More than 30 beaches were forced to close in Massachusetts on Saturday due to excessive amounts of bacteria in the water, making it dangerous for swimmers to beat the heat.
The closures extend across the state, from West Stockbridge to Boston and Cape, according to the state dashboard.
Most were closed due to an excess of bacteria or a bloom of harmful cyanobacteria, and 29 of them due to bacteria alone.
“If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid the risk of getting sick,” the board said.
The state monitors about 1,100 public and semi-public beaches, according to Live Mass.
Even though swimmers cannot swim, they can still enjoy the sandy oasis, as long as they don’t set foot in the water.
More than 30 beaches were forced to close in Massachusetts on Saturday due to excessive amounts of bacteria in the water, making it dangerous for swimmers to beat the heat.
Closures span the state, from West Stockbridge to Boston to Cape Cod (pictured: Cape Cod Beach)
Those who risk swimming could end up with stomach and intestinal upset, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Many waterborne germs originate from human and animal feces, so the NIH recommends that people avoid using the toilet in water and also keep children’s and animal feces away.
Algae can also infect the water.
“If there are concerns about bacteria or other hazards, focus on doing other activities,” Dr. Dwayne Porter of the University of South Carolina told the NIH.
Dangerous bacteria can also cause fatal sepsis, coma, limb amputation and, in the worst cases, death.
Most were closed due to an excess of bacteria or a harmful cyanobacteria bloom, and 29 of those were due to bacteria (pictured: Lake Clarksburg)
Those who risk swimming could end up suffering from stomach and intestinal upset, diarrhea and vomiting (Photo: Rutland Beach)
Dangerous bacteria can also cause lethal sepsis, coma, amputation of limbs and, in the worst cases, death. (Pictured: Stock image of cyanobacteria in water)
For example, the deadly flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus has been detected over the past year on beaches up and down the East Coast, off the coast of Long Island in Connecticut, at beaches and seafood restaurants in Florida, and more.
This is because rising global temperatures, which raise water temperatures, have created a more hospitable environment for harmful bacteria such as Vibrio and Staphylococcus aureus, allowing them to survive for longer periods of time in places where they have never lived before.
Massachusetts is just the latest state to experience higher levels of bacteria that have prompted widespread beach closures.
Earlier this week, several beaches in San Diego County were closed for the same reason.
And last week, more than 100 beaches across the United States also closed.
In addition to California, affected areas included coastal Michigan and New York.
