MCSO: Algae is turning Blue

June 26, 2016
MCSO: Algae is turning Blue.
 MCSO  said they will continue to work with lifeguards and county officials as they determine when the beaches will re-open. Until then, you may see deputies on the ground, in the water, and in the air monitoring the situation, and advising people to stay out of the water.

Listen to them. Stay away from the water.

Josh Reynolds sent the  attached photo taken at Sandhill Cove in Palm City. The substance is not only unsightly, it smells foul. Please be safe, and let any out of town guests who are headed to the beach know of the situation.

Microcystins is a class of toxins produced by certain freshwatercyanobacteria; Freshwater. So don’t let anyone tell you this is from septic tanks. pose a major threat to drinking and irrigation water supplies, as well as the environment.

Microcystins are hepatotoxic (able to cause serious damage to the liver). Once ingested, microcystin travels to the liver, via the bile acid transport system, where most is stored; though some remains in the blood stream and may contaminate tissue. There appears to be inadequate information to assess the carcinogenic potential of microcystins by applying EPA Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment. A few studies suggest a relationship may exist between liver and colorectral cancers and the occurrence of cyanobacteria in drinking water in China.

The rise of water temperatures, stagnant waters makes it worse  through the process of eutrophication (oversupply of nutrients).An Ohio state task force found that Lake Erie received phosphorus and more recently reactive phosphorus from crop land, due to the farming practices, and evidence suggests that in particular dissolved reactive phosphorus (from fertilizer) promotes additional growth.

Fresh water discharges? Fertilizer? hmmm

 

 

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