What causes harmful cyanobacterial blooms?
Blooms of harmful algae and cyanobacteria Most harmful blooms that make people and animals sick are caused by phytoplankton. These harmful blooms can be caused by many types of phytoplankton. Cyanobacteria (sometimes called blue-green algae) Dinoflagellates (sometimes called microalgae or red tide)
What is an algal cyanobacterial bloom?
An algal overgrowth is referred to as an “algal bloom.” Cyanobacterial blooms are usually blue-green in color, but algal blooms can vary in color, ranging all the way to red or brown. When a bloom occurs, scum (a layer of foul extraneous matter) might float on the water surface, resulting in a rotten plant-like odor.
Are cyanobacteria regulated by the EPA?
No federal regulatory guidelines for cyanobacteria or their toxins in drinking water or recreational waters exist at this time in the U.S. At the moment of this publication, EPA is in the process of developing drinking water health advisories for microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin.
What species are affected by cyanobacterial blooms?
Microcystins are the most widespread cyanobacterial toxins and can bioaccumulate in common aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates such as fish, mussels, and zooplankton. Microcystins primarily affect the liver (hepatotoxin), but can also affect the kidney and reproductive system.
Why have cyanobacterial blooms increased?
Warmer temperatures prevent water from mixing, allowing algae to grow thicker and faster. Warmer water is easier for small organisms to move through and allows algae to float to the surface faster. Algal blooms absorb sunlight, making water even warmer and promoting more blooms.
What types of toxins can be released by harmful algal blooms?
The algae Pseudo-nitzschia produces a toxin called domoic acid that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, seizures, permanent short term memory loss, or death, when consumed at high levels.
What happens if you drink blue-green algae?
Blue-green algae contain toxins and you may experience skin rashes, itchiness; sore eyes, ears and nose; asthma; numbness of lips and limbs; nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
What are the benefits of taking blue-green algae?
Some people use blue-green algae for treating precancerous growths inside the mouth, twitching of the eyelids, boosting the immune system, improving memory, increasing energy and metabolism, improving exercise performance, lowering cholesterol, preventing heart disease, healing wounds, and improving digestion and bowel …
What toxins do cyanobacteria produce?
Cyanobacterial toxins – cyanotoxins In terms of their toxicological target, cyanobacterial toxins are hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, dermatotoxins and irritant toxins (Wiegand & Pflugmacher, 2005).
Why do cyanobacteria blooms occur?
Cyanobacteria blooms form when cyanobacteria, which are normally found in the water, start to multiply very quickly. Blooms can form in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients from sources such as fertilizer runoff or septic tank overflows. Cyanobacteria blooms need nutrients to survive.
Where do cyanobacterial blooms occur?
Algae and cyanobacteria can form blooms Blooms can occur in fresh water, marine (salt) water, and brackish (a mixture of fresh and salt) water around the world.
Is blue-green algae toxic to wildlife?
Drinking water from stagnant ponds and dugouts during hot, dry weather can cause sudden death in animals. Cyanobacteria produce neuro and liver toxins that are poisonous to nearly all livestock, wildlife and humans. …
