CYANOBACTERIA

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a type of single-celled organism found naturally in all water bodies. Though they are able to use sunlight to make their own food, cyanobacteria also need nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in order to grow. In warm, nutrient-rich water, cyanobacteria can reproduce quickly and spread across the water’s surface, forming blooms. Stormwater runoff that carries fertilizer, sediment, detergents, and animal waste facilitates this process.

 

Whether a bloom is harmful to humans and animals depends on the type of cyanobacteria present. Some cyanobacteria can produce cyanotoxins, a powerful poison. They can also block the sunlight from the rest of the ecosystem and consume all the oxygen that other organisms in the water need to survive. Blooms are most common in the late summer and in places where fertilizers, septic tank overflows, and animal manure introduce high levels of nutrients into the water.

 

Cyanobacteria blooms can trigger water body closures, preventing public access. Water bodies experiencing current cyanobacteria blooms are unsafe for use, particularly for pets and children. Toxins from cyanobacteria can cause a host of health issues, including skin and mucous membrane irritation, gastrointestinal issues, liver and kidney damage, and neurotoxic effects like muscle weakness and paralysis.

 

For more information about how the Stormwater Innovation Center and Nature Conservancy collaborate to monitor cyanobacteria blooms in Rhode Island, visit this page: www.stormwaterinnovation.org/water-quality.