PAGE, Arizona (ABC4) — The National Park Service (NPS) has found evidence of cyanotoxins in Antelope Canyon at Lake Powell.
Cyanotoxins are produced by some algae blooms that can be harmful to humans and animals. However, the concentration of the toxins was placed at the “high end” of safe exposure levels by NPS.
While the lake remains open, officials are recommending boaters and recreators use caution and avoid any unnecessary exposure to the water.
According to NPS, warm, still water is a prime environment for cyanobacteria. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake can act as nutrients for algae and bacteria. Harmful algae, in particular, can bloom rapidly in shallow, warm water.
Contact with harmful algae can lead to nausea, vomiting, breathing problems, and unexplained illness, NPS said in a press release Wednesday. They say individuals should always take a shower after coming into contact with water that could have harmful algae.
Officials are warning recreators to avoid swimming in water during an algal bloom. They also advise against boating, water skiing, or jet-skiing in “scummy water” as these activities can send the toxins into the air and make them more likely to be inhaled.
Pets are at risk of illness from harmful algae as well. NPS recommends keeping pets from swimming or drinking from scummy waters.
Cleaning all fish caught in water that could be exposed to algal blooms is also a vital part of staying safe from illness.
Alongside the risk to humans and pets, cyanotoxins can also damage environments by lowering oxygen levels and acidification.
For more information about how to be safe from harmful algae, you can visit the NPS website.
