Beach Buzz

Updated August 10, 2005

While most of us treasure a refreshing encounter with sand and sun, we may be getting more than restored serenity from our beaches. The number of beaches identified as contaminated has jumped 9 percent between 2003 and 2004, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. In most cases, high bacteria levels are to blame, arising from excess fecal matter in the water from sewage; the increase, says NRDC, is largely from increased monitoring and better testing.

Each state has different beach monitoring and reporting procedures. Check out NRDC's web page, Testing the Waters, for links to state summaries. For recent beach closings and info on how to find out if your favorite swimming spot is currently home to unsafe levels of bacteria, see the EPA's Find Your Beach and Earth911's Beach Water Quality web pages.

Citizens concerned with ocean health can check ou the Surfrider Foundation, an organization that works to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches, for their citizen action guide, 20 Ways To A Cleaner Beach . Surfrider also suggests that ocean swimmers safeguard their health by discussing the need for a Hepatitis A vaccine with their doctors. Showers are also a good idea after an ocean swim--you may wash away more than sand!

Sources:

Natural Resources Defense Council, Testing the Waters 2005: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp