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Cyanobacteria in the sea – are they dangerous?

Hey guys! Today I have prepared another post for you in the health cycle – what are cyanobacteria in the sea and are they really dangerous to us? 

If you are going on vacation and / or want to swim in the sea but you are concerned about health problems, this post is for you. I will tell you how to recognize cyanobacteria and what the consequences for our body may be if we ignore them. You certainly associate it with a stay at the seaside, because cyanobacteria occur in summer, in places where salty water meets polluted river water. We can easily recognize this by a  green carpet on the surface of the water, with a greenish or gray tinge and an unpleasant odor. So I definitely do not recommend bathing with something like this. If you want to learn more about cyanobacteria, I invite you to the rest of the post.

Cyanobacteria in the sea what are they?  Are they dangerous?

Cyanobacteria in the sea – what are they?

Cyanobacteria (cyanobacteria, Latin Cyanobacteria) are characteristic green or gray carpets floating on the water surface. They are commonly called algae , but they are bacteria that live in colonies, found in Europe in many environments. They are durable and resistant, they can survive in difficult conditions: in salt and fresh water, soil, tree bark, rocks, glaciers and even hot springs. That is why fighting them is so difficult for everyone who has had them in the aquarium. They also have the ability to transform into spore forms, so they can survive on the seabed for up to several years and appear every summer.

Where do they come from?

Cyanobacteria appear in summer, when they bloom in lakes and in the Sea.
Blooms is favored by windless weather and hot water. The main contributing factors to this problem of cyanobacterial bloom in the sea are climate change  and the pollution of water reservoirs with agricultural fertilizers. 

Cyanobacteria baths are being closed because cyanobacteria in the sea can produce toxins that are harmful to humans, especially the skin and internal organs. They can also lead to paralysis of the respiratory tract muscles and, consequently, to drowning.

Cyanobacteria in the sea – how to recognize them?

You certainly associate it with a stay at the seaside, because cyanobacteria occur in summer, in places where salty water meets polluted river water. We can easily recognize this by a  green carpet on the surface of the water, with a greenish or gray tinge and an unpleasant odor. They look like algae, but are actually very dangerous bacteria for humans.

Why are cyanobacteria dangerous?

The toxins produced by cyanobacteria are harmful to the skin, liver and nervous system. Poisoning is manifested by: vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint pain, fever, rash, itching and watery eyes, and the respiratory tract muscles may be paralyzed. Ailments may appear immediately or even several days after swimming in contaminated water. There have been no human deaths in a long time, however there is a danger. It is also not allowed to water the animals with cyanobacteria, bathe them, wash clothes, wash hands or water the plants.

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Cyanobacteria in the sea

So I definitely do not recommend bathing, especially in places with red flags.

It is better to give up the sea on this day and instead go to the swimming pool, to the water park or to sunbathe on the beach, away from the cyanobacteria. It is not worth risking your life and health.

If we happen to get wet in contaminated water, take off all clothes, rinse thoroughly with clean, cool water, e.g. drinking water, and then promptly report it to a lifeguard and / doctor.

Therefore, before going on vacation, it is worth checking the Internet  where  cyanobacteria appeared and where bathing is prohibited. This can be to keep a check on the site kąpieliskowym GIS at:  sk.gis.gov.pl .

Have you ever had contact with them? Asia

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