TThe 4th of July holiday can often be a great opportunity to visit the coast for a sandy getaway. But local governments across the US have issued warnings and closures to stay away from certain coasts due to alarmingly high levels of bacteria.
As of Monday afternoon, at least 29 beaches in Massachusetts were closed due to “bacterial overshoot,” according to the state. Department of Public Health Beach Water Quality Dashboard.
In San Diego County, California, a beach in the Coronado area has been closed since May because “bacterial levels exceed health standards,” according to its report. Department of Health and Environmental Quality Beach and Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program.
In Nassau County in New YorkCrescent Beach was closed to swimming on Monday night due to high levels of enterococcal bacteria found in samples.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy also reports that four beaches have been closed since last week, due to high bacterial levels.
How should I interpret beach closures?
O US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises anyone planning to visit the beach to respect closures and stay out of closed bodies of water as they are “unsafe” for swimming.
And even if a beach or lake isn’t technically closed, if the water smells bad or appears discolored or cloudier than normal, it could contain harmful contaminants. Those with open wounds are especially advised to stay away.
What bacteria have been found on beaches?
Although authorities have not clarified the bacteria present on California and Michigan beaches, Massachusetts authorities monitor levels of enterococci or E. coli – called indicator organisms – to determine “bacterial exceedance.”
Enterococci It is Escherichia coli, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are bacteria that live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, such as humans. Although enterococci and most strains of E. coli are not normally considered harmful to humans, their presence in water may indicate possible fecal waste contamination and may also signal that other disease-causing pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa , may also be present in water.
Two Massachusetts beaches also cite “harmful cyanobacteria blooms” for their closures Monday night. The EPA says these cyanobacteria — also called blue-green algae — are often identified as “floating mats of smelly, decaying, gelatinous scum in lakes” that are often green in color.
How harmful are these bacteria?
When cyanobacteria degrade, they can release toxins that can be harmful to humans, EPA says. Serious effects from exposure to cyanobacteria are rare, but they can cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes, eye irritations, and respiratory symptoms. In some cases it can cause gastroenteritis, liver and kidney failure or death.
The EPA states that those who swim in or come into contact with water with elevated levels of E. coli and other fecal indicator organisms are at an increased risk of becoming ill due to potential exposure to fecal pathogens. Common symptoms of ingesting a harmful strain of E. coli include vomiting and diarrhea. Meanwhile, enterococci are a common cause of urinary tract infections in hospitals, according to the National Institute of Health, and are highly resistant to antiseptics and antibiotics. Some enterococci, of which there are more than 50 different species, are also associated with more serious diseases such as endocarditis and peritonitis.
What are other reasons for beach closures?
Bacteria are not the only cause of beach closures. O National Maritime Service says other common causes may include excessive rainfall that carries pollutants from storm drains to recreational bodies, harmful “algal blooms,” such as “red tides”, and sewage or chemical leaks.
Several beaches in Florida, Hawaii and California have also been closed at various points this year following shark sightings or attacks.
In general, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic InstituteThe best thing to do is plan your trips to the beach in advance and monitor the guidelines, look for places to swim that have good water circulation and practice basic hygiene, including washing with clean water and soap after bathing.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
