"A Look at the Nastiest And Cleanest U.S. Beaches"

"From California to the Great Lakes, persistent water pollution shows that no beach is an island when it comes to public health threats like hepatitis, dysentery and stomach flu."

"The Natural Resources Defense Council released its annual beach report card Wednesday detailing the levels of bacteria hanging around beaches across the nation.

East Coast, stand up. These gold stars go to you. The report says beaches dotting shores in Delaware, New Hampshire and North Carolina had laudably low bacterial levels last year."

Jessica Naudziunas reports for NPR's Shots blog June 27, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"Testing the Waters 2013" (NRDC)

EPA National List of Beaches