- Blue algae: First swimming lake in Lower Saxony closed
Due to an excessively high concentration of blue-green algae, the first lake in Lower Saxony has been closed for swimming. The swimming ban applies to Lake Westerholt in Wardenburg (district of Oldenburg), as announced by the municipality and the state health authority. It is also advised not to let dogs drink from the lake.
For around a dozen other bodies of water in Lower Saxony, the bathing water atlas warns of blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, produce toxins that can be harmful to health through water contact or ingestion. Symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, or inflammation of the nasal and eye mucous membranes, as well as skin rashes, can be caused, according to the reports.
A bluish-green discoloration indicates bacteria
Blue-green algae mainly appear in the summer months at high water temperatures in stagnant bodies of water. A bluish-green discoloration of the water and the formation of streaks indicate the bacteria. During the official bathing season from May 15 to September 15, employees of the health authorities regularly inspect the lakes.
The health authority's warning about blue-green algae in Lower Saxony's bodies of water is due to the potential health damage caused by cyanotoxins produced by these algae. Swimming or letting dogs drink from contaminated waters can lead to symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, nasal and eye irritation, and skin rashes.
