What you Need to Know about Algal Blooms

By: Joiya Reid, Justin Bowles, Kamala Groomes, Ryan Kostensky, and Akaria Stewart 

Algal blooms are increasing across the United States. According to a study done by the Environmental Working Group, between 2010 and March 2019, there have been over 520 blooms reported in bodies of water across 47 states.

Those results also reported that in 2018, there were 255 toxic algal blooms reported compared to only three that were reported in 2010. Excessive algae blooms can have a harmful impact on the environment’s marine life causing fish die-offs and the unbalancing of the aquatic ecosystem.

Dr. Barry Rosen, professor at Florida Gulf Coast University in the water school, believes the larger number of blooms is partially due to the increasing warmth of the climate.

“As we see warming of water bodies, as we see ice melting earlier, they’re staying warmer longer, the blooms get to keep growing and growing. They have more opportunity,” said Rosen.

 Due to the increasing amount of these algal blooms, there are some things you should know about them.

What is an algal bloom:

Ryan Evans, a University of Georgia  extension agent, said in simple terms, an algal bloom is the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria on the water’s surface. Algae is known to typically grow in a body of water that is in dry and warmer conditions where there is a lot of nutrients.

Dr. Loren Mathews, a lecturer in the biology department, said there are typically two common forms of algae when it comes to algal blooms. There is phytoplankton, which are very small microorganisms that have plant-like behaviors such as photosynthesizing and macro algae that are usually more visible to the human eye. Mathews said collectively, these two types of algae are labeled as things that cause blooms.

What makes an algal bloom toxic:

To consider an algal bloom toxic largely depends on the kind of algae and toxins it produces. According to Frontiers, Microcystis aeruginosa is a cyanobacteria that produces a potent toxin typically found in most harmful algal blooms.

When it comes to toxicity of algae blooms, Evans said it can usually be recognized by a certain color.

“Typically, what you’re looking for are color changes from green, maybe they’re blue-green, which is a cyanobacteria presence, or reddish-brown which is kind of what looks like a paint over the water’s surface,” said Evans.

According to Landcare Research, cyanobacteria also often has a musky smell to it that resembles one of fish tanks. The site also notes that even though something may look to be cyanobacteria, it doesn't mean there’s a toxicity problem.

Precautions:

 Not all blooms are toxic, but it is safe to take precautions when there are signs of a harmful algae bloom.

Gary Burtle, University of Georgia water quality and fisheries expert, told The Golden Sun that humans and animals should not be able to swim in or drink water that is affected by an algal bloom. Toxin-producing algae can be extremely harmful to animals and if digested in a large enough quantity, liver damage to humans.

An example of this potential danger would be the family who lost their dog in August due to it ingesting a certain amount of water from Allatoona Lake that is believed to have been experiencing a toxic algae bloom.

There was also a study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reported 61 people in Ohio, New York and Washington became ill because of exposure to blooms in freshwater lakes in 2009 and 2010.

If someone should come into contact with water in their local area that resembles these identifiers, they should contact their local health department to have the water tested.