Blue-Green Algae Toxin Report Released For Kosciusko County Lakes
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
A large algae bloom on the lake left water unfit for drinking or bathing in parts of northern Ohio and southern Michigan for several days earlier this month. Residents were warned not to use the water because of the high levels of microcystin, which can damage the liver.
“Our situation in Kosciusko County is a little different than Toledo because our lakes are not necessarily used as a drinking water supply, so we’re more concerned with public exposure to the toxin through lakes activities such as swimming,” Nate Bosch, center director, said in a release Thursday. “But the results of this study still give a good snapshot of the condition of Indiana lakes as relates to the issue of blue-green algae and its toxins.”
He noted that blue-green algae toxins were identified as an emerging threat in 2009 and that they “responded immediately by conducting one of the most thorough algae toxin studies in Indiana.”
The four-year study focused on blue-green algae and its most common toxin, microcystin, as they occurred in the lakes of Kosciusko County, including Indiana’s largest natural lake, Lake Wawasee.
“We wrapped up four years of data collection in the fall of 2013 and have been analyzing data since then to prepare a final report,” said center program manager Anna Burke. “We were able to finish and release the report at a time where a lot of residents are curious about this threat and how it may be affecting our own lakes here in Indiana.”
The research results offered encouraging news and reason for caution, according to the two.
On average, lake microcystin levels throughout the study did not exceed what is considered safe under health guidelines. But a majority of lakes did test positive for some amount of microcystin, indicating there is still potential for future microcystin problems.
Another point of caution is that some lakes had very high quantities of the blue-green algae itself, while not having high levels of the microcystin toxin. The report indicated this could still be a health threat because even if these algae were not producing microcystin, they could have been producing other toxins that are not tested for as commonly.
One result of the study was the potential to make real-time estimates for both algae and microcystin levels in lakes, as laboratory analysis can sometimes take too long for rapid actions to be taken to avoid health threats, according to the release. The center is exploring developing the real-time method for use by lake associations and lake residents.
The center is also working in conjunction with the Kosciusko County Health Department to secure equipment and training for toxin analysis, in addition to training center staff to conduct algae quantification.
For more information on the study, contact the center at [email protected] or 547-372-5100, Ext. 6445. The full report is available online at lakes.grace.edu
Funding for the study was provided by the K21 Health Foundation, private donors and Grace College.
The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts research, provides resources, engages and educates residents and collaborates with local organizations in efforts to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County cleaner.
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A large algae bloom on the lake left water unfit for drinking or bathing in parts of northern Ohio and southern Michigan for several days earlier this month. Residents were warned not to use the water because of the high levels of microcystin, which can damage the liver.
“Our situation in Kosciusko County is a little different than Toledo because our lakes are not necessarily used as a drinking water supply, so we’re more concerned with public exposure to the toxin through lakes activities such as swimming,” Nate Bosch, center director, said in a release Thursday. “But the results of this study still give a good snapshot of the condition of Indiana lakes as relates to the issue of blue-green algae and its toxins.”
He noted that blue-green algae toxins were identified as an emerging threat in 2009 and that they “responded immediately by conducting one of the most thorough algae toxin studies in Indiana.”
The four-year study focused on blue-green algae and its most common toxin, microcystin, as they occurred in the lakes of Kosciusko County, including Indiana’s largest natural lake, Lake Wawasee.
“We wrapped up four years of data collection in the fall of 2013 and have been analyzing data since then to prepare a final report,” said center program manager Anna Burke. “We were able to finish and release the report at a time where a lot of residents are curious about this threat and how it may be affecting our own lakes here in Indiana.”
The research results offered encouraging news and reason for caution, according to the two.
On average, lake microcystin levels throughout the study did not exceed what is considered safe under health guidelines. But a majority of lakes did test positive for some amount of microcystin, indicating there is still potential for future microcystin problems.
Another point of caution is that some lakes had very high quantities of the blue-green algae itself, while not having high levels of the microcystin toxin. The report indicated this could still be a health threat because even if these algae were not producing microcystin, they could have been producing other toxins that are not tested for as commonly.
One result of the study was the potential to make real-time estimates for both algae and microcystin levels in lakes, as laboratory analysis can sometimes take too long for rapid actions to be taken to avoid health threats, according to the release. The center is exploring developing the real-time method for use by lake associations and lake residents.
The center is also working in conjunction with the Kosciusko County Health Department to secure equipment and training for toxin analysis, in addition to training center staff to conduct algae quantification.
For more information on the study, contact the center at [email protected] or 547-372-5100, Ext. 6445. The full report is available online at lakes.grace.edu
Funding for the study was provided by the K21 Health Foundation, private donors and Grace College.
The Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts research, provides resources, engages and educates residents and collaborates with local organizations in efforts to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County cleaner.
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