A river to a major city is now so polluted that almost half a million people residents have been told not to drink their tap water. Sounds like China, right? Think Toledo, Ohio. While we have been following the rolling environmental disasters in China, we often forget about our own failure to protect the basic health of our citizens. Toledo is such an example. While newspapers have detailed how algae blooms are releasing toxins, they largely fail to state the likely reason or downplay it: phosphorous and nitrogen from farm fertilizer runoff.
Way back in the late 1970s, I worked at the Smithsonian Center for Environmental Research in Maryland where scientists were doing some of the early work on how such runoff was killing the Chesapeake Bay. It was and remains a touchy subject in Washington because of the agribusiness lobby.
In Toledo, over 400,000 people have been told to avoid swallowing the water. They were also told not to try to boil the water because that would increase the concentration of the microcystin toxin. The City of Toledo issued a warning that water “should not be consumed until an all clear is issued.”
Restaurants were asked not to use city water to even wash dishes.
The source of the water is Lake Erie, where phosphorous and nitrogen runoff has continued to pollute the waters.
Source: Inquirer
knickers … snickers …
AY,
The Nickers are in a knot.
Anonymously Yours
Speaking of toxic subjects…. Am I not seeking Mike Appleton, Mark or Elaine posting anymore? I have been gone three weeks and it seems like dynamics have changed dramatically.
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Lots of attrition.
The water has been polluted.
Don’t drink from the tap.
My 3:35 is still in moderation. When I tried to inquire and repost it, it wouldn’t even log onto the system.
JT, my comment still says it’s awaiting moderation. Here is the post.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Annie, I would say red tide and the blue-green algae problem are, in many ways alike, and have many of the same causes. Here’s the wikipedia on red tide: “Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms) when it is caused by a few species of dinoflagellates and the bloom takes on a red or brown color. Red tides are events in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, resulting in coloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas. It kills many manatees every year.[1]
These algae, known as phytoplankton, are single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface. Certain species of phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red.
When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discoloration, and not all discolored waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.
Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of these kinds of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities of marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals, and other organisms.”
Jill – there are some historians who think a red tide was involved in the plagues of Moses.
Hey Jon…. The Cattle Drives in Wyoming and Montana are wonderful this time of year…..
Darren Smith
Dredd, I retrieved your comment at 9:07.
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Thanks.
Thanks JT! Darren was doing a great job getting them out as well!
Hi Darren, I have a comment awaiting moderation. I have no idea why.
Communist….
Annie, I would say red tide and the blue-green algae problem are, in many ways alike, and have many of the same causes. Here’s the wikipedia on red tide: “Red tide is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom (large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms) when it is caused by a few species of dinoflagellates and the bloom takes on a red or brown color. Red tides are events in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column, resulting in coloration of the surface water. It is usually found in coastal areas. It kills many manatees every year.[1]
These algae, known as phytoplankton, are single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water’s surface. Certain species of phytoplankton, dinoflagellates, contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red.
When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discolored or murky, varying in color from purple to almost pink, normally being red or green. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water discoloration, and not all discolored waters associated with algal blooms are red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.
Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful effects, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of these kinds of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities of marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals, and other organisms.”
Haven’t we always been taught that the Reds are Cimmunist and therefore inherently evil…. I guess that’s why they don’t have a Blue Square…
Jill, thanks.
Annie, lol. I think he said something about fox news.
Isn’t the red tide caused by pollution?
Thank you Darren.
I just found a bunch of comments from Jill and SWM in spam and removed them. I did the same recent for Paul S. I am not sure how they are going to spam but hopefully that will reduce the problem.
Jonathan – thanks.
Paul, I doubt any of the people in question would want you speaking in their behalf.
Annie – if they are not here to speak for themselves, I will speak for them.
*By the*
Mespo referred to it as something like the red tide.
AY – They all work or have baby-sitting duties. Elaine has her own blog, so she may be pinned down there while she gets it up and running.