Officials in several states are warning beachgoers to check local water-quality advisories before swimming this summer.Elevated bacteria levels have prompted beach closures and health alerts in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington state.Last summer, Environment America Research & Policy Center reported that "61% of U.S.beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels in 2024."TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZBeaches can be contaminated with fecal matter from urban runoff and sewage overflows and by unhealthy pathogens from factory farms, the center said.The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warned people that swimming is not recommended at Backbone Beach, Pine Lake South Beach, Geode Lake Beach, Union Grove Beach, Pleasant Creek Beach and Nine Eagles Beach due to elevated E.
coli levels.Beaches across the nation, including New Jersey, pictured here, have been listed as having elevated bacteria levels that make swimming in the water unadvisable.(iStock)E.
coli is normally harmless and "part of a healthy intestinal tract," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).But certain strains can cause serious health problems to some people, such as the very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
The Iowa DNR maintains a beach-monitoring page online where it reports the status of beaches as: "ok for swimming, swimming not recommended, beach closed, insufficient data or special status."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERMassachusetts officials closed several beaches to swimming this month due to high bacteria levels, toxic blue-green algae and other concerns.They include: Damon Pond Beach, both beaches at Cliff Pond, Cochituate State Park, College Pond, both Fearings Pond beaches, Forest River and Juniper Point, NBC Boston reported.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESThe Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard with d...