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River's Blue-Green Algae Not Toxic, Scientists Say

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 03:00 CDT

A sample of blue-green algae taken last month from the St. Lucie River is not toxic, according to scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

But state scientists said they will continue to monitor the algae, since certain strains can become toxic for reasons scientists don't fully understand.

"We know that it can turn on and turn off in some cases, but what exactly makes it do that, we're not sure," said Peter Doering, a biologist with the South Florida Water Management District.

Blue-green algae typically are toxic only in stagnant water like a pond or a lake, Gil McRae, director of the research institute, said last month. This week, scientists found toxins in a sample from Lake Okeechobee.

State scientists will continue to take water samples in the St. Lucie Estuary, though it's unclear what chance there is of the algae there becoming toxic. Though blue-green algae has been spotted before in the estuary, "we have not seen a toxic impact in past years that I'm aware of," Doering said.

Even so, non-toxic algae can lead to fish kills when the blooms die and deplete the water of dissolved oxygen.

"Normally, with the estuary, the water is flowing through, and it's going to push the algae out to the salinity, which will kill the algae," said Jeremy Lake, a spokesman for the research institute.

But with more than 1 million gallons of fresh water a minute pouring from Lake Okeechobee into the estuary, the algae have much farther to go to reach salty water.

Health officials have warned people to avoid the blooms since they first appeared in the river in June, streaking the river with neon-green globs the color of radiator fluid.

"It's just good common sense to avoid algae blooms, and nothing has changed," said Bob Washam, Martin County's environmental health director.

There have been no reports of health problems linked to the river or the algae, Washam said. Toxic algae can cause skin rashes, irritated eyes and runny noses.

rachel_harris@pbpost.com

Source: Palm Beach Post

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