‘When in doubt, stay out’: Experts warn about potential toxic algal blooms in local waters

Ah, summer. Hot, sunny days. Not much rain. It’s that time of year when algae in ponds, creeks, lakes and ditches quickly grow.

But state and local experts warn that splashing around in those waterways can hurt you and your pets because sometimes, where there is algae, there are also toxin-emitting bacteria.

“When in doubt, stay out,” said Alana Bartolai, ecological services program coordinator for the Lake County Health Department.

The health department in Lake County routinely monitors public lakes, beaches and streams in the county for harmful algal blooms.

Earlier this week, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District put up a warning sign at the off-leash dog area in the East Branch Forest Preserve near Glendale Heights. The sign was posted after a distinctive blue-green bloom was seen in a training pond there.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is also testing samples taken from the Fox River in Batavia and Yorkville.

Conditions are ripe for toxic blooms to form, which can sicken pets and humans.

Dan Grigas, ecologist with the forest district, said the toxins come from some cyanobacteria, which feed on organic material. When those bacteria die, their cell walls burst, releasing toxins.

Bartolai said the bacteria also feed on excess phosphorus and nitrogen in the water, which could occur naturally or come from runoff of fertilizers, leaves and erosion of banks. When that happens, “The blooms just kind of explode,” she said.

Harmful to health

Most common in DuPage County’s preserves are bacteria whose toxins damage livers and kidneys, and irritate skin, Grigas said.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says that the toxins can also cause rashes, lung irritations, digestive problems, headaches, lethargy and elevated liver enzymes in humans.

In pets and livestock, owners may notice lethargy; excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth; loss of appetite; vomiting; labored breathing; stumbling or falling; seizures, convulsions or tremors; diarrhea; and organ failure. According to the University of Illinois, there is no antidote. Treatment consists of supportive care.

In both humans and animals, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says that if they become unexpectedly sick within 24 hours of exposure to the water, they should seek medical treatment.

Recognize the blooms

“There are some visual cues that are associated with them,” Grigas said of potentially harmful blooms, including an almost-neon green layer of scum on the water. Sometimes, they look like spilled paint. But according to the University of Illinois, they can also look like mats or grass clippings. The state EPA’s website has photos of harmful algal blooms.

The forest district used to test blooms to see what specific bacteria were growing, but now “we treat every single one (bloom) as potentially harmful,” Grigas said.

The blooms can form even in roadside ditches, he said.

Grigas said blooms can appear as early as May and be present as late as November.

“They do their best growing in kind of hot, stagnant, droughty weather,” he said.

Bartolai noted that not all of the cyanobacteria emit harmful toxins. That’s why it is better to be safe than sorry about touching, inhaling or ingesting water that has algal blooms, she said.

In Lake County, if a site has an excessively high amount of bacteria known to emit toxins, the health department tells the beach’s manager to post warning signs.

Grigas said the dog park “is one of our usual suspect locations,” and they monitor it weekly. Herrick Lake near Wheaton used to be on that list, until the district installed an aeration system.

Prevention

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid suspect water.

If your dog does splash around in it and ingest it, Bartolai said you should wash the dog as soon as possible, so that it won’t continue to lick toxin-laden water or debris off its fur.

Kim Biggs, public information officer for the IEPA, says the agency recommends humans wash themselves whenever they have been exposed to water that contains algae.

People can report suspected harmful algal blooms to the health department or to the IEPA. The IEPA has a website about the blooms, including a report form.

Grigas said there is not much the forest district can do to mitigate the formation of the blooms.

“Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet,” he said.