![]() While they aren’t a new phenomenon (Spanish explorers recorded blooms along Florida’s coast in the 1500s), reports of freshwater harmful algal blooms have increased significantly over the past 40 years, and they are now an environmental problem in all 50 states. Algal blooms are odious, but more important, they can also be dangerous, imperiling public health and aquatic ecosystems, and costly, affecting local economies. They also form in bodies of fresh water, making lakes, ponds, or your favorite swimming hole smelly and slimy. But harmful algal blooms don’t just affect our oceans. You may have read about algae taking over giant swaths of coastlines, closing beaches and turning the sea a foamy brownish red in a phenomenon known as a red tide. Preventing Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms.What Are the Effects of Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms?.What Causes Harmful Freshwater Algal Blooms?.The Most Common Types of Harmful Algal Blooms."If you suspect your dog has come into contact with blue-green algae, take them to your vet urgently-if possible, call ahead to let them know you are on your way as cases of blue-green algae poisoning often need rapid treatment."Īnimals may also suffer neurological damage as a result of algal toxins, which can cause behavioral changes and uncharacteristic aggression, as has been suspected to have happened in cape fur seals in South Africa. "Pay attention to any signage that may indicate if there is any nearby, but bear in mind that this may not be in place. "Owners can protect their pets by keeping their dogs away from bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds and rivers that you suspect may contain blue-green algae-this includes not letting them swim in or drink from the water, but also well away from the banks and surrounding areas," a spokesperson for the Kennel Club-a U.K.-based charity devoted to dog health and welfare- previously told Newsweek. ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUSĪlgal toxins can also harm, or even kill, pets and other animals. The algal bloom at Lake Okeechobee has sparked a health alert. These can be harmful to people that consume the water, causing flu-like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as throat or eye irritation, allergic reactions and respiratory issues. This toxin was found in 39 percent of lakes sampled by the U.S. One of these toxins is microcystin, which was found in water samples taken from the lake on June 17. The algae can grow in large, odorous mats, and produce toxins, including those that target the liver (hepatotoxins) or toxins that target the nervous system (neurotoxins). It has had past issues with harmful algal blooms, with 45 percent of the lake being covered by the algae in July last year, and up to 90 percent of the its surface being coated in 2018, triggering a state of emergency across seven Florida counties.Īlgal blooms are excessive growths of micro-organisms called cyanobacteria, which grow and reproduce rapidly when water is warm and abundant in the chemicals they need, like phosphorus and nitrogen. The agency urged people to avoid swimming in or drinking from the lake. Lake Okeechobee's bloom has been growing since May, when the Palm Beach County Health Department issued health warnings after toxins from the algae were detected in the its water. The bloom had grown further to cover 420 square miles by July 4, and 440 square miles by July 15, covering nearly 60 percent of the lake's surface. ![]() NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. ![]() Cyanobacteria covering over half of the surface of Florida’s largest freshwater lake on June 12.
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