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Omaha Blue Algae Alert
To All Attending the Omaha Race
The USTS have been advised by the City of Omaha that there is currently a blue algae alert for Carter Lake. According to the city the race does not need to be cancelled. I am posting some additional information to educate not scare everyone. This has happened in the past and people continued to water ski and boat on the lake. We do need to understand that prolonged exposure may potentially cause a rash, ingestion can be fatal to animals and harmful to humans. I am confident that with a few precautions this will not cause a problem. If you have an open sore you should probably not be in the water. You should rinse off with clean water after prolonged exposure. Children and pets should not enter the water.
I have done some research and put together the pertinent information for everyone to read so you have a better understanding of the alert. You may read the article in full at: http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/hab/bgahhtxt.html
If you have any questons or concerns please feel free to contact me.
See you in Omaha
Kristi Ellison
Blue-Green Algae
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are ubiquitous around the world.The toxins produced by selected species of cyanobacteria are secondary metabolites of the algae and fall into three general categories: neurotoxic, hepatotoxic and non-specific (mostly cytotoxic effects). Mortality from cyanobacteria is mostly confined to veterinary reports in pets and livestock that have drunk water densely packed with algae.
Effects on Human Health
Adverse human health effects associated with cyanobacteria are rare in the medical literature: these are mostly anecdotal case reports and are often cir***stantial (e.g., no other cause was found for these effects); in some instances neither the algae nor the toxin(s) are identified. No human deaths from cyanobacteria have been reported in the United States. Ingestion and immersion are the primary routes of ill-health effects from toxic metabolites of cyanobacteria. Exposure to airborne components of algae can result in irritant and allergic symptoms and are likely mediated by non-toxic cellular components of the algae. Blue-green algae in small numbers are a natural part of the water system. In large numbers, the algae spoil the water because of malodor and form thick s*** on the water (increasing the viscosity and composition), and as a result cause the water to be distasteful.
Health effects in humans are seldom seen from blue-green algae, although reports of illness in animals are slightly more frequent. Medical literature concerning direct contact with algae is sparse and located mostly in non-U.S. medical publications. In countries around the world and in some parts of the U.S., deaths have been reported in animals (particularly pets and cattle) that drank water containing high levels of cyanobacteria, particularly in drought conditions when stagnant, contaminated water was the animals' only water source.
Cyanobacteria are thought to cause a wide range of symptoms in humans. Probably the most notable symptom and sign is abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (epidemic gastroenteritis). Dermatologic problems (e.g., rash) and eye irritations can also occur, but there is nothing characteristic about the eruption and the literature does not discuss whether the cause is a mechanical irritation or an allergic reaction to toxic metabolites or algal components. Contact dermatitis from algae may likely appear similar to contact with poison ivy; the skin reaction may be more an exaggerated immune response to irritant properties of algal components and not necessarily indicative of its toxic potential.
Precautions:
During a cyanobacterial bloom, water looks and smells bad, and the inclination is to avoid such water. Older children or adults would not voluntarily drink, get close to, or swim in the water. However, younger children and animals might get in it or drink it, and so would be at higher risk from a bloom.
Therefore, to minimize the risk of direct contact one should:
Limit exposure to water where blue-green algae are readily visible. Boating is less risky than swimming or wading; walking on the shore or fishing from a dock is less risky than being out on the water.
Do not wade or swim in water containing visible blooms. Avoid contacting dense mats of algae unless precautions are taken to prevent direct contact.
Do not drink the water or let children, livestock or pets get into or drink the water.
Do not drink untreated water from water bodies regardless of whether noticeable blooms are present nearby. In addition to possible health risks from algal blooms, other gastrointestinal illnesses can also be contracted by drinking untreated water, such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, hepatitis A viral infection or E. coli-related diseases.
People who are prone to hay fever and asthma from environmental triggers should avoid algal bloom areas.
Because of the potential for local irritation from direct skin contact, it is recommended that water-resistant gloves be used in handling and removing unwanted algae that may build up or wash up on shores and surfaces. If contact is made, clean water should be used to dilute and remove algal residues.
Contact the county health department and (or) the regional office of the N.C. Division of Water Quality about investigating the bloom and identifying the predominant species.
Wild animals, birds and even pets may drink and become ill from drinking algae-tainted water. If unusual numbers of dead animals are seen around a lake, that fact should be reported to the county Health Department and/or the county Animal Control section.
Conclusion:
Reports of actual ill-effects from direct exposure to algae are exceedingly rare in the human medical literature and are mostly associated with the marine algae. The greatest risk for severe disease from any algae is from ingestion of contaminated water and/or contaminated shellfish, which concentrate the toxins. Adverse health effects from being in proximity to an algal bloom (other than reacting to the smell) are difficult to prove and likely depend on the individual, as some people are sensitized to environmental allergens like mold, grass, pollen, and perhaps certain algae. While there are a number of treatments for symptoms, the best method is prevention, that is, simply avoiding direct exposure.
The USTS have been advised by the City of Omaha that there is currently a blue algae alert for Carter Lake. According to the city the race does not need to be cancelled. I am posting some additional information to educate not scare everyone. This has happened in the past and people continued to water ski and boat on the lake. We do need to understand that prolonged exposure may potentially cause a rash, ingestion can be fatal to animals and harmful to humans. I am confident that with a few precautions this will not cause a problem. If you have an open sore you should probably not be in the water. You should rinse off with clean water after prolonged exposure. Children and pets should not enter the water.
I have done some research and put together the pertinent information for everyone to read so you have a better understanding of the alert. You may read the article in full at: http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/hab/bgahhtxt.html
If you have any questons or concerns please feel free to contact me.
See you in Omaha
Kristi Ellison
Blue-Green Algae
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are ubiquitous around the world.The toxins produced by selected species of cyanobacteria are secondary metabolites of the algae and fall into three general categories: neurotoxic, hepatotoxic and non-specific (mostly cytotoxic effects). Mortality from cyanobacteria is mostly confined to veterinary reports in pets and livestock that have drunk water densely packed with algae.
Effects on Human Health
Adverse human health effects associated with cyanobacteria are rare in the medical literature: these are mostly anecdotal case reports and are often cir***stantial (e.g., no other cause was found for these effects); in some instances neither the algae nor the toxin(s) are identified. No human deaths from cyanobacteria have been reported in the United States. Ingestion and immersion are the primary routes of ill-health effects from toxic metabolites of cyanobacteria. Exposure to airborne components of algae can result in irritant and allergic symptoms and are likely mediated by non-toxic cellular components of the algae. Blue-green algae in small numbers are a natural part of the water system. In large numbers, the algae spoil the water because of malodor and form thick s*** on the water (increasing the viscosity and composition), and as a result cause the water to be distasteful.
Health effects in humans are seldom seen from blue-green algae, although reports of illness in animals are slightly more frequent. Medical literature concerning direct contact with algae is sparse and located mostly in non-U.S. medical publications. In countries around the world and in some parts of the U.S., deaths have been reported in animals (particularly pets and cattle) that drank water containing high levels of cyanobacteria, particularly in drought conditions when stagnant, contaminated water was the animals' only water source.
Cyanobacteria are thought to cause a wide range of symptoms in humans. Probably the most notable symptom and sign is abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (epidemic gastroenteritis). Dermatologic problems (e.g., rash) and eye irritations can also occur, but there is nothing characteristic about the eruption and the literature does not discuss whether the cause is a mechanical irritation or an allergic reaction to toxic metabolites or algal components. Contact dermatitis from algae may likely appear similar to contact with poison ivy; the skin reaction may be more an exaggerated immune response to irritant properties of algal components and not necessarily indicative of its toxic potential.
Precautions:
During a cyanobacterial bloom, water looks and smells bad, and the inclination is to avoid such water. Older children or adults would not voluntarily drink, get close to, or swim in the water. However, younger children and animals might get in it or drink it, and so would be at higher risk from a bloom.
Therefore, to minimize the risk of direct contact one should:
Limit exposure to water where blue-green algae are readily visible. Boating is less risky than swimming or wading; walking on the shore or fishing from a dock is less risky than being out on the water.
Do not wade or swim in water containing visible blooms. Avoid contacting dense mats of algae unless precautions are taken to prevent direct contact.
Do not drink the water or let children, livestock or pets get into or drink the water.
Do not drink untreated water from water bodies regardless of whether noticeable blooms are present nearby. In addition to possible health risks from algal blooms, other gastrointestinal illnesses can also be contracted by drinking untreated water, such as giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, hepatitis A viral infection or E. coli-related diseases.
People who are prone to hay fever and asthma from environmental triggers should avoid algal bloom areas.
Because of the potential for local irritation from direct skin contact, it is recommended that water-resistant gloves be used in handling and removing unwanted algae that may build up or wash up on shores and surfaces. If contact is made, clean water should be used to dilute and remove algal residues.
Contact the county health department and (or) the regional office of the N.C. Division of Water Quality about investigating the bloom and identifying the predominant species.
Wild animals, birds and even pets may drink and become ill from drinking algae-tainted water. If unusual numbers of dead animals are seen around a lake, that fact should be reported to the county Health Department and/or the county Animal Control section.
Conclusion:
Reports of actual ill-effects from direct exposure to algae are exceedingly rare in the human medical literature and are mostly associated with the marine algae. The greatest risk for severe disease from any algae is from ingestion of contaminated water and/or contaminated shellfish, which concentrate the toxins. Adverse health effects from being in proximity to an algal bloom (other than reacting to the smell) are difficult to prove and likely depend on the individual, as some people are sensitized to environmental allergens like mold, grass, pollen, and perhaps certain algae. While there are a number of treatments for symptoms, the best method is prevention, that is, simply avoiding direct exposure.
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