Blue-green algae back at Pigeon, Coal lakes
Alberta Health Services issued an advisory Wednesday that bluegreen algae has been detected in Pigeon Lake and Coal Lake.
Blue-green algae can cause serious illness to animals or humans who drink or have skin contact with water containing its toxin, AHS said in a written statement.
The advisory warns residents and visitors to each lake not to drink water from the lake, even if it has been boiled, and to ensure their pets do not consume the water.
Humans and animals should not swim in either lake and should avoid contact with algae along the shoreline.
“If people do happen to get in contact with water, they should rinse off immediately,” Dr. Christopher Sikora said.
The advisory also warns residents not to feed fish from either lake to their pets, and that they may wish to limit their own consumption of fish from Pigeon Lake and Coal Lake, as toxins from the algae can be stored in fish liver.
Symptoms of exposure to the toxin include skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms typically appear within one to three hours after exposure and clear up within one to two days, but extended consumption of water contaminated with blue-green algae can lead to more serious illnesses such as liver damage.
“Fortunately, over my memory, we haven’t identified any deaths due to blue-green algae,” Sikora said.
“There have been descriptions of cattle and pets, after being exposed to blue-green algae, dying, so it’s something that can happen.”
The blue-green algae thrive on phosphorous and nitrogen byproducts.
Preventing growth and recurrence is the next important action for homeowners in affected areas to take, Sikora added.
“It’s something that all homeowners and cottage owners who have lakefront property can actually actively participate in, by preventing fertilizer wash from a farmer’s field or your backyard from going into the lake itself.”
AHS says the advisory will be in effect until further notice.
However, Sikora noted that “under normal circumstances, that advisory will stay in place until the end of the season, which is usually late September, early October.”
Albertans are encouraged to call 1-866-408-5465 for more information or if they suspect a problem related to blue-green algae.
Pigeon Lake is located about 100 kilometres southwest of Edmonton while Coal Lake is located about 65 kilometres south of Edmonton.
This advisory comes three weeks after blue-green algae was found in Lake Isle.