Lethal algae blooms – an ecosystem out of balance
Written by Jeremy Hance
Toxic formations across the US and the Baltic are part of a worrying trend linked to the climate crisis and farming methods
On 3 August 2014, residents of Toledo, Ohio, woke to the news that overnight their water supply had become toxic. They were advised not only to avoid drinking the water, but also touching it – no showers, no baths, not even hand-washing.
Boiling the water would only increase its toxicity while drinking it could cause “abnormal liver function, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, numbness or dizziness”, read a statement from the City of Toledo, warning residents to “seek medical attention if you feel you have been exposed”.
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