Summer is in full swing and for many that means traveling to the beach for some vacation time. Here in Texas, people have been flocking to the Gulf of Mexico for months now. However, those that are still planning to do so may want to think about what beach they are going to. That’s because a recent study claimed the majority of beaches in Texas have tested positive for unsafe levels of fecal bacteria.
A recent environmental study on Texas beaches found that in 2022 an unsafe level of fecal bacteria was found on 90 percent of Texas beaches for at least one day. This exceeded the safety threshold set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to Chron. Making matters worse, of the 61 Texas beaches tested, eight were found to have exceeded the EPA limit for more than 25 percent of the days tested.
“Even as Texans are back to enjoying the fresh breeze and splash of waves at the beach, pollution is still plaguing many places where we swim," said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas. Apparently this is an issue throughout the country, as the study found 55 percent of beaches nationwide exceeded the EPA's safety threshold at least once last year. Maybe it’s time to realize, going to the beach means swimming in poop.
LISTEN on the Audacy App