Is toxic algae a new health risk?

Added August 19, 2009, Under: Diseases, Environment, Health

The other evening I was watching a French news program and there was a report on the presence of toxic algae on certain beaches.  The sight of the extensive areas of lethal rotting green and toxic algae looked like something out of a horror science fiction.  But it was for real.

August is the busiest holiday month in France when so many residents vacation at the coast.  Now they have been warned to stay away from certain beaches in Northern Brittany because of this green menace.  Apart from the consequences to the local economies that rely on the tourist trade, there are serious health concerns too.  A young vet had to be dragged unconscious from a stinking pile of toxic algae after the horse he was riding collapsed and died from the fumes given off by the algae on one of these French beaches.  An earlier report was that 2 dogs had also died when walking near such algae while a council worker busy clearing beaches fell into a coma.

Apparently at least 70 beaches in Northern Brittany are affected by the algae which first appeared about 10 years ago but which has been increasing year by year.

And it is not only France that has experienced this.    New Zealand and Wales have reported similar infestations on their beaches while other countries have such occurrences with inland waterways and if the causes are not eradicated, then it could go on to become a world wide problem.

So what is causing this to happen?

In France, some are blaming pollution from the intensive farming inland where there is a high concentration of pig, cattle and poultry farmers.  The fear is that nitrates from these farms are polluting the water system and feeding the prolific algae.  This is then washed onto shore.  This algae is harmless when it is alive but once on the beach, it decomposes, forms an impermeable white crust, and produces hydrogen sulphide.  This gas can be as toxic as cyanide if released suddenly.  There is a permanent and strong stench of rotten eggs.   The local councils try to undo the harm by bulldozing the algae away but this is a costly exercise and it is soon replaced by fresh sea lettuce, as it is commonly known.

Others are saying that global warming could be a factor.

Some scientists believe that it was toxic algae that actually wiped out dinosaurs.  If that is so, then this toxic algae is certainly nothing new.

What is the solution?

The big oil company BP is studying the viability of using algae to convert sugar into biodeisel while other major oil companies and government agencies are also showing an interest in the prospect of commercially viable algae-based fuels.  So in years to come, that could be one solution.

Similar to toxic algae is red tide which particularly affects shellfish making it dangerous to eat so that shell fishermen usually suffer the most from outbreaks of red tide.  Financial losses associated with an epidemic can run into the millions of dollars. Red tide appears on the south west coast of Africa from time to time where there are extensive crayfish zones.

While red tides and toxic algae have been around for centuries, their frequency and distribution in recent years have been increasing at an alarming rate. In many cases, previously unknown toxic algal species have appeared in coastal waters, wreaking havoc for both fishermen and aqua culturists. Some observers point to the increased number of alagal blooms as another indication of the continuing decline in the general health of the world’s coastal waters.

It will be interesting to see what solutions various countries and world bodies come up with.

Meanwhile, our health can be at risk.