![]() The most dominant blue-green algae in the Great Lakes is Microcystis, which can produce microcystin, a liver toxin and skin irritant. Skin irritants, found in nearly all blue-green algae blooms, can produce skin irritation, rashes, and gastrointestinal distress. ![]() Humans or animals that consume large amounts of these toxins may experience muscle cramps, twitching, paralysis, cardiac or respiratory difficulty, nausea, vomiting, and liver failure. However, not all algal blooms give off an odor or affect the appearance of water, and toxins can remain present in the water even when a bloom has dissipated.īlue-green algae that form HABs have been known to produce a wide array of neurotoxins, liver toxins, cell toxins, and skin irritants. They are also sometimes accompanied by an earthy, pungent, or musty smell. A bloom can look like a scum, foam, or mat on top of the water or like paint that has been spilled in the water. HABs can cause fish kills, foul up nearby coastlines, and produce conditions that are dangerous to aquatic life, as well as humans.īlooms can range in color from red to bright, neon green to more blue-green. They reproduce rapidly, are typically found at or near the surface of the water, and are known to produce toxins. Blue-green algae are actually cyanobacteria that contain chlorophyll similar to true algae. Algae and algal blooms are generally not considered harmful unless they are capable of producing toxins and people come in direct contact with them.Ī harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a bloom of blue-green algae that potentially contains toxins. Most algal blooms are harmless, but certain types of algae may pose a risk to humans, animals, and water quality. Scroll to the bottom of the page for an interactive timeline of algal blooms in Lake Erie and ongoing efforts to study and eradicate them. Blooms are also becoming more frequent in some parts of the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan’s Green Bay, Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay, and Lake Erie’s shallow western basin. Blooms can be found within most bodies of water throughout the Great Lakes region, but they thrive in shallow, warm, still bodies of water like ponds and smaller lakes. When algae populations grow extremely rapidly in a confined area or grow to the point where you do not need a microscope to see them, they are referred to as algal blooms. ![]() Algae are tiny, naturally occurring plants that grow in water (some bacteria are also referred to as algae).
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