Algae bloom toxin kills sea birds -- produced record levels of a toxic acid
Ray Lopez Braindead Killfile the Pest
Algae bloom toxin kills sea birds
Friday, May 11, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.com
An algae bloom in Southern California coastal waters has produced record
levels of a toxic acid, scientists reported Wednesday. The chemical has
been blamed in the deaths of numerous marine mammals and seabirds in
recent months. -Environmental News Network
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Toxic Acid Blamed in Deaths of Seabirds
LOS ANGELES -- An algae bloom in Southern California coastal waters has
produced record levels of a toxic acid, scientists reported Wednesday.
The chemical has been blamed in the deaths of numerous marine mammals and
seabirds in recent months.
Measurements from four coastal stations last month found the highest
domoic acid concentrations at 27 micrograms per liter, said David Caron
of the University of Southern California.
"I have never seen these kind of numbers before," Caron said.
Last year, the highest levels stood at 12 micrograms per liter.
Recent measurements taken this month found the toxin levels had
substantially declined, suggesting the seasonal algae bloom may have
peaked, Caron said.
Domoic acid is a naturally occurring chemical produced by microscopic
algae. Birds and sea mammals ingest the acid by eating fish and shellfish
that consume the algae. People who eat fish and shellfish tainted with
the acid can experience nausea, seizures and even death.
Last month, state health officials warned consumers against eating
certain locally harvested shellfish and seafood that may be tainted with
domoic acid.
Environmentalists have been concerned by the number and variety of sea
lions, dolphins and birds that have washed ashore between Santa Barbara
and San Diego. Some believe the dead and sick animals have been exposed
to domoic acid poisoning.
NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency that oversees ocean fishing, has
deemed the recent deaths of common dolphins and whales in California an
"unusual mortality event." This would allow the agency to pour resources
into determining what was causing the die-off.
Although the investigation is ongoing, domoic acid is the prime suspect,
said Joe Cordaro, a federal wildlife biologist.
Cordaro cautioned that it's too soon to gauge the severity of this
season's algae bloom on mammals and birds. The bloom typically starts in
the spring and lasts for three months through early summer.
"At this point, we don't know if it's worse than the 2002-2003 event,"
Cordaro said.
A domoic outbreak in 2002 and 2003 sickened or killed more than a
thousand sea lions and 50 dolphins.