Blue-green algae blooms produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and animals. Consuming water containing high levels of blue-green algae has been associated with damaging effects to the liver and nervous system in pets, livestock and people, according to the Cayuga County Health Department.
Some guidelines from the Cayuga County Health
Department for dealing with blue-green algae:
- People should suspect that blue-green algae
could be present in surface water that is visibly discolored or that has
surface scums.
- People and pets should not swim in surface water
that is discolored or has surface scum. If contact does occur, wash with soap
and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove algae.
- Avoid bathing, showering or washing dishes in
untreated surface water that is experiencing an algae bloom.
- Do not let your pet drink water experiencing
blue-green algae blooms.
If you suspect a blue-green algae bloom, call the Cayuga
County Environmental Health Division at (315) 253-1405.
See the entire Citizen article at: http://auburnpub.com/news/local/health-department-blue-green-algae-bloom-found-on-west-side/article_457d9cf9-8b29-5871-886a-e37e7d38eb8d.html
