Labor Day vacationers across the East Coast are facing “fecal contamination” warnings at their beaches this holiday weekend.

Alerts are in effect for coastal regions from Maine to Florida this week, cautioning that high bacteria levels may lead to nausea or rashes.

This week, some of the United States’ top seaside spots have faced closures, including Keyes Memorial Beach in the Cape Cod locale of Hyannis in Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Benjamin’s Beach on Long Island, located in Bay Shore, New York.

According to a report by Environment America, beach safety was evaluated to determine if fecal bacteria levels surpassed thresholds set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which require a warning against entering the water. At such levels, 32 out of every 1,000 swimmers could fall ill.

In North Carolina, advisories were issued in late August for five beaches due to higher fecal bacteria concentrations. The beaches remain accessible, but the public is warned of potential risks if they choose to swim, stated Erin Bryan-Millush, who supervises environmental programs with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

Many beachgoers plan to enjoy costal waters regardless of contamination advisories. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP)

Bryan-Millush noted that heavy rainfall from incidents like the recent Hurricane Erin has intensified this problem along parts of the East Coast, explaining that “storm drains carry everything” onto the coastal beaches.

“It could be really bad for someone who is immune compromised,” Bryan-Millush said.

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