‘Tis the Season for Blue-Green Algae

Written by admin, June 21, 2016

June 21, 2016 – Know the Risks and How to Protect Yourself

Peterborough Public Health is advising local residents to report and protect themselves from blue-green algae which may bloom on area lakes.

Peterborough Public Health (PPH), with the assistance of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, will follow up on blue-green algae blooms reported in lakes in Peterborough County and City area, and around Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. To date, no reports have been received of the presence or confirmation of blue-green algae this season.

“Residents should visit our website or call us for information about what to look for before swimming or consuming water if they suspect a bloom in their area,” said Atul Jain, Manager of Environmental Health Programs at PPH. “Just as we have all learned how to avoid poison ivy and sunburns, it’s important to know how to protect ourselves from blue-green algae so everyone can still safely enjoy the outdoors.”

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria, called cyanobacteria that are known for rapidly reproducing and collecting to form large, highly visible blooms throughout the water column, on the surface of water as a scum, or on the lake bottom as a mat.  These blooms are not only unsightly and smelly: some species of cyanobacteria can also release poisons, called cyanobacterial toxins, when the cells that make up the bloom rupture or die. To report a blue-green algae bloom, residents are advised to contact the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change at 1-800-268-6060.

The risk to humans is primarily from drinking water that has been contaminated with toxins from a dense algae bloom.  Fortunately, there have been no human deaths attributed to drinking water containing cyanobacterial toxins, but the toxins may cause headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Long-term consumption of water containing high levels of cyanobacterial toxins may cause neurological or liver problems.  If allowed, farm animals and pets may consume large quantities of heavily contaminated water, resulting in sickness or death.

Some individuals are sensitive to blue-green algae, and may develop a mild skin rash or eye irritation even if there is no toxin produced by the bloom.  Some individuals will have no reaction.

For more information on blue-green algae, and precautions to be taken before swimming in or consuming water where there has been an algae bloom, go to www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and click on “My Home & Environment” to visit the webpage dedicated to blue-green algae.

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For further information, please contact:

Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391