As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, the U.S. Congress considers legislation to make beach closure and swimming advisories more accurate.
New research shows that children aged 10 or younger experienced higher rates of gastrointestinal illness – diarrhea, vomiting or nausea – after playing in the water with measurable amounts of bacteria indicating the presence of human or animal fecal matter.
The study did not identify why young swimmers experienced more illness, but researchers speculate that it could be because children tend to spend more time in the water and may be more likely to swallow water or get it in their mouths while playing.
New procedures have been put in place to test beach water for contamination and to detect sewage and human feces in as little as two hours, allowing authorities to issue public health alerts more quickly than in the past.
Hopefully, beach managers will be able to close beaches that have a high contamination risk so that young families aren’t exposed to the illness-causing bacteria.
