Ottawa, Ontario (August 14, 2012) Nutrient pollution, one of the
greatest threats to our freshwater resources, is responsible for
the algal blooms that blanket our lakes and waterways in summer
months. Large blooms of cyanobacteria ('blue green algae') can
cause fish kills, increase the cost of drinking water treatment,
devalue shoreline properties, and pose health risks to people,
pets, and wildlife. A new paper just published in the Canadian
Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences shows that
microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, is present in
Canadian lakes in every province. "Canadians enjoying their
summer at the cottage need to know that those green scums of
algae washing up on their beach are not only unsightly, but can
also be a threat to their health and their children's health,"
says lead author, Diane Orihel, a researcher with the Department
of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. "It's time
to get serious about cleaning up the nutrients polluting our
lakes." Microcystins ar