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Report lists America's most polluted beaches
On Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council released its annual Testing the Waters report, which lists the most polluted beaches at the country's oceans, lakes and bays.
The worst offenders have been on the list for several years, with contamination levels exceeding national standards anywhere from 60% to 90% of the time. The top beaches for contamination include Shired Island, Florida; Kings at Stacy Brook, Massachusetts; and Joerse Park in Indiana.
The report lists the number of days that beaches were closed or that contamination warnings were issued. This year's number, 20,000, is one of the highest in the 19-year history of the report. The full report also shows how often each beach checks its contamination level. While the majority perform checks every day, others lack the funds and only check the water a few times a week, so contamination levels may actually be higher than reported at some beaches.
The biggest culprit of beach pollution: stormwater run-off and poorly designed sewage systems. For those of you as grossed out as I am right now, don't worry. The report also lists the beaches that are the cleanest.
Gallery: The World's Dirtiest Cities
Gallery: Top 10 beach hotels of the world
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pcf Aug 7th 2009 7:55AM
While strolling along the beach @ Gulf Shores,Alabama one beautiful morning we came across THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of orange pills and bloodied syringes!! NICE.........
Susan Aug 7th 2009 1:04PM
Please be rest assured those pills and syringes were most likely left there by some visitor destroying our beautiful beaches in Gulf Shores. I have witnessed numerous tourist leaving behind their trash, dirty baby diapers, dog poop (dogs are not allowed on the beach here) beer bottles and cans along with coolers, chairs, tents and toys because they were too lazy and inconsiderate to take them off the beach. PLEASE....no matter which beach you choose to visit...be considerate and take all your belongings and trash with you.
charles Aug 7th 2009 8:30AM
who in there right mind would think of dumping sewage in the oceans what is the EPA doing about this i now probably sitting behind a desk waiting to collect a paycheck, forwhat doing nothing.. This is just another example of pollitical BS that god i was raised in a semi desert state.. It would be nice to see somone do somthing about this not just talk about it!!!!!! (oh lets ask congress to give us 10 billion dollers to make a study ) Sound like the same old story.Pollitical proffit.........
Gregory Dittmer Aug 7th 2009 1:17PM
charles
Aug 7th 2009 8:30AM
who in there right mind would think of dumping sewage in the oceans what is the EPA doing about this i now probably sitting behind a desk waiting to collect a paycheck,
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For decades, cities around the Sandy Hook/Raritan Bay areas had towed barges loaded with sewerage sludge just off the New Jersey coast. Where there used to be deep clean water, the depth of the ocean got down to less than 20 feet because of the growing mountain of raw sewerage sludge being dumped day after day, year after year.
The dumping was not stopped until about 1992.
Frank Aug 7th 2009 8:56AM
The beaches in Alabama are terribly polluted and dirty. lots of used baby diapers laying all over the place...so keep going to Florida....or maybe California..but not here.
Jim Weatherbee Aug 7th 2009 9:12AM
The beaches on Okaloosa Island at Fort Walton Beach are the best in the world. A great place to visit and a great place to retire. Jim Weatherbee
MJR Aug 7th 2009 9:34AM
Most beaches along the eastern seaboard SUCK !! just came back from bermuda went to 3 beaches public and private they are all maintained and the water is clear 5 - 8 feet. Try finding that along the jersey shore. Americans are greedy slobs !!!!
red white & YOU Aug 7th 2009 1:12PM
FYI. The Jersey beaches have continued rank higher and higher every yr since the early 90's It started with Gov. Kean and continued with Gov. Whitman. Perhaps YOU should go back and check and see for yourself. And lest not compare the color of water between the northeast and Bermuda, anyone with any common sense knows the waters in the Carribean are a different color and its NOT coz of pollution. Hope YOU enjoyed your vacation there, now get back in your cabin and close the door coz im sure the stench is overwhelming.
jennifer Aug 7th 2009 1:32PM
You are an idiot..obviously not an American..thank God!
tom Aug 9th 2009 3:10PM
Went to Belmar NJ on Friday. Neck deep in water, and I could count my toes. Red White and You is absolutely correct. The Jersey shore is beautiful and clean as a whistle.
Dal Aug 7th 2009 9:43AM
I can tell you all as a matter of fact if theres a deep water harbor near your favorite beach your likely swimming in processed sewage waste from ships off shore dumping bilge while waiting for the harbor pilot to come out and guide them into port. Look around at the washed up seaweed sometime and you'll notice what looks like confetti, well thats shredded toilet paper and there other things there you may not be seeing. other wise enjoy your time in the sun and surf.
Larry Aug 7th 2009 10:07AM
Walking on Leadbetter beach in Santa Barbara CA I look down and there are spots of tar all over my feet. Sad. I was shocked at all the garbage on the beach.
Jay Aug 7th 2009 10:35AM
What about long island sound? How the hell did that not make the list as the number one dirtiest beach?? I guess the needles floationg around, dead fish always poping up turning wierd ass colors, and the smell aren't enough.
jr Aug 7th 2009 10:48AM
i spent 6 moths on a sail boat from costa rica thru the panama canal all through the carribean. wanna talk gross all youll see is garbage. in panama the fill barges full of garbage and take them out to sea and you guessed they dump it in the ocean. i wont live to experience the wrongs of it all but future generations certainly will
Kristie Aug 7th 2009 10:59AM
wow... disguisting. Hope I remember this the next time im intoxicated strolling the beaches...
bobby Aug 7th 2009 11:11AM
Make no mistake about it, this world will one day soon clean itself. It'll be like a dog shaking the fleas off its back. It's done it before and it will happen again.
Sabrina Aug 7th 2009 11:51AM
This is so typical of AOL reporting. I believe most people, initially, would read the article to see if the beaches they frequent are on the list; THEN investigate further to learn more. A top ten list with state summaries would've been nice. I didn't find my area until page 567 or so. AOL's reporters should be highlighting important facts with links to additional information instead of making their readers do the work. Who has the time to flip through an entire report to find their area of interest? A GOVERNMENT report, no less, which made it even more painful. That's not our job, it's the reporters'! Now I've wasted even more time bitching about it. C'mon guys, give us a break.
Tom Aug 7th 2009 12:15PM
My home is on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. I have never seen any pollution, pills, syringes or these other negative comments. The only debris has been after hurricaines, which is removed as soon as the disaster is over. They are the some of the best beaches around. I assume these comments are from people that have an agenda.
j. Stallone Aug 7th 2009 12:21PM
Since Katie Hammel left out the facts most important in the writing a complete an accurate article, Please note below the results of the government tests. 30 bodies of water were tested. (30 ranking the highest)The ranking for the top ten beaches as follows;
30 LA
29 OH
28 IN
27 IL
26 WI
25 RI
24 MS
23 PA
22 CA
21 NY
JB Aug 7th 2009 12:25PM
We just know that all the natural so called disasters are the earths way of cleansing itself. So each year what we think is a natural disasters is nature way of taking care of the destruction of the human race on the earth. If it wasn't for humans and their destructive nature, the earth would be a beautiful place!!!!