Harmful Algal Bloom Answers




 

All Infromation is from the EPA website.

What are harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies. 


What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?

Harmful algal blooms can:
  • Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animalsCreate dead zones in the waterRaise treatment costs for drinking water
  • Hurt industries that depend on clean water

What causes harmful algal blooms?

Harmful algal blooms need:
  • Sunlight
  • Slow-moving water
  • Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
  • Nutrient pollution from human activities makes the problem worse, leading to more severe blooms that occur more often.
Learn where nutrient pollution comes from.


Stay out of the water if:
  • It's slimy or looks like foam.
  • The color is weird or looks like paint. Algal blooms can be blue, bright green, brown, or red.
  • It smells bad. 
It can be hard to tell if an algal bloom is toxic so pay attention to local water advisories.


Find information from your state - State departments of health or environment are often the best place to find local information about harmful algal blooms.



Important Links

Protect your pets and livestock -  Harmful algae can be dangerous for animals who drink or swim in affected water.

Learn how to protect your pets.

What you can do - Simple actions around your home and yard can make a big difference.

Learn how you can help.

What EPA is doing - EPA fights harmful algal blooms by working to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

Find research and publications

USGS Algal Toxin Research Team

NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research 
 
 
 
 

 

All Infromation is from the EPA website.

What are harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies. 


What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?

Harmful algal blooms can:
  • Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animalsCreate dead zones in the waterRaise treatment costs for drinking water
  • Hurt industries that depend on clean water

What causes harmful algal blooms?

Harmful algal blooms need:
  • Sunlight
  • Slow-moving water
  • Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
  • Nutrient pollution from human activities makes the problem worse, leading to more severe blooms that occur more often.
Learn where nutrient pollution comes from.


Stay out of the water if:
  • It's slimy or looks like foam.
  • The color is weird or looks like paint. Algal blooms can be blue, bright green, brown, or red.
  • It smells bad. 
It can be hard to tell if an algal bloom is toxic so pay attention to local water advisories.


Find information from your state - State departments of health or environment are often the best place to find local information about harmful algal blooms.



Important Links

Protect your pets and livestock -  Harmful algae can be dangerous for animals who drink or swim in affected water.

Learn how to protect your pets.

What you can do - Simple actions around your home and yard can make a big difference.

Learn how you can help.

What EPA is doing - EPA fights harmful algal blooms by working to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.

Find research and publications

USGS Algal Toxin Research Team

NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research