E-coli detected at a number of beaches

E-coli, which has the potential to be toxic to humans, has been detected at a number of beaches which were deemed to have good or excellent water quality.

NUI Galway researchers examined 111 samples from 50 locations in Cork, Dublin and Galway and discovered the bacteria in 57 percent of the 84 sea samples they tested.

The organisms can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting and are recognised as a major threat to human health 

Bacteria expert Professor Dearbhaile Morris says the EU’s system for monitoring bathing water quality system needs to be revised.

"We're adhering to the EU regulations,  we're looking for E-coli in the waters, but we're not looking for the right thing in my opinion - we should be looking at the characteristics of the E-coli.

"We did find in a number of cases that where the water was designated of good or excellent quality under the current criteria that we found these organisms in the water."
 

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