If You Come In Contact With Toxins From Algae In Pasadena Lake, Here's What To Do

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A health alert has been issued for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Pasadena Lake, according to a St. Petersburg city news release.

This is in response to a water sample taken on Feb. 14. The public should exercise caution in and around Pasadena Lake. Warning signs will be posted around the lake to alert visitors. Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters with algae blooms are not safe for animals.
• Pets should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms.
• Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe.
• Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook the fish well.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

What is blue-green algae

According to the city, blue-green algae are a type of bacteria common in Florida's fresh-water environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.

Is it harmful?

Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Whom to contact if you or a pet come in contact with blue-green algae

• For additional information on potential health effects of algal blooms, visit floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins.
• To report fish kills, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 800-636-0511.
• Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algae bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center by calling 800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately.
• Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with water contaminated with blue-green algae.
• If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, call DOH-Pinellas at 727-507-4336.

What is the city doing?

The city of St. Petersburg has been monitoring conditions and working closely with the department of health, a news release said.

The city of St. Pete will install remediation equipment as soon as possible. Water sampling will continue until the algae presence has subsided.

For questions or concerns about remediation activities, call St. Petersburg Environmental Services Manager Gintas Zavadskas at 727-892-5252.