bacteria levels can cause gastrointestinal illness and skin infections, especially in children, older people, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Research shows that climate change is causing cyanobacteria algae blooms to occur more frequently, and exposure to them can cause lifelong health problems. Cyanobacteria produce a toxin called microcystin, which can damage the kidneys, liver or reproductive system if consumed in large amounts.

As of Friday, high levels of microcystins were detected at two beaches in Iowa and high levels of E. coli at five others.

In Massachusetts, 34 beaches have been closed, mostly due to high levels of E. coli or enterococci — types of bacteria that indicate the presence of fecal waste. Enterococcus is measured in both marine and freshwater, while E. coli is only measured in freshwater.

Robert Goldstein, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said it's common for bacteria levels to rise in the state after heavy rains. Rainwater picks up bacteria from the environment, such as animal or human feces, and then carries them into water bodies.

“With all the heavy rain we've seen in the Northeast over the last few weeks, there has been an increase in the number of beaches being closed,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein estimated that about 5% of beaches in Massachusetts remain closed throughout the season. He said the beaches currently closed are only a small portion of the state's 1,100 public and semi-public beaches.

The Florida Department of Health has also determined that several beaches in Monroe and Hillsborough Counties have poor water quality due to high levels of enterococci.

In San Diego, three beaches have been closed and warnings have been issued at two because of unsafe bacteria levels. And in southeast Virginia, similar advisories have been issued at several sites.

Bacteria levels can change frequently, Goldstein said, so people should check their health department's website for the latest information about where it's safe to swim and keep an eye on safety warnings at the beach.

People can also take steps to reduce the amount of bacteria in the environment. Goldstein suggested beach-goers clean up after their pets and dispose of trash properly, which can help prevent animal feces from getting into the water.

“Whatever bacteria they are putting into the environment, after heavy rainfall, those bacteria will likely reach the water bodies around us,” he said.


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