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Harmful Algal Blooms

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, OFTEN CALLED RED TIDES, ARE RAPID PROLIFERATIONS OF TOXIC ALGAE THAT ENDANGER HUMAN HEALTH AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.  LEARN MORE ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

PATRICIA GLIBERT, A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SAYS HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS CAN CONTAMINATE SEAFOOD AND DRINKING WATER AND GENERATE SO MUCH BIOMASS THAT IT KILLS FISH.

GLIBERT: THEIR GILLS CAN BECOME CLOGGED AND THEY SUFFOCATE.  THEY CAN ALSO SUFFOCATE WHEN THESE BLOOMS BEGIN TO DIE AND CONSUME THE OXYGEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM’S BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD AS GLOBAL SHIPPING INADVERTENTLY BRINGS NEW ALGAL SPECIES INTO NEW HABITATS. IT’S ALSO HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE ALGAE-INDUCING NUTRIENTS FROM FERTILIZERS AND SEWAGE ARE ENDING UP IN COASTAL WATERS.

SO BY LIMITING OUR FERTILIZER USE AND MAKING SURE OUR SEPTIC TANKS ARE OPERATING EFFICIENTLY, GLIBERT SAYS EACH OF US CAN HELP PREVENT HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.     

To learn more about harmful algal blooms, visit the EPA site.