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What are Cyanobacteria?
Formerly blue-green algae
Single cell life w/o a nuclear membrane
Contain photosynthetic pigmentsChlorophyll-a (green) and Phycobilins (blue)
Can produce toxins
Common NH toxin producers
ToxinsCyanobacteria produce biotoxins
collectively referred to as cyanotoxins
Biotoxins: a toxin produced by a living organism
(plant, fungi, animal, bacterium)
Toxins stored in cells are released when cell dies
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Health effects of cyanotoxins
Microcystins Liver Acute Exposure: Compromises liver function Chronic Exposure: Doses cause cancer
Anatoxions Nerve connectionsConvulsions; death of dogs & birds
β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)NervesMaybe linked to neurological diseases
What Accelerates Growth Rate
Sunlight
Warm water (hot summer days)
Calm, stagnant conditions
Phosphorus & Nitrogen
Possible Sources:
Stormwater RunoffWaterfowl
Septic systemsDomestic animals
AgricultureFertilizers
Construction
Phosphorus is a problem!
Problems with Blooms
Unsightly
Taste Problems
Odor Problems
Fish Kills
Toxins
Webster Lake, Franklin, 2007
Examples of bloom
Examples of bloom
Observe Blue-Green scum on water body &
collect sample
Microscopic analysis determines if
cyanobacteria is dominant in sample
Post Beach Advisory orLake Warning
Samples with >50% toxin-producing cyanobacteria
Beach Advisory issued -Manager contacted -Signs posted
ORLake Warning if no beach or bloom far from a beach -Reporting individuals
contacted
Reports of blooms in NH Lakes since the 1960's
Reports of blue-green slimes, mats, and flecks in lakes have been increasing
Reporting History
Cyanobacteria Reporting Summary2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Beach Advisories 1 3 5 6 11 14 15 10Lake Warnings — — — — — 15 10 12
Beaches with Advisories 1 3 4 5 11 12 12 10Waterbodies with Warnings or
Advisories 1 3 4 5 11 20 21 17
Beaches with multiple advisories:
TOWN LAKE TOWN LAKE
Amherst Baboosic Lake TB Northfield Sondogardy Pond
Berlin York Pond Pelham Long Pond
Henniker French Pond Rindge Pearly Pond
Hudson Robinson Pond Sandown Phillips Pond
New London Little Sunapee Lake Weare Chase Park TB
Newton Country Pond Winchester Forest Lake TB
(More than 1 posted advisory since 2003)
Lakes with multiple warnings
Bow Lake, Northwood, 2006
TOWN LAKE SEASONSBarnstead Locke Lake 2009, 2010Canaan Goose Pond 2009Dover, Somersworth Willand Pond 2009, 2010Kingston Country Pond 2008Rindge Lake Monomonac 2008, 2009, 2010Sandown Showell Pond 2008, 2010Winchester Forest Lake 2008, 2010
Lake WarningBegun in 2008, warnings alert of cyanobacteria blooms on lakes without designated beaches or for areas of a lake away from the designated beach.
Advisories & Warnings on http://des.nh.gov
After clicking on “Beach Advisory”
Sign up for email: http://des.nh.gov
After clicking on “Subscribe e-news”
Twitter.com/NHDES_Beaches
Sampled weekly until < 50%
Manager contactedWeb posting removedTwitter updatedEmail sent
Advisory & Warning Removal
Mandarin, FLORIDA!
Blooms typically have a patchy distribution
Potential Pathways of Exposure to Cyanotoxins
Direct contact with
bloom
Dinking water
Inhalation of aerosolized
toxins
Ingestion of food
Cyanotoxins
How to Respond: To a bloom sighting…
To a bloom exposure…
Report a scum seen on a pond…Call NHDES Cyanobacteria Hotline: 419-9229
RESPONSE: Pet owners If you seethis sign…
1. Keep pet out of the water
3. Use bottled water & water dish
4. Wash your pet if it goes in the water.
2. Do NOT let pet drink the water
5. Towel off any large cyanobacteria clumps
Wash your body parts that contacted water with a scum
Human Lake-Users:
Report a scum…
Stay out of the water until it scum is gone
IF you feel ill…tell your doctor you may have been exposed to cyanobacteria
Call NHDES Cyanobacteria Hotline: 419-9229 Call the local beach manager/ town office
You can’t. There is nothing we can add to the water. If the cells are killed, any toxins in the cells are released.
Prevention is the key!
Sonicators
How to “Treat” or “Get rid of it”
CopperSulfate
Halfmoon Pond, Kingston
