Tom Henry of the Toledo Blade reports of microcystis, a toxic form of green algae, has started forming a floating layer in Lake Erie from Toledo to Cleveland. The algae has been linked to as many as 75 deaths in Brazil and is expected to be problematic in Lake Erie until late September.
"It's definitely something we don't want out there," said Dr. David Culver of Ohio State University, one of the lake's longtime algae researchers.Scientists have no clear answers as to why the algae grows but suspect it may be related to agricultural and urban runoff.
The immediate risk to the public is low. To get a lethal dose, someone would have to ingest a chunk of toxic algae about the size of a hockey puck. Less than that could result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other feelings of sickness.
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