EPA has published a new web page on harmful algal blooms to help inform states, tribal and local governments, other federal agencies, and the public about key issues regarding cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, blooms in recreational waters and drinking water.
Harmful algal blooms cause fouling of beaches and shorelines, economic and aesthetic losses, taste and odor problems in drinking water, and direct risks to human, fish and animal health.
The web page includes information on the causes of bloom occurrence, prevention and mitigation measures, adverse human health effects from exposure to cyanotoxins (toxins from blue-green algae), ecological effects, sampling and detection methods, policies and guidelines, past and ongoing research, and links to other sites with information on algal toxins in freshwater.