A confirmed case of blue-green algae in a northern Ontario lake is sparking concern over timely public health messaging.
On a morning in early June, Shirley Smith-Wilson discovered what she believed to be a blue-green algal bloom in Commanda Lake, about an hour south of North Bay, Ont. She quickly called her son, Nathan Wilson, who researches blue-green algae and water quality in northwestern Ontario.
“It was pretty clear that it was cyanobacteria,” says Wilson, who suggested his mom call the province’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
By the afternoon, a representative from the MECP arrived at Commanda Lake to take a sample. He said that Shirley would be notified of the results “shortly.”
Eight days later, on June 10, Shirley received word from the MECP. The sample revealed the presence of the toxins Microcystin-LR and Anatoxin-A in the lake. The concentration of Microcystin-LR was below the standard for drinking water, according to public health.
Shirley and her son both contacted their local public health unit in North Bay Parry Sound and the MECP several times before then. Wilson says that they were told by the ministry that it was the health unit’s responsibility to reveal the results, while public health claimed the opposite.
“The role of the health unit is to increase public awareness, including providing local municipalities with signage to post at water bodies that have experienced harmful algal blooms,” said a spokesperson for the health unit’s environment health program. Public health directs municipalities to post signs at locations where the public would access the water, such as public beaches.
If a lake has previously had a bloom (Commanda Lake had one in 2020), the health unit will not put forward a new public service announcement or news release if further blooms are spotted, according to public health. “If a bloom appears on a lake with a past history of blooms, a sign would already be present.”
However, neither Wilson or his mother have confirmed spotting signage at Commanda Lake.
“Blue-green algae is still an emerging issue,” says Wilson. “They still aren’t too sure how to deal with it yet.”
As of June 27, the health unit is now posting confirmed blooms on their website, including the one on Commanda Lake.
“More pressing need for an immediate response”
By the time the MECP shared the results with Shirley, Wilson says the bloom had disappeared on the lake.
“Blooms usually don’t last the day in the north,” he says. “They can be there in the morning then dissipate with the wind.”
But just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not harmful. The organisms can bloom beneath the surface, invisible to the naked eye. “There’s a more pressing need for an immediate response,” he says.
Commanda Lake is home to a handful of campgrounds and cottage rentals and is frequently visited by anglers.
“It’s a heavily used recreational lake,” says Wilson. While few drink the water, visitors regularly use it to swim, shower, and brush their teeth.
Swimming or bathing in water with toxic blooms can cause itchy, irritated eyes and skin. If a lot of water is ingested, the toxins can cause flu-like symptoms, including nausea, fever, and headache.
Another incident of delayed public health messaging
This isn’t the first time Ontarians have experienced delayed public health messaging regarding blue-green algae blooms.
Last year, Peterborough Public Health detected blue-green algae in a local lake but did not reveal which one for several weeks. Similarly, the health unit and ministry appeared to be at odds as to who was responsible for making the public announcement.
FOCA decries lack of transparency from officials in blue-green algae case
“If a suspected bloom is reported to the ministry, the ministry’s role is to gather, assess, and provide scientific and technical information, including sampling and laboratory analysis,” says Gary Wheeler, a spokesperson for the MECP. “Public health agencies are the primary lead for health-related matters, which includes providing any formal public health messaging that is necessary for confirmed blue-green algal blooms.
Wilson says that this kind of disconnect between agencies is amplified in northern Ontario, where residents are also contending with unorganized townships and a confusing governing body.
“It causes a loophole where information gets lost because there is no overseeing municipal government,” he says.
However, he sees this as an opportunity for the community to be more aware of their impacts on the local ecosystem. “There is a strong role for the district health unit and government, for where they fit in this system, but there’s a spot for the citizens as well.”
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