The summer swimming season is coming to an end - sightings of poison ivy at several public beaches

29.8.2024 Releases Welfare and health Environmental health care Environment and nature

An empty beach, fine beach sand and clouds are reflected in the water of the lake. The lake is bordered by a forest. — Lastujärvi beach in Janakkala. Photo: Johanna Laine

The summer swimming season ends on August 31. This means that no bathing water samples are taken from public beaches after that.

During the summer swimming season, Etelä Häme environmental health has taken 3-4 swimming water samples from the swimming beaches of Forssa, Hausjärvi, Humppila, Janakkala, Jokiointe, Lope, Riihimäki, Tammela and Ypäjä.

The samples have been examined for the amount of intestinal indicator bacteria, as in previous years. The results of the swimming water samples can be seen on the notice boards of the swimming beaches and on the environmental health website as a pdf.

Myrkkykeisoa in Hausjärvi at Ykslammi's swimming beach and in Janakkala on a few beaches

During the past swimming season, sightings of poison ivy have been made at several beaches. Observations have been made in Hausjärvi at Ykslammi beach and in Janakkala at Rahitunlammi, Liinalammi and Lastujärvi beaches. In addition, poison ivy has been observed at least at the Leppäkoski Puujoki swimming site, which is not a swimming site maintained by the municipality. Detected poison ivy have been marked with attention tapes and signs warning of venom ivy have been taken to the beaches.

Kikutoxin is secreted from the poison ivy when the surface of the plant is broken. All parts of the poison ivy are poisonous and the plant should not be touched. However, the risk of exposure through swimming water is low, because kikutoxin is unstable in water and dissolves quickly. Swimming is safe in places where the plant does not grow, but you should avoid swimming in places where poison ivy grows.

The removal of poison ivy from public swimming beaches begins after the end of the swimming season.

Environmental health in Etelä Häme monitors the water quality of the public swimming beaches of Forssa, Hausjärvi, Humppila, Janakkala, Jokioinen, Lope, Riihimäki, Tammela and Ypäjä during the swimming season from June 15 to August 31.

Etelä Häme environmental health Swimming water quality website