How could we best caution public with signage, around HABs? It does not seem as easy as you might at first think. The blooms could often not even put out much toxin content, nor affect a whole lake. Any resort business on that lake could be adversely affected needlessly.... or, be gravely affected if toxins did harm people and had been lacking adequate signage posted. There is significant delay in bloom toxin assessment that could be dangerous if left unposted to await results. And, many blooms could die, and the water clear up, but the toxins only be dispersed when the dead cyanobacteria degrade on the lake bottom, with serious exposures to swimmers that swam in clear water but heard nothing of the bloom (or were given a premature 'all clear'. HABS advisories may even sometimes be lifted, yet the toxin dispersal delayed. Then, there are more unknowns in that there are emerging newly identified toxins (e.g. N-BMAA), that could accumulate in fish and shellfish to be eaten.  There is a lot of public education needed, and what do we say on signage?

Published February 5, 2018 07:41 by Ray Kinney