Those from the Wheeling- Ohio County Health Department say the blue-green bloom is a few football fields long, and can be a health threat to anyone who come in contact with it.
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According to a health department news release, water testing on Wednesday, August 19, at the Pike Island Lock and Dam on the Ohio River showed elevated levels of blue-green algae.
Blue-green algae toxins can cause a variety of symptoms including contact irritation (e.g., eye, nose, mouth and skin), gastro-intestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver inflammation) and neurologic symptoms (e.g., muscle tremors, seizures, difficulty breathing). Public drinking water supplied from the Wheeling Water Department, including Ohio County Public Service District, will continued to be closely monitored.
Steps should be taken to avoid any skin contact or pet contact with the discolored or scummy water – which could include shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown or red. If toxin is present, dogs and children are most likely to be affected.
◦ Don’t drink, cook or shower with contaminated water.
Algae blooms have also been detected in Lake of the Woods pond, Moon Lake in Jefferson County. She says there have been recent reports of blue-green algae in Walsh County. Most algae, including blue-green algae, do not produce toxins. Warm water, low flows and abundant nutrients can cause algae to grow more rapidly than usual and create algal mats or “blooms”. Most species are buoyant and will float to the surface, where they form scum layers or floating mats. The current drought and abnormally hot temperatures are factors in the rapid growth of the blooms.
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The primary sources of nutrient pollution are runoff of fertilizers, animal manure, sewage treatment plant discharges, storm water runoff, auto and power plant emissions and failing septic tanks.
