The Associated Press

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - Federal researchers will begin a study Saturday to monitor Lake Erie's water quality at Huntington Beach, located 13 miles west of Cleveland.

The study will track the health of visitors afterward for any signs of illness.

The research is part of a national study of the links among water pollution, swimming and health, according to the sponsoring U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Researchers will test new laboratory technology that gives same-day results about the possible presence of harmful pathogens.

Researchers chose Huntington because it is nearly a half-mile long and drew 180,000 visitors last year.

Huntington also faces several potential sources of possible contamination: a drain pipe near the beach dumps storm water into Lake Erie; and nearby Porter and Cahoon creeks, which also could carry contamination, empty into the lake near the beach.

The EPA will have about 20 interviewers posted at the beach who will ask a few basic questions when visitors arrive and leave, such as whether they swallowed any water.

Researchers also will follow up 10 to 12 days later to see if beach-goers came down with any illness or symptoms.