Dozens of Attica beaches found unfit for swimming
Seventy-one out of 323 beaches inspected in the Attica region by the Panhellenic Center for Ecological Research were found to be unfit for swimming, with low cleanliness scores going to popular spots like Loutsa, Oropos and Schinias.
Researchers with the center, which is a member of the United Nations Environmental Program, checked the waters at 323 beaches for enterococci, E. coli and fecal coliforms, as well as for pollution from household detergents, mineral oils and phenols.
Among the 71 beaches ruled unfit to swim at are popular spots at Elefsina, Neraki in Nea Peramos, Salamina beach, Kakia Skala, Kineta (Aghioi Theodoroi), Kakia Thalassa (Keratea), Artemida (Loutsa), Schinias, Oropos (Faros), Skala Oropou, Avlaki, Aghios Cosmas, parts of Glyfada and Voula, Kavouri, Alexandras Square beach in Piraeus, Alepohori, Porto Germeno (Aghios Nikolaos), Salamina Bay and Xeno beach.
The remainder of the beaches inspected were ruled safe for the public, while dozens of Attica beaches also received Blue Flags this year as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.
