Algae a Concern at Local Lakes

[Guest guest]

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

_________________________________________________________________

Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!

http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/