Why beaches are closing across the country
Step away from the water!
Beaches in Massachusetts, California, Michigan, New York and Florida are closing or on the verge of being closed due to unsafe conditions for swimming. Several types of unhealthy bacteria have been found at beaches across the country, plus there is a seeming rise in shark attack risk. Beach closures are likely going to continue as climate change intensifies.
Why are beaches closing?
Swimming in the ocean this summer may be risky, as beaches in several states have closed after being deemed unsafe. "Germs found in the water and sand often come from human or animal feces (poop)," and "one way germs can be carried into swim areas is by heavy rain," said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Water contaminated with these germs can make you sick if you swallow it."
A handful of beaches in California, Michigan and Massachusetts had enterococci in the water, which "commonly cause urinary tract infections, and can also cause blood infections and endocarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart's valves and chambers," said ABC News. Two Massachusetts beaches were found to contain cyanobacteria, which if ingested can cause "symptoms including headaches, stomach pain, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea," as well as "irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs." Other beaches contained E.coli, which can cause gastrointestinal issues.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Beaches in Florida and California have additionally had an increase in shark sightings and even some attacks that caused closures.
What can be done?
Even beaches that have not been closed can pose a risk. The CDC recommends avoiding bodies of water that look cloudier than usual or have drainage pipes entering into them. It is also recommended to avoid swimming if you are suffering from an illness or have an open cut or wound. "Heavy rains after long periods of drought can pick up animal or human excrement, which can then be carried by runoff into nearby bodies of water, including oceans," said ABC News. "Heavy rains can also cause sewage systems to overflow, causing untreated sewage to likewise contaminate bodies of water."
Climate change may lead to more beach closures in the future. "Bacteria like warmer waters, and climate change is increasing the average temperature of water bodies," said Boston.com. Further, "climate change causes more extreme weather events," which means "when it rains, we get more rain all at once."
Microorganisms are not the only ones who thrive in warmer water. Sharks have also been able to spread out in the warming oceans. "One of the consequences of a changing climate is that it gets warmer further north, so areas that were not habitable to the animal now are," Yannis P. Papastamatiou, an associate professor at Florida International University's Predator Ecology and Conservation lab, said to Newsweek. "So far, the northerly expansion has been seen in juvenile white sharks."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Today's political cartoons - October 19, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - fact-checking, the vibe economy, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 bopping cartoons about dancin' Donald
Cartoons Artists take on Trump's favourite tunes, presidential playlists, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Salem's Lot: Stephen King adaptation is 'half-baked' thriller
Talking Point The latest adaptation of this 1975 novel has left many critics feeling underwhelmed
By The Week UK Published
-
A new investigation has put the spotlight on roadside zoos
In the Spotlight Over 150 allegations against these zoos have been made over the past decade
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Climate safe havens may be a thing of the past
Under the radar Safe spaces are few and far between
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What does marine life do during a hurricane?
The Explainer The underwater ecosystem also faces deadly consequences
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Wildlife populations drop a 'catastrophic' 73%
Speed Read The decline occurred between 1970 and 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
An iconic ship is being turned into the world's largest artificial reef
Under the Radar The SS United States will be sunk off the coast of Florida if all goes to plan
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
It's not just ice quantity that climate change affects. It's also quality.
Under the Radar Ice is getting thinner and frailer
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Colombo's wetlands: how the 'lungs' of Sri Lanka's capital are being restored
Under the radar The revival of the ecosystems could prove a 'valuable lesson' for the world
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The war on polar bears
Under the Radar Clashes with human settlements are on the rise, as melting ice drives hungry predators inland in search of food
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published