Latest news with #algaebloom
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
DANGEROUS WATERS
An algae bloom covers Lake Erie near Toledo, Ohio, in 2014. Toxic algae contaminated the water in Toledo, making it unsafe to use for two to three days. Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP to view this content.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
N.S. reminds residents to be cautious of blue-green algae in freshwater lakes
The Nova Scotia government is reminding residents to be cautious of blue-green algae. Also known as cyanobacteria, blue-green algae is found in freshwater lakes. The government says the plant-like substance is more likely to grow in warm weather. 'Algae blooms can look like fine grass clippings in the water, spilled paint, pea soup or sometimes like a thick scum on the surface,' reads a news release from the province. 'Algae mats can be found in shallow areas of lakes and rivers and along the shoreline; they often look like clumps of vegetation and may appear black, brown or dark green in the water.' The province says testing is unreliable in large bodies of water because blue-green algae can move around, reform and recur. The government warns mats may detach from the bottom and wash up on the shoreline, where they look grey and have a foul odour that may attract dogs. Ingesting blue-green algae can be fatal for pets. When people come in contact with contaminated water it can cause itchy eyes and skin. The province says symptoms worsen if the water is swallowed or breathed in, which can lead to headaches, fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. 'Climate change is causing more blue-green algae in our lakes and other freshwater bodies. As summer approaches, we are reminding Nova Scotians about the tools available to help them recognize and prevent exposure so they can enjoy our lakes and other freshwater safely,' said Timothy Halman, minister of Environment and Climate Change, in the release. To reduce your risk, the province recommends: scanning the water and shoreline for blue-green algae before going into fresh water or letting children and pets play in it avoiding contact with blooms not drinking fresh water when swimming or enjoying lakes calling a veterinarian if a pet comes into contact with a bloom with a bloom reporting sightings by calling 1-877-936-8476 For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie swimmer's close brush with death after stingray narrowly misses her artery in rare attack
A volunteer marine researcher has narrowly escaped with her life after an stingray barb missed her artery in a rare attack. Pam Bennett, 68, was part of a team recently snorkelling 50metres offshore at Treasure Cove on South Australia 's Southern Yorke Peninsula. Ms Bennett, a local, had been studying the effects of an algae bloom on the water's wildlife and the unusual number of fish found dead along the coastline. She noticed she was above an eagle ray and even though she 'quickly swam out of the way', a 16cm-long barb pierced her arm. 'I actually didn't see that stingray - he had come from behind, I think. He had actually attacked,' she told the ABC. 'That's not their normal behaviour.' A second eagle ray attempted to lash out at another member of the group, Dr Mike Bossley, but it missed its target. Ms Bennett recalled feeling as though she'd been attacked by a dog as her teammates floated her to shore. 'I kind of expected them to take the wetsuit off and see teeth marks,' she said. The 68-year-old managed to scale a cliff back to the roadside and she was taken to Yorketown Hospital for an x-ray. Doctors discovered the full barb had been lodged in Ms Bennett's arm, missing her brachial artery. A severed brachial artery can cause a person to fall unconscious is just 15 seconds and death in 90 seconds. Both she and Dr Bossley believe the unusually aggressive stingrays attacked them due to the ongoing algae bloom. In the past two months several sharks, stingrays, octopuses and fish have washed onto South Australian beaches. It's believed the spike in deaths has been caused by the algae sticking to the marine life and limiting their oxygen intake. Ms Bennett was later flown to Adelaide to undergo surgery to remove the large barb. She told Nine News on Tuesday she is recovering well. 'I've got a sore arm, that's all,' she said. Dr Bossley warned that while the attack was uncharacteristic of stingrays, similar incidents could occur if the algae continues to spread. 'The only thing that will help is if we get a decent storm coming in from the south-west, which will break up the bloom and disperse it,' he said.
