Latest news with #NationalCentersForCoastalOceanScience
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Toxic algae bloom prompts warning and beach closures at Minnesota lake
A bacteria called 'cyanobacteria' has bloomed in Lake Erie, with officials warning vacationers to the popular Midwest tourist attraction to remain on high alert. Cyanobacteria manifest as blue-green algae and are typically found in freshwater. The bacteria are essential in maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem, but excessive blooms can lead to disastrous health effects. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science released an alert warning of a cyanobacteria bloom in western Lake Erie that spans around 160 miles. Those swimming in the lake from Maumee Bay north, Monroe, Port Clinton, into the western basin on West Sister Island, and Sandusky Bay have been warned of toxins exceeding the recreational limit. The cyanobacteria bloom has created scums and discolored green water that can be dangerous for swimming. 'Toxins have been detected below the recreational limit in western Lake Erie. They can be highly concentrated in scums! If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water,' the alert read. The NCCOS uses satellite imagery and forecasting technology to determine the status of the bloom. Field samples also show the depth and level of toxicity in the water. Satellite images taken on Tuesday revealed that the western part of Lake Erie was highlighted in green and blue, meaning high amounts of cyanobacteria were present. The NCCOS added that high winds can underestimate the full area impacted. Winds can mix the bloom, and clouds can obscure the satellite reading. Cyanobacteria are a type of HAB (Harmful Algal Blooms) and can cause harm to the environment and humans. Cyanobacteria can also produce a byproduct called cyanotoxins, which can cause diarrhea, headaches, skin irritation, and even death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The bloom occurs when the water gets warmer, making July to October the peak season for Lake Erie. The NCCOS released a seasonal forecast for HABs in Lake Erie in June, predicting the severity would be a three with a potential range of two to four out of ten. Scientists expected a predicted bloom severity of mild to moderate, noting the bacteria would concentrate in July, peak in August, and continue until September. Gregory J Dick, a professor of Biology at the University of Michigan, wrote in The Conversation that climate change has increased cyanobacteria growth. Cyanobacteria grow in warmer climates, meaning that temperature increases exacerbate growth. He added that cyanobacteria can be lethal to pets, and new science suggests that long-term exposure for humans may even exacerbate respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal problems. These health issues have even been linked to liver cancers, kidney disease, and neurological problems. In 2014, a cyanobacteria bloom contaminated Lake Erie, which made its way into the water supply. Over 450,000 residents in Toledo were issued an advisory not to drink the water and were forced to purchase bottled water for over two days.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Bacteria 'bloom' explodes in popular Midwest lake as officials warn vacationers to stay away
A bacteria called 'cyanobacteria' has bloomed in Lake Erie, with officials warning vacationers to the popular Midwest tourist attraction to remain on high alert. Cyanobacteria manifest as blue-green algae and are typically found in freshwater. The bacteria are essential in maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem, but excessive blooms can lead to disastrous health effects. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science released an alert warning of a cyanobacteria bloom in western Lake Erie that spans around 160 miles. Those swimming in the lake from Maumee Bay north, Monroe, Port Clinton, into the western basin on West Sister Island, and Sandusky Bay have been warned of toxins exceeding the recreational limit. The cyanobacteria bloom has created scums and discolored green water that can be dangerous for swimming. 'Toxins have been detected below the recreational limit in western Lake Erie. They can be highly concentrated in scums! If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water,' the alert read. The NCCOS uses satellite imagery and forecasting technology to determine the status of the bloom. Field samples also show the depth and level of toxicity in the water. Satellite images taken on Tuesday revealed that the western part of Lake Erie was highlighted in green and blue, meaning high amounts of cyanobacteria were present. The NCCOS added that high winds can underestimate the full area impacted. Winds can mix the bloom, and clouds can obscure the satellite reading. Cyanobacteria are a type of HAB (Harmful Algal Blooms) and can cause harm to the environment and humans. Cyanobacteria can also produce a byproduct called cyanotoxins, which can cause diarrhea, headaches, skin irritation, and even death, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The bloom occurs when the water gets warmer, making July to October the peak season for Lake Erie. The NCCOS released a seasonal forecast for HABs in Lake Erie in June, predicting the severity would be a three with a potential range of two to four out of ten. Scientists expected a predicted bloom severity of mild to moderate, noting the bacteria would concentrate in July, peak in August, and continue until September. Gregory J Dick, a professor of Biology at the University of Michigan, wrote in The Conversation that climate change has increased cyanobacteria growth. Cyanobacteria grow in warmer climates, meaning that temperature increases exacerbate growth. The alert was issued for Maumee Bay north, Monroe, Port Clinton, into the western basin on West Sister Island, and Sandusky Bay Dick added that cyanobacteria can be lethal to pets, and new science suggests that long-term exposure for humans may even exacerbate respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal problems. These health issues have even been linked to liver cancers, kidney disease, and neurological problems. In 2014, a cyanobacteria bloom contaminated Lake Erie, which made its way into the water supply. Over 450,000 residents in Toledo were issued an advisory not to drink the water and were forced to purchase bottled water for over two days.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Cyanobacteria bloom, a common summer nuisance on Lake Erie, has formed in the water
A cyanobacteria bloom is expanding in western Lake Erie, covering an area of about 160 square miles from the shoreline of Monroe County, Michigan, to the shoreline of Ottawa County, Ohio. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science issued that report Monday, saying the bloom had expanded since it was last checked on Friday. In addition to the area generally from Monroe to Port Clinton, scientists have detected a separate cyanobacteria bloom forming in Sandusky Bay, Ohio. "If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water," the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science said. Algae and cyanobacteria are part of the natural marine ecosystem, the agency said. But some environmental factors cause them to grow out of control into a mass quantity called a bloom. Lake Erie is most likely to see harmful blue-green algae blooms from about July to October. That scenario can be harmful or at least a nuisance to fish, birds and humans, including potential impacts on municipal water supplies, the agency said. One such incident in August 2014 affected water supplies from Toledo, Ohio, that included about 30,000 Southeast Michigan residents whose water mains are connected to that system. Testing can help determine the toxicity of blooms that form near water intakes. Satellite maps and imagery of the western Lake Erie region can be found at the Coastal Science website.
