Pollution shuttered more beaches in 2010, report says

( Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times )

The number of times the nation's beaches were closed or posted with warnings because of polluted water jumped last year to its second-highest level in 21 years, a Natural Resources Defense Council study said. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill and heavy rains that swept pollutants into the ocean at an accelerated rate were contributing factors. Beach-goers in Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana were the most affected, based on the percentage of times their states' beaches failed to meet federal health standards.