Exposure to blue-green algae during swimming, wading, and water-skiing can lead to rashes, skin, eye irritation, and effects such as nausea, stomach aches, and tingling in fingers and toes.
What happens if you swim in a lake with blue-green algae?
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What do you do if you swam in blue-green algae?
If you think you may have symptoms caused by harmful algae, cyanobacteria, or their toxins, contact your healthcare provider or Poison Control Center . Animals can get very sick or even die quickly after exposure to harmful algae and cyanobacteria.
What happens if you are exposed to blue-green algae?
Exposure to high levels of blue-green algae and their toxins can cause diarrhea, nausea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.
How long does it take for blue-green algae to make you sick?
Ingestion: Gastrointestinal (GI) effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild liver enzyme elevations. The time to onset of GI symptoms after oral exposure is usually 3–5 hours and symptoms can last 1–2 days. Exposure can cause conjunctivitis, rhinitis, earache, sore throat, and swollen lips.
How long does blue-green algae stay in a lake?
We have found that a cyanobacteria bloom usually dissipates within three weeks, though the same body of water may experience several individual cyanobacteria blooms over the course of a year.
Can blue-green algae harm humans?
Some blue-green algae produce toxins or poisons. In their toxic form, blue-green algae can cause illness in humans, pets, waterfowl, and other animals that come in contact with the algae. Toxic blooms can kill livestock and pets that drink the water. … Skin rashes on humans after being in the water.
What happens if you swim in green algae?
While the common green algae can't harm you, the bacteria feeding on the algae is harmful. When you expose yourself to algae that harbor bacteria, these infectious agents can cause rashes and breaks in the skin. The breaks can expose you to more severe infections.
Is blue-green algae toxic?
Some blue-green algae produce toxins or poisons. In their toxic form, blue-green algae can cause illness in humans, pets, waterfowl, and other animals that come in contact with the algae. Toxic blooms can kill livestock and pets that drink the water.