Harmful algal blooms (HABs): The smell of death and decay

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming a significant environmental concern, driven by rising temperatures and pollution. These blooms, often fueled by agricultural runoff and sewage, can turn our drinking water toxic and pose serious health risks to humans and animals. An article from BBC Future explores how these blooms are spreading from marine environments to inland freshwater systems, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this growing threat.

These HABs are such a concern that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a web-based application that provides access to cyanobacterial bloom satellite data for over 2,000 of the largest lakes and reservoirs across the United States. EPA scientists developed the app to help local and state water quality managers make faster and better-informed management decisions related to cyanobacterial blooms. Users can view information about cyanobacteria concentrations on a national scale or can zoom in to single-out data for a lake or reservoir. This Cyanobacteria Assessment Network Application (CyAN app) can be located on the EPA website and is one of many resources that will be gathered and made available on our website to facilitate one of our research priorities: to increase the accessibility, use, and synthesis of Great Lakes data.

For a detailed look into the causes and impacts of HABs, check out the full BBC Future article here.