Re: SCHOEMAKER/Algae Biotoxins at Local Lakes

[Guest guest]

dr schaller, do people taking csm and / or welchol for exposure develop

herxheimers syndrome? just curious-- & could you describe that syndrome a

little bit?

thanks,

victoria

[] " Algae a Concern at Local Lakes "

>

>

>> Here is the latest from my little corner of the world.

>>

>> Barbara

>>

>>

>>

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060519/NEWS01/605190327/\

1010

>>

>> Algae a concern at local lakes

>> Blooms emit a toxin that can make you sick

>> By Jeff Burlew

>> DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

>>

>> Harmful algae blooms producing a toxin that can make people and pets sick

>> have formed in Lake , Lake Munson and Piney Z Lake, according to a

>> new report.

>>

>> But Leon County officials say people shouldn't panic because of the

>> report's

>> findings. People who come into contact with the blooms can protect

>> themselves by simply washing off the slimy, scummy water.

>>

>> McGlynn Laboratories, which has been testing lakes for the county, has

>> found

>> that levels of a toxin called microcystin are 27 times higher than World

>> Health Organization drinking-water thresholds in Lake Munson and 10 times

>> higher in Lake Piney Z. The toxic level is below the threshold in Lake

>> .

>> The blooms can choke the life out of lakes by consuming oxygen and

>> blocking

>> sunlight that organisms need. The toxic algae can drain from the lakes

>> into

>> the aquifer and eventually make their way into Wakulla Springs and

>> possibly

>> well water, said McGlynn, technical director of the lab.

>>

>> " This is the last stage in the life cycle of a lake, " he said. " It's very

>> hard to get them to turn back. This is not what you want to see in a

>> lake. "

>>

>> The blooms can form quickly because of pollutants, light and temperature.

>> Swimming in water with the blooms can cause a skin rash, runny nose and

>> watery eyes, and drinking the water can cause vomiting, diarrhea and

>> liver

>> problems. Also, invasive apple snails that can carry harmful parasites

>> are

>> thriving in the blooms.

>>

>> Theresa Heiker, the county's chief stormwater engineer, said people

>> shouldn't become overly concerned. After McGlynn reported a bloom at Lake

>> Munson last year, county officials determined that people could prevent

>> skin

>> irritation by washing off at public restrooms or by using spigots and

>> hoses.

>>

>> " The contact with the water can be addressed by simply washing it off, "

>> Heiker said. " I have seen nothing that indicates a problem with using any

>> of

>> our lakes or drinking-well water. "

>>

>> According to the Department of Health, over time, the toxins break down

>> and

>> disappear.

>>

>> Heiker said the county is working with the Florida Department of Health

>> to

>> determine whether the toxins are, in fact, getting downstream. She also

>> said

>> people would have to ingest substantial quantities of the toxin over a

>> period of time to develop health problems.

>>

>> McGlynn, who is running for the Tallahassee City Commission, said the

>> blooms

>> are a byproduct of too much development and too few stormwater treatment

>> ponds. He said more ponds - which Blueprint 2000 is planning on

>> building -

>> could fix the problem.

>>

>> " That's the only hope, " he said.

>>

>> How can you protect yourself?

>>

>> Anyone with symptoms that may be cause by contact with harmful algae

>> blooms

>> should call their doctor or the Poison Information Hotline at (888)

>> 232-8635. For more information about algae blooms, visit the Web site

>> www.floridamarine.org.

>>

>> Avoid contact with large mats of blue-green algae.

>>

>> Never allow children or pets to play in or drink scummy water.

>>

>> Don't water-ski or jet-ski over algae blooms.

>>

>> Don't use scummy water for cleaning or irrigation.

>>

>> If you come into contact with a bloom, wash thoroughly, paying special

>> attention to the swimsuit area and a pet's fur.

>>

>> Contact reporter Jeff Burlew at (850) 599-2180 or

>> jburlew@....

>>

>> Originally published May 19, 2006

>>

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