Recreational water quality and health: Cyanobacteria and their toxins

Cyanobacteria are also known as blue-green algae. They're a type of bacteria that occur naturally in fresh and marine bodies of water. There are many types of cyanobacteria, and some can produce harmful toxins called cyanotoxins. Cyanobacteria can grow quickly in freshwater lakes and rivers under favourable conditions that can include: slow moving waters higher water temperatures an increase of nutrients in the water, such as nitrogen and phosphorus These conditions can sometimes lead to large cyanobacteria blooms. When a bloom containing toxin-producing cyanobacteria develops, toxins can reach hazardous levels. Marine waters generally don't have problems with cyanobacteria blooms.

Publisher

Health Canada

Resources

2

Catalogue metadata updated

2024-06-27