Europe Gains on Beach Pollution EC Officials Say Most Nations Sharing the 37,000-Mile Coastline Are Pushing Clean-Up Efforts, ENVIRONMENT

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ENVIRONMENT-watchers believe a turning point may be about to be reached in the so far losing battle to clean up the European Community's 37,000-mile coastline and render its myriad beaches pollution-free.

A report issued this month by the EC's executive commission says that most of the 12 member nations are stepping up their beach-cleaning efforts.

Commission officials say that if the current campaign can be sustained, the tide of pollution could be turned back in 20 to 30 years.

In most such cases it will be because local effort, backed up by heavy pressure from environmental officials in Brussels, the EC headquarters, has banished the contaminates that …