A warning issued by the European Commission on Thursday after a survey of nearly 20,000 sites states that swimmers should avoid some 500 European beaches, lakes and rivers for health reasons.
From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and the North Sea to the Black Sea, 96 percent of European Union coastal waters and 90 percent of lakes and rivers met minimum quality standards in 2009, the commission said.
Plastic Dominates Britain's Beaches
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has found piles of plastic rubbish along beaches across the country during the latest annual survey of beach litter.
Advertisement
A European Environment Agency report published on Thursday and accessible on the Internet at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-bathing/report_2010.html analyses the results of tests conducted on 13,741 coastal and 6,867 inland swimming sites.
Delays in commissioning the monitoring programme meant that 830 sites in Greece were not adequately monitored, the report's authors noted.
Online maps -- such as http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/map/BathingWater/ -- give swimmers detailed information as to the state of beaches or waters they intend visiting.
![Sunbathers in Non-nudist Beach in Sydney, Raided Over Illegal Behavior]( "Sunbathers in Non-nudist Beach in Sydney, Raided Over Illegal Behavior")
Sunbathers in a non-nudist beach in Sydney, Australia, were recently raided by police following community concerns over illegal behavior.
France and Italy, which have far and away the greatest number of swimming sites at some 2,000 and 5,000 respectively, also have the highest number that failed tests.
France had the highest number of "non-compliant" sites 129, followed by Denmark (68), Italy (56), the Netherlands (46) and Poland (44).
Spain, which has almost as many sites as France, failed just 15, with 14 sites in Britain and 11 in Belgium also on the list.
The criteria stems from a 2006 EU law that sets bacterial guidelines on water quality.
Source: AFP
Online maps -- such as http://dataservice.eea.europa.eu/map/BathingWater/ -- give swimmers detailed information as to the state of beaches or waters they intend visiting.
Sunbathers in Non-nudist Beach in Sydney, Raided Over Illegal Behavior
Sunbathers in a non-nudist beach in Sydney, Australia, were recently raided by police following community concerns over illegal behavior.
Advertisement
France and Italy, which have far and away the greatest number of swimming sites at some 2,000 and 5,000 respectively, also have the highest number that failed tests.
France had the highest number of "non-compliant" sites 129, followed by Denmark (68), Italy (56), the Netherlands (46) and Poland (44).
Spain, which has almost as many sites as France, failed just 15, with 14 sites in Britain and 11 in Belgium also on the list.
The criteria stems from a 2006 EU law that sets bacterial guidelines on water quality.
Source: AFP
Rush To Beach, Escape the Heat: The Rio Heatwave Survival Guide
he shore, with a slightly cooler breeze blowing in from the ocean, is the only place many of them can cool off.
Advertisement
 Sunburn Dance in GoaHundreds of foreign tourists attended a sunburn dance at a beach here on Monday. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News
Significance of sunscreen as an essential element of skincare has experienced a significant upswing in popularity due to the deleterious effects of UV rays.
Impact of workplace burnout on employee performance, wellbeing, and organizational productivity is extensive, yet the role of personal relationships has been overlooked.
Ayurveda offers a time-tested treatment for aging skin using natural herbs and antiquated traditions that value sustainability and might do wonders for skin health.
Researchers identified two key physiological systems involved in hypertension, cognitive, and emotional impairments following high salt intake.
Decoding the secrets of wrinkles by knowing the causes, prevention, and expert advice.