From The New Republic…
Climate change is accelerating the spread of lethal algal blooms in American
waterways—with devastating results for humans and animals alike.
By EMILY ATKIN <https://newrepublic.com/authors/emily-atkin>
BEN DEPP <https://newrepublic.com/authors/ben-depp>August 28, 2019
Humans and animals who stumble across a brightly colored blue-green or red pool
don’t always recognize the threat. Toxic algal blooms aren’t high on many
people’s radar. Vacation-goers obliviously wade into ocean and lake waters that
can cause gastrointestinal or respiratory problems. They eat contaminated fish
and shellfish with potentially lethal
<https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/health/hazardous-marine-life/red-tide-and-shellfish-poisonings>
consequences. Dog owners unknowingly allow their beloved pets to frolic in
toxic ponds—leading to death within hours
<https://beta.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/08/12/three-dogs-played-pond-toxic-algae-killed-them/?noredirect=on>.
Toxic algae is one of the quickest-spreading deadly effects of the climate
crisis in the United States. As the Arctic’s glaciers melt and the Amazon’s
rainforest burns, America’s lakes, rivers, and coastlines are being
increasingly infiltrated by several different types of brightly colored, toxic
algae bacterium that thrive in warm, nutrient-rich conditions. A report
<https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2019_microcystin/> released by the
Environmental Working Group earlier this month found toxic algae appearing in
more bodies of water, at higher quantities, and earlier in the summer than ever
before. It also found that “climate change is making things worse, as
scientists predict that warming waters coupled with fertilizer and manure
washing off farm fields during heavier and more frequent rains may accelerate
the frequency <https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/toxicalgalblooms/> and
intensity of harmful algal blooms in freshwater.”
https://newrepublic.com/article/154799/frightening-spread-toxic-algae?mc_cid=08976c81b7&mc_eid=77ff3b402d
<https://newrepublic.com/article/154799/frightening-spread-toxic-algae?mc_cid=08976c81b7&mc_eid=77ff3b402d>
