What you need to know about US beach closures

The Fourth of July is often the perfect time to enjoy a beach getaway. But local governments across the United States have issued warnings and closures to avoid certain shorelines due to alarmingly high bacteria levels.

As of Monday afternoon, at least 29 Massachusetts beaches were reported closed due to bacterial exceedances, according to the state Department of Public Health's Beach Water Quality Dashboard.

In San Diego County, California, a Coronado-area beach has been closed since May because bacterial levels exceed health standards, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Quality's Beach and Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program.

In Nassau County, New York, Crescent Beach has been closed to swimming since Monday night due to high levels of enterococcus bacteria found in samples.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy also reports that four beaches have been closed since last week due to high bacteria levels.

How should I interpret beach closures?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises those planning to visit the beach to respect closures and stay away from closed bodies of water, as they are not safe for swimming.

And even if a beach or lake isn't technically closed, if the water smells bad or appears discolored or cloudier than usual, it may contain harmful contaminants. People with open wounds are especially advised to stay away.

What bacteria were found on the beaches?

Although officials have not said what bacteria are present on beaches in California and Michigan, officials in Massachusetts monitor levels of enterococci or E. coli, known as indicator organisms, to determine bacterial exceedances.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), enterococci and Escherichia coli are bacteria that live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals like humans. Although enterococci and most strains of E. coli are not generally considered harmful to humans, their presence in water can indicate possible contamination by fecal waste and can also signal that other disease-causing pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, may also be present in the water.

Two Massachusetts beaches were also closed Monday night due to blooms of harmful cyanobacteria. The EPA says these cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are often identified as floating mats of gelatinous, rotting, smelly scum in lakes that are typically green in color.

How harmful are these bacteria?

When cyanobacteria degrade, they can release toxins that could be harmful to humans, according to the EPA. Serious effects from exposure to cyanobacteria are rare, but they can cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes, eye irritation and respiratory symptoms. In some cases, they can cause gastroenteritis, liver and kidney failure or death.

The EPA says people who swim in or come into contact with water containing high levels of E. coli and other fecal indicator organisms are at increased risk of getting sick due to potential exposure to fecal pathogens. Common symptoms of ingesting a harmful strain of E. coli include vomiting and diarrhea. Enterococci, meanwhile, are a common cause of urinary tract infections in hospitals, according to the National Institutes of Health, and are highly resistant to antiseptics and antibiotics. Some enterococci, of which there are more than 50 different species, are also linked to more serious illnesses like endocarditis and peritonitis.

What are the other reasons for beach closures?

Bacteria aren't the only cause of beach closures. The National Ocean Service says other common causes can include excessive rainfall that carries pollutants from storm drains into recreational areas, harmful algal blooms such as red tides, and sewage or chemical spills.

Several beaches in Florida, Hawaii and California have also been closed at various times this year following shark sightings or attacks.

In general, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the best things to do are to plan beach trips in advance and monitor advisories, seek out swimming spots with good water circulation, and practice basic hygiene, including washing with clean water and soap after swimming.

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