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<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>From
YubaNet.com <br>
<a href="http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/printer_25809.shtml">http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/printer_25809.shtml</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Federal, Tribal and State Authorities Advise Caution on
Dangerous Klamath</span></font></b> <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>River Algae</span></b> <br>
Author: <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Coast</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Regional Water Board <br>
Published on September 30, 2005, 16:48 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In
response to the emergence of dangerous algal blooms in the Klamath River <br>
in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>,
the Karuk Tribe, the North Coast Regional Water Board and <br>
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are joining other local, state and <br>
federal agencies in warning residents and recreational users of the river <br>
to use caution when near such blooms. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>"This
algae produces toxins that pose a significant potential public health <br>
concern. We advise people to avoid all direct contact with Klamath River <br>
water while the bloom is occurring." said Alexis Strauss, Water Division <br>
director of the EPA's regional office in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Francisco</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Water
samples taken over the past two months from Copco and Iron Gate <br>
Reservoirs - located on the Klamath near the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> border - have revealed <br>
high levels of the toxic blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa. Blooms of <br>
Microcystis aeruginosa, which often occur between June and September, can <br>
look like green, blue-green, white or brown foam, scum or mats floating on <br>
the water. They have been found as far as 125 miles downstream of the <br>
reservoirs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The <st1:place
w:st="on">Klamath River</st1:place> is rich in nutrients that support the
growth of the <br>
blue-green algae. Warm and calm surface water created by <st1:place w:st="on">Iron
Gate</st1:place> and <br>
Copco Reservoirs provide an ideal environment for the growth of large algal <br>
blooms. The extent of the blooms, and their toxicity, were not known until <br>
studies were conducted this year by the Karuk Tribe. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>"In
August, we found levels of Microcystis aeruginosa as high as 46.8 <br>
million cells/ml along the shoreline and 8.9 millions cells/ml on the open <br>
water. These levels exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for <br>
recreational use by 468 and 89 times, respectively," explained Susan
Corum, <br>
the Water Resources Coordinator for the Karuk Tribe's Department of Natural <br>
Resources. "Microcystin toxin produced by the blooms in these locations
was <br>
1571.7 and 436.9 ėg/L; exceeding the WHO Tolerable Daily Intake level by <br>
217 and 60.3 times respectively. These levels are among the highest <br>
recorded in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>According
to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment <br>
(OEHHA), the U.S. EPA, the Karuk Tribe and Water Board, the Microcystis <br>
aeruginosa and resulting microcystin toxin pose a significant potential <br>
health threat to humans and animals exposed through direct ingestion of <br>
contaminated water or incidental ingestion during recreational water <br>
activities and bathing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>"The
public needs to take the microcystin toxin in this algae seriously," <br>
said Catherine Kuhlman, Executive Officer of the North Coast Water Board. <br>
"The levels of algae and associated toxins measured in parts of the river <br>
are high enough to pose health risks to anyone drinking or bathing in the <br>
water, particularly children and animals." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Studies
of the possible health effects of exposure to Microcystis <br>
aeruginosa and its microcystin toxin in the Klamath's waters range from <br>
mild, non-life threatening skin conditions to permanent organ impairment <br>
and death depending upon exposure time and intensity. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Symptoms
could include mild to severe eye irritation, allergic skin rash, <br>
mouth ulcers, fever, cold and flu-like symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney <br>
damage, liver damage or complete failure, and death. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Children
and animals are at the greatest risk of adverse effects, due to <br>
their smaller body size and higher water ingestion rates. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As pets
and other domestic animals could drink contaminated water, pets and <br>
livestock should be kept away from the water. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>There are
three main ways to be exposed to Microcystis aeruginosa and <br>
subsequent microcystin toxins in contaminated waters: <br>
• direct contact to exposed skin or to the highly sensitive membranes of <br>
the ear, eye, nose and throat; <br>
• accidental or intentional swallowing; and; <br>
• inhalation of contaminated water aerosols. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A
full-grown adult ingesting 3.4 ounces of contaminated water in a given <br>
day would be exposed to levels 28 times greater than the accepted World <br>
Health Organization's Tolerable Daily Intake value. This calculation is <br>
based on a single one-hour "swimming event" per day. More swimming
events <br>
or activities of longer duration could result in greater exposure. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For an
average-size child who is 3-years-old, ingesting slightly more than <br>
a measuring cup of contaminated water in any one "swimming event"
would be <br>
the equivalent of 278 times the accepted WHO Tolerable Daily Intake value. <br>
As with adults, more swimming events or activities of longer duration could <br>
result in greater exposure. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Local,
state, tribal and federal health and environmental agencies <br>
recommend that people not drink or cook with contaminated waters. You <br>
should avoid or minimize contact with contaminated waters. It is best of <br>
stay out of the water near algal blooms and to keep pets away. If you do <br>
come in contact with the water, wash thoroughly with clean water. Avoid <br>
eating fish caught during an algal bloom. If you do, fishermen should clean <br>
the fish with fresh water and dispose of the innards away from the river or <br>
where animals could eat them; Avoid irrigation with contaminated water; <br>
Report dead or distressed wildlife along the shoreline to local, state or <br>
tribal authorities. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>For more
information, visit: The 1999 World Health Organization, Toxic <br>
Cyanobacteria in Water: A guide to their public health consequences, <br>
monitoring and management at: <br>
www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resourcesquality/toxicyanbact/en/ and, <br>
World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 3rd <br>
Edition at: www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/gdwq3/en/index.html <br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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