Sandusky Bay algae produces toxins
August 2016
News
GLB Admin
ABC-13:
You've heard all about Lake Erie's algal bloom. Last year's was the biggest in recorded history.
But there is another toxic algal bloom you might not have heard anything about. It's on Sandusky Bay and it produces the same toxin - microcystin.
"There should be concern getting in the water. The contact advisory is reached a lot of the years," Dr. George Bullerjahn said.
Bullerjahn is a professor of biology at Bowling Green State University.
BGSU researchers are busy solving an old puzzle. It's called Planktothrix.
"It's going to look lightly green stained," Dr. Bullerjahn said.
George Bullerjahn says it actually looks different to the naked eye.
Sandusky Bay doesn't have the classic pond scum look of Lake Erie. But that doesn't mean you should dive in...
"The water looks perhaps a little more benign, but the toxin levels can be very, very high," Bullerjahn said.
Mike McKay and Bullerjahn use weather to predict dangerous microcystin.
"So when we find these prolonged periods of warm temperature like we're seeing now, these can be real prime conditions for algal blooms," Dr. McKay said.
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