Safety Precautions
For people, the effects of blue-green algae are usually short-lived. Exposure to blue-green algae when swimming can cause itchy, irritated eyes and skin. Swallowing or inhaling the water can cause headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (and ingesting water for long periods of time can lead to a damaged liver)
(Government of Nova Scotia)
If a bloom is or has recently been present:
Humans:
Don’t drink the water or brush your teeth with the water
Don’t touch the algae or the water. Don’t swim, bathe, shower or play in the water.
Contaminated water isn’t safe even if it’s boiled, filtered or treat ed with bleach, herbicides, or other algicides
Wash yourself with clean water if you come into contact with the algae.
For pets, exposure to blue-green algae can be fatal. Pets are attracted by the smell of algae mats, and ingesting the mats has caused pet deaths throughout Nova Scotia.
(Government of Nova Scotia)
If a bloom is or has recently been present:
Animals & Pets
Check out the shore before you let your pet explore!
If an animal may have algae in their fur, wash it off immediately
Keep pets and livestock away
(don’t let them drink or swim in the water)
Contact your vet immediately if your pet ingests algae
How are the blooms harmful?
Anatoxins
Anatoxin neurotoxins affect the central nervous system. They can cause paralysis and asphyxiation.
Microcystins and nodularins
Inhibit the function of protein phosphatases, resulting in severe liver damage in humans. Other health impacts could involve kidney and colon malfunctions, gastroenteritis, allergic reactions, and irritation.
Lipopolysaccharides
Trigger irritant and allergenic responses in mammals and tissues (gastrointestinal tract) in contact with the toxins
(Vu et al., 2020; Sharma et al., 2011)
*These are only some of the more common toxins produced by the bloom-green algae blooms in fresh water