How widespread is beach pollution?
Every coastal state has a beach pollution problem. In 2008, beach pollution prompted 20,341 closing and swimming advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches. That’s the fourth-highest number of closing and advisory days since NRDC began issuing its annual Testing the Waters report 19 years ago. According to the most recent data available, 62 percent of reported beaches are monitored, and 47 percent are monitored at least once a week. Increased monitoring continues to highlight the extensive problem of beachwater pollution.
