What characteristic do you think is likely shared by algal blooms that result in beach closures and shellfish consumption warnings? What makes these algal blooms directly harmful to human health?

 

Harmful algal blooms can produce poisonous toxins that can make people and animals sick and affect the environment. During warm conditions, tiny plants are likely to grow out of nowhere in waters. These plants cause the water to turn green, making it contaminated.

Step-by-step explanation

Harmful algal blooms can produce poisonous toxins that can make people and animals sick and affect the environment. During warm conditions, tiny plants are likely to grow out of nowhere in waters. These plants cause the water to turn green, making it contaminated. Blooms are becoming more frequent as temperatures warm, and the number of nutrients in our waters increases. Levels of nutrients increase when fertilizer, sewage, and runoff from cities and industrial buildings get into the water. Depending on the type of algae, harmful algae blooms can cause serious health effects and even death. For example, eating seafood tainted by toxins from algae called Alexandrium can prime to paralytic shellfish poisoning, resulting in paralysis and even death. People or pets can get ill when they come into contact with harmful algal blooms in these ways:

1. Swimming, fishing, wading, or doing similar activities in contaminated water.
2. Breathing in tiny water droplets, mist, or wind-blown sea spray that contains toxins.
3. Drinking contaminated water.
4. Eating contaminated seafood (fish or shellfish).