It’s a perfect storm this year for some Ohio Lakes, including its most polluted, Grand Lake St. Marys.

Harmful algal blooms (see this Ohio EPA fact sheet, a .pdf file) this summer have led state officials to prohibit recreational activities on the lake – no boating, swimming, fishing, no contact of any kind.  That’s because these blue-green algae blooms are producing potentially deadly neurotoxins (poisonous for the nervous system) and hepatotoxins (poisonous for the liver).  One family’s pet has died and at least two people have been confirmed seriously ill because of the blooms (which are really made up of bacteria).  There could be more because it’s hard to trace a diagnosis to the bacteria.

Lakes throughout the Ohio River Valley, and rivers too, bloom with blue-green algae frequently.  But why is this year so much worse, and, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports, on course to get even uglier?  Because what feeds these blooms is more abundant than ever.  They need nutrients to thrive, and humans are responsible for fl0oding them with more and more, from the phosphorous and nitrogen in agricultural fertilizer, to sewer overflows, and more.  Plus, they love sunlight and hot weather, which we’ve been having in spades. 

Researchers and state officials are scrambling to address the problem to prevent more deaths.  And local water utilities and spending more and more each time a new bloom is identified to treat drinking water.

An emerging health crisis?  Very possibly.

- by Kristin Espeland Gourlay