Also: Dangerous pregnancy complications are rising in Mass., particularly for Black patients [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 18, 2023 Editor's Note: You may have noticed we had a few technical issues while sending The CommonHealth newsletter this afternoon. A previous newsletter from June was accidentally sent and contains outdated information. Please disregard it and enjoy today's edition below. We appreciate your patience and thanks for reading! Hi CommonHealth reader, Itâs hot and muggy and feels like the perfect time to jump in the water. But there have been severe storms in the Northeast recently, and all that rain can spell trouble for water safety. As rain hits the ground and flows into our waterways, it can bring bacteria from trash, sewage and other debris that can make people sick. These microorganisms rarely cause [severe or deadly illness]( according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but they're not fun. Think infections and tummy upsets â and sometimes even respiratory and flu-like symptoms. (Some can also sicken pets.) It's not easy to directly measure all the pathogens that make swimmers sick. So, health officials test "indicator organisms" that provide a strong signal of contamination, such as from untreated sewage. In [Massachusetts]( that means monitoring for the bacteria Enterococci (for saltwater) and E. coli (for saltwater and freshwater). So, is swimming at local beaches safe? My colleague, Ally Jarmanning, recently dug into the data and the processes the state uses to test the water quality. We caught up with her to get some answers (and reassurance) before diving in. Gabrielle Emanuel: How does Massachusetts test water quality at its beaches? Ally Jarmanning: Throughout the summer, local and state health inspectors take samples from more than 1,000 saltwater and freshwater beaches. Some beaches are tested every day, but most are tested once a week for bacterial counts. Too much bacteria means the beach has to stay closed for swimming until the counts go down. Just at saltwater beaches last year, there were more than 1,000 times when beaches had to be closed because of high bacteria counts. When the tests come back high, health officials put up a sign advising people not to swim in the water, because they can risk health issues like eye infections or gastrointestinal distress. As of Tuesday, there are 61 beaches closed, most because of high bacteria counts. You can see all the closure updates [at this site.Â]( What can lead to high bacteria counts and closures? AJ: A big culprit is rain. Like the week after the July Fourth holiday, we saw dozens of closures, likely linked to rainy weather. When we get lots of rain, bacteria from our streets and sidewalks can run into the water â think about trash, dog poop and other debris that can dirty up our oceans and lakes. Data show that during rainy years, we see more closures. Thereâs also the issue of sewer overflows. Thatâs the issue at Kingâs Beach in Lynn. Thereâs a sewer pipe that dumps dirty water right into the ocean water, often leading to closures. City officials are looking for $25 million for a [UV light system]( that would kill the bacteria and make it safer to swim. Should people be worried about the cleanliness of Massachusetts beaches? AJ: Overall, Massachusetts beaches are very clean, especially our urban beaches in and around Boston. Beaches in South Boston, Revere and Winthrop have, on average, [nearly perfect scores]( when it comes to water quality. We boast some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country. How accurate is the testing? AJ: So the tests are very accurate, but theyâre delayed. Water samples taken today donât come back for 24 hours. Todayâs test is tomorrowâs closure. And by then, the water might actually be clean again â we just donât have the test to prove it yet. This is a real conundrum for beach managers. We just donât have a rapid test for water quality yet. You can find Ally's [full story here](. Sounds to me like the beach is still a good plan for this hot stretch of summer, but checking the [stateâs beach closure website]( ahead of time is also a good idea. Gabrielle Emanuel
Health reporter
[Follow]( Support the news  This Week's Must Reads
[Dangerous complications are increasing for pregnant patients in Mass., report finds](
The report from the Department of Public Health adds to the growing body of evidence that a maternal health crisis has worsened, especially for Black people. [Read more.](
[Dangerous complications are increasing for pregnant patients in Mass., report finds](
The report from the Department of Public Health adds to the growing body of evidence that a maternal health crisis has worsened, especially for Black people. [Read more.](
[Boston Medical Center ends policy that allows migrant families to shelter overnight](
For over a year, the hospital let migrant families without housing sleep overnight. Now, citing safety concerns, BMC is barring parents and their children from staying. Some families have been redirected, including being given free transportation to Logan Airport, where they can wait until state offices and other resources open. [Read more.](
[Boston Medical Center ends policy that allows migrant families to shelter overnight](
For over a year, the hospital let migrant families without housing sleep overnight. Now, citing safety concerns, BMC is barring parents and their children from staying. Some families have been redirected, including being given free transportation to Logan Airport, where they can wait until state offices and other resources open. [Read more.](
[An experimental Alzheimer's drug outperforms one just approved by the FDA](
In a large study, the experimental drug donanemab slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by about 35%. That's slightly better than the drug Leqembi, which was fully approved by the FDA on July 6. [Read more.](
[An experimental Alzheimer's drug outperforms one just approved by the FDA](
In a large study, the experimental drug donanemab slowed the progression of Alzheimer's by about 35%. That's slightly better than the drug Leqembi, which was fully approved by the FDA on July 6. [Read more.](
[They're illegal. So why is it so easy to buy the disposable vapes favored by teens?](
The FDA cracked down on the nicotine devices, yet they're stocked on many store shelves. The reason has to do with burgeoning overseas production, lack of clear rules and lax enforcement. [Read more.](
[They're illegal. So why is it so easy to buy the disposable vapes favored by teens?](
The FDA cracked down on the nicotine devices, yet they're stocked on many store shelves. The reason has to do with burgeoning overseas production, lack of clear rules and lax enforcement. [Read more.](
[FDA approves Opill, the first daily birth control pill without a prescription](
From convenience stores to online, the tablet "will be an available option for millions of people in the United States," the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research says. [Read more.](
[FDA approves Opill, the first daily birth control pill without a prescription](
From convenience stores to online, the tablet "will be an available option for millions of people in the United States," the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research says. [Read more.]( What We're Reading 📚 - The transit crisis for doctors in training ([CommonWealth Magazine]( - Drowning Is No. 1 Killer of Young Children. U.S. Efforts to Fix It Are Lagging. ([New York Times]( - How telehealth startups are trying to fill the menopause care vacuum ([STAT News]( "I was very worried to speak up about what I was feeling in my body," â Stephanie Crawford, a doula in Boston, speaking about the [worsening situation]( for maternal health ICYMI
[Test strips for the dangerous street drug xylazine could save lives](
A handful of harm reduction programs in Massachusetts have started handing out test strips for xylazine, a drug that can produce gaping skin wounds and increase the risk of an overdose, or even death. [Read more.](
[Test strips for the dangerous street drug xylazine could save lives](
A handful of harm reduction programs in Massachusetts have started handing out test strips for xylazine, a drug that can produce gaping skin wounds and increase the risk of an overdose, or even death. [Read more.]( 🧠💥 Did you know...💥🧠 ...bacteria from the depths of the ocean might be real whizzes at detoxifying asbestos. [Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania]( have found these marine microbes do a better job than other organisms that have been tested â including fungi. The marine bacteria were able to metabolize certain elements of the asbestos structure, making it less toxic and, hopefully, less likely to cause cancer. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Â
 Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here.](  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.