Cubans bemoan trashing of island’s beaches
Litter is a problem virtually everywhere in the world. But the trashing of Cuba’s world-class beaches by beachgoers has become so extreme, that tourists are complaining and Cubans bemoan it as a symptom of something amiss in a nation that’s long cherished cleanliness, order and mutual respect.
Study maps hidden water pollution in U.S. coastal areas
Researchers have uncovered previously hidden sources of ocean pollution along more than 20 percent of America’s coastlines.
Plastic ‘continents’: Is there a way out?
Plastic “continents” are not static. Based on the oceanic circulation modelling work conducted in the Pacific, researchers have recently shown that there are exit currents for these areas of the sea where these piles of waste build up.
Aquatic Olympians Face a Toxic Stew in Rio
Environmentalists and scientists say Rio’s waters are much more contaminated than previously thought.
1.5 million gallons sewage spill shuts down beaches 20 miles away, Los Angeles
Officials say at least 1.5 million gallons of sewage spewed from a 90-year-old pipe that burst in an industrial area near downtown Los Angeles, leading beaches to close 20 miles downriver in Long Beach.
Ship engine emissions adversely affect the health of inhabitants of coastal regions
This was the main finding of a study on the influence of ship engine emissions on macrophages in the lungs. Since macrophages also play a key role in lung diseases such as COPD, the study is important for understanding the health risks of ship exhausts.
Young artists get creative to help keep beaches clean
A community arts collaboration between the Town of Nags Head, NC and High School students the OBCan project, is in its sixth year. New galvanized steel trash cans festooned with the students’ creative artwork are being placed at several public beach accesses along 11 miles of oceanfront. Vibrantly-colored designs draw beach with the expectation that trash will more likely find its way into the containers if they are eye-catching.
Super bacteria’ discovered in Rio’s waters
A group of Brazilian scientists have detected a drug-resistant bacteria growing off of some of Rio de Janeiro’s most stunning beaches.
Toxic algae bloom blankets Florida beaches, prompts state of emergency; Florida
Gov. Rick Scott, declared a state of emergency midweek in Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Palm Beach counties because of the toxic algae bloom that originated in Lake Okeechobee and spread to the beaches.