Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
Lynn, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — More than a dozen Massachusetts beaches are closed due to high bacteria counts.
In all, state health officials say 18 beaches from Ashby to Lynn are off-limits to swimming.
They say contact with unsafe waters that have been closed can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory, dermatological, and flu-like symptoms.
Massachusetts Beach Water Quality Dashboard
At Lynn Shore Beach this morning, there was a distinctive foul smell in the air.
But a local named Ron said the stench is "unfortunately normal" and not connected to the high levels of bacteria that have closed the beach to swimming. "In this area it (the smell) gets kind of strong," he said. "It must be the way the current comes in."
What isn't normal is the high bacteria counts closing beaches to swimming, although beach closures due to pollution does happen occasionally.
Ron said despite the posted signs not to swim, he still sees people in the water. "People still do it, and I've known those people to get sick from it."
WBZ News Radio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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