Latest news with #MassDPH
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
High bacteria levels prompt closures for these Mass. beaches
Due to high levels of bacteria in these bodies of water, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has closed them for the time being. In total, four beaches are closed, three of which are located in Boston and one in Concord, according to the DPH. The purpose of Concord's Walden Pond closure is to accommodate facility repair work, according to the DPH, which noted that Red Cross Beach will remain open, weather permitting. Once the project is complete, the beach will reopen. Constitution, Malibu, and Tenean beaches in Boston, however, are closed with the reasoning being 'bacteria excess.' Bacteria in the water can come from a variety of sources, including: Stormwater (rain) run-off Failing or malfunctioning septic systems Combined and sanitary sewer overflows Leaking sewer pipes Illegal sewer hookups Wildlife and pet waste Agricultural runoff In order to ensure beaches are safe for swimming, the DPH tests the waters anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on how likely the beach is to have water quality issues and its popularity. If a beach is used often or is prone to water quality issues, then it's tested more often and vice versa, the DPH wrote. Beaches remain closed until laboratory analysis shows bacteria levels are within the acceptable range for safe swimming. 'Laboratory analysis for all beach samples takes approximately 24 hours,' according to the department's website. 'So it is common for a beach closure to last a day or two following an exceedance.' Swimming in beach water that has high levels of bacteria can be risky and can result in illnesses, including: Gastrointestinal symptoms- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain Respiratory symptoms- sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezing Dermatological symptoms- skin rash and itching Eye and ear symptoms- irritation, earache, itching Flu-like symptoms- fever and chills Therefore, it's important to check for any warnings or beach closures indicating that the water could be unsafe. To do this, done check the weather, avoid swimming after heavy rain, watch for signs of water pollution like discolored, fast flowing and strong smelling water, do not swim near trash or litter floating in the water, avoid swallowing the water and swim in areas designated as 'swim beaches.' Although a beach could be posted, the public can still visit the location and take part in other activities that don't involve contact with the water. This can include anything from playing sports like volleyball or frisbee to sunbathing or collecting seashells or sea glass, the DPH said. The public can also do its part in helping to reduce contamination and pollution at the beach by: Cleaning up after pets Not feeding the birds as it encourages them to hang around the beaches, which increases fecal matter Using public restrooms Picking up and throwing away trash using public restrooms or properly disposing of it at home Not entering the water when sick or feeling unwell Changing diapers and putting plastic or rubber pants, known as swim diapers, on diapered children before they enter the water Not dumping anything down storm drains, as water moving through these drains does not get treated at a wastewater facility and flows directly into lakes and streams Avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards since these chemicals can easily carry into the surface of waters during rain events and snowmelt Use walkways and avoid walking on dunes to prevent erosion and preserve vegetation that filters out pollutants from runoff before they reach the beach More details from the DPH can be found here. Street flooding possible in Mass. Saturday due to widespread showers, thunderstorms Pentagon boss Hegseth warns of 'devastating' consequences if China looks to 'conquer' Taiwan RFK Jr. slammed raw milk shots with podcast host in the White House Major Trump foe says Republicans keep approaching her with shocking message 'Turning a blind eye to genocide': Mass. Rep. Neal's visit to Ireland protested Read the original article on MassLive.
Medscape
13-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Asthma Funding Cuts Hit Underserved Communities
Recently announced federal funding cuts for asthma care in high-risk areas in Massachusetts highlight the short- and long-term effect of the dissolution of support programs for public health at the community level. The nearly $1 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Public Health (DPH) was intended to 'support in-home environmental remediations, such as mold removal and improved ventilation,' according to a statement from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 'The loss of this funding is critically significant for the individuals enrolled in the program,' said a spokesperson for the Massachusetts DPH in an interview. 'The termination of this funding will negatively impact opportunities to replicate and expand this model to other communities,' the spokesperson added. In the short-term, 'the funding was intended to improve asthma outcomes for individuals and families by creating asthma-friendly conditions at home and helping individuals enrolled in the program better manage their asthma,' the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News . In the long term, the funding was intended to address housing quality issues and increase awareness among residents and community organizations about environmental health and the effect of indoor air quality on asthma management and control, the spokesperson said. A recent report from the American Lung Association gave Hampden County, Massachusetts, a grade of C on air quality. 'The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) looked at a variety of factors beyond only air quality to select a partner organization in this work, including overall asthma burden in the communities where this work would occur, with an emphasis on Massachusetts' Environmental Justice Communities,' according to the spokesperson. Revitalize Community Development Corporation in Springfield, Massachusetts, was selected as a partner organization. Irreplaceable Resources The state was relying on the federal funding to implement the program, the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News . 'The state is not able to replace the millions of dollars in federal funding being terminated by the Trump Administration,' the spokesperson said. However, 'we remain committed to continuing our efforts to improve air quality and reduce respiratory illnesses and asthma, including through enhanced air monitoring, strong public health protections from pollution, and planting more trees in urban areas,' the spokesperson added. Takeaways for Clinicians in High-Risk Areas For patients with asthma who live in high-risk locations with poor air quality and other environmental factors, clinicians should continue to treat patients in alignment with the latest guidelines the spokesperson said. This includes discussing environmental factors and triggers in controlling asthma symptoms, raising patient awareness of the short- and long-term effects of poor air quality on asthma, and helping them build strategies to mitigate these effects, the spokesperson added.
