America's most polluted beaches

Posted on Jun 8th 2007 8:57AM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Fitness

Unfortunately, the sun isn't all you have to worry about at the beach this summer. I posted yesterday on the dangers of Recreational Water Illness, and although it's fairly easy to prevent by making sure you don't swallow water and dry your ears after swimming there are some places that are much more hazardous and risky than others. Unfortunately many beaches across the country are getting so contaminated with sewage and pollution that they're almost unusable! According to Forbes.com, here's the nation's most polluted beaches, along with what percentage of water samples came back higher than national health standards for contaminants:

Illinois: North Point Marina North Beach, 56 percent
Minnesota: St. Louis R Est, Clyde Av Landing, Smithville, 55 percent
Michigan: Singing Bridge Beach, 54 percent
Wisconsin: South Shore Beach, 47 percent
Ohio: Edgecliff Beach, 43 percent
Indiana: Jeorse Park, East Chicago, 33 percent
Rhode Island: Scarborough State Beach North- Black Point Pipe, 80 percent
Massachusetts: Sandy Beach, 50 percent
New York: Wright Park East, 49 percent

Is the beach near you on the list? Were you planning a summer vacation to one of these places? You might want to think again!

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Tags: beach, beaches, contaminants, contaminated, pollutants, polluted, pollution, recreational water illness, RecreationalWaterIllness, RWI, swim, swimming, water

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nikki 6-23-2007 @ 1:28AM

While I am grateful that none of the beaches near me made the list (I live in Florida), I do find it a shame that these list have to exist. Who would want to swim there and take their children there to build sandcastles, not I.
I am glad that the list does exist on the other hand to warn people of the potiental illnesses that they would be exposing themselves to.

I still have the memory of the child who was right around my age who died after swimming at one of the disney water parks here in Florida because the water was too warm and too contaminated and bacteria entered through his ear.

Not a happy outcome to what was supposed to be a nice family vacation to Disney. Not only are the waters listed here dangerous, but many other places have deadly bacteria thriving in their water. Be safe this summer!

P.S. If you visit Florida this year, Be careful and do not swim in any natural lakes, ponds and other such areas, there is another danger lurking: alligators.

Linda 6-16-2007 @ 4:24PM

Yes, it is a shame that "most polluted beaches" lists must be created. However we all, willingly or unwillingly, participate in their existence.

The #1 cause of water contamination today is from polluted storm water. Though you may not think much about it, the water that runs off your property from irrigation, car washing, etc., is loaded with pesticides, fertilizers, soaps, oils and metals from automobiles, trash, and sediment. These pollutants enter our storm drains and discharge into our beaches, lakes, rivers, and other nearby waterbodies.

If you want to stop swimming in polluted waters, then we need to stop contributing the contaminates. Do some research and find out how you can stop storm water pollution. Any major water quality website will have simple household tips. For instance, take your car to a commercial car wash rather than doing it yourself in the driveway; do not over-apply pesticides and fertilizers (better yet, try going all-natural), and use a trash can for your garbage (and encourage others around you to do the same).

Crabby McSlacker 6-16-2007 @ 4:53PM

I'm glad none of California's beaches are on the list. But still, there's not much cause for celebration here.

It's time to get serious about environmental regulation. Say, do we have any elections coming up in the next couple years?

(Crabby has her own weird health and fitness blog, but it's sort of like going to the beach. You may want to wash your hands after http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/)

Gail 6-16-2007 @ 5:01PM

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DID A SURVEY...IN CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA WHERE I GREW UP. TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE DYING FROM THAT COUNTY, WITH CANCERS.

THINKING IT WAS THE PESTICIDES USED IN SPRAYING THE TREES..PROVED NOT THE CAUSE OF ALL THE CANCERS.

THIS WILL NOT SOUND GOOD BUT I HAVE A THEORY.
MANY PEOPLE LIVED IN THE RURAL AREAS WHO HAD NO CITY PLUMBING OR WATER AND ETC.

SINCE THEY USED OUT HOUSES FOR BATHROOM FACILITIES, WHICH HAD A WIDE HOLE DUG INTO THE GROUND DEEPLY, FOR COLLECTION OF SAME, I BELIEVE THIS GOT INTO THE WATER TABLE AND PEOPLE DRINKING AND COOKING WITH IT (THE WATER ) UNKNOWINGLY.

IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THIS DID HAPPEN. MY OWN SISTER DYED OF CANCER THERE.

THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE BEING LAID TO REST BY MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, CLANTON, ALABAMA, FROM CANCER. THE MARTINS WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, TOO !

SINCE ALL DEATHS ARE REPORTED BY THE FUNERAL HOME, I AM ALMOST SURE THEY COMMENTED ON IT TO THE FEDS.

OH WELL..IT STILL CONCERNS ME !

Gail 6-16-2007 @ 5:04PM

I LEFT OUT A VERY IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THE TREES IN CHILTON COUNTY, ALABAMA.

CHILTON COUNTY IS PEACH COUNTRY ! TONS OF PEACHES RAISED THERE EVERY YEAR.

Trevor 6-16-2007 @ 6:25PM

Why don't you only include "real" beaches, as is oceanfront? Ohio? Indiana? Get the hell outta here. Come back when you have a real list - OCEAN beaches; others do not count.

Elizabeth 6-16-2007 @ 6:40PM

Thank you for adding the beach update, because I remember one time going to Holland Beach in Holland, Michigan during our summer vacation discovering that beach was polluted with raw sewage problems. Swimming was not allowed till the plumbing was corrected. It's good to know what is happening to our beaches to plan ahead of time so as not to be disappointed if swimming is not allowed for any reasons. Traveler's alert is good advisory and planning. Thumb's up!!!!

Elizabeth 6-16-2007 @ 6:43PM

I'm interested in knowing about all beaches throughout the country, because we'd be surprise to know what beaches are hiding right around the corner!!!! I love to visit different beaches, because I get tired of the same old thing and plus if we can discover a beach close to home. Great!!!!!!!!! All nature is beauty, big and small!!!!!!!!!!

Elizabeth 6-16-2007 @ 6:49PM

Well, if dirty water is a serious concern for our ocean, lakes and rivers, why don't we clean the water before we dump it in our bodies of water in the first place??????? It may be expensive, but at least water gets cleaned. I heard city waters are being recycled back into the city to be cleaned. It's what I heard from a friend, I may heard wrong. It will raise our taxes, but I guess it needs to be done. We can protect our oceans, rivers and lakes with water technology. I know anything is possible! Keep hoping!!!!!!!!!

LarryGlick 6-16-2007 @ 7:33PM

Here in Maine, many of our ocean as well as fresh water beaches have been tested and found polluted with various chemicals, human semen, human feces, assorted viruses and bacterial microbes. Happy bathing and welcome to Maine: (the sign says) The Way Life Should Be.

Vivi 6-16-2007 @ 7:51PM

How can contamination be stopped? There are hundreds if not thousands of people going into the waters, spitting and pissing, blowing their noses and you jump into the water get it in your eyes, nose, mouth and ears!
How are you going to avoid it? Thank you, but I'll stay away.

Stormwater BMP 8-09-2007 @ 11:17AM

This is really shameful. We need to do better. Here's a company that does stormwater management (http://www.filterra.com) using bioretention and street trees to treat the kind of surface water runoff that pollutes rivers and lakes and prevents unwanted pollutants from washing up on beaches.