Beach Trip Troubles

Aug. 9, 2007 — -- Inhaling a deep breath at the beach can conjure the memorable smells of summer -- sunscreen, sea salt and … sewage?

The number of U.S. beach closures and no-swim advisories reached a record high last year, according to a new study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The study revealed that pollution and better monitoring of its effects caused more than 25,000 closures of beaches nationwide.

Pesticides, sewage, trash, pet waste and other filth from developed areas near beaches get washed to the nearest shore after heavy rains that come each year, said NRDC Water Program director Nancy Stoner.

Beach contamination can lead to sickness for beachgoers.

"A day at the beach should not end in the bathroom, or even worse in the emergency room," Stoner said.

Small children, the elderly and pregnant women are most likely to be affected by pollution-caused problems such as skin rashes and serious water-borne diseases like meningitis.

According to Benjamin Grumbles, the Environmental Protection Agency's assistant administrator for water, beachgoers can protect themselves from pollution in a few ways.

They can wait at least 24 hours to swim at the beach after a heavy rainfall -- especially if they have cuts or scratches that dirty run-off might inflame. Beachgoers should also pick a beach that is regularly tested for cleanliness. Many Web sites track beach conditions, including local water authorities and the NRDC.

Swimmers should also never swallow the water no matter how pristine the surf appears.

The New York-New Jersey coastline topped the list with a 96 percent increase in advisories and closures over the previous year, according to the report.

Also, some states haven't improved their standards at all. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island and Minnesota are among the worst offenders, the report stated.

The Jersey shore hosts one of two beaches with the most consistently polluted water. At Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County, N.J., water samples exceed acceptable bacteria levels 60 percent of the time. This title is shared by by Hacks Point in Cecil County, Md., which records identical high levels of contamination.