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Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are excessive growths of algae that produce toxins harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are excessive growths of algae that produce toxins harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.
HABs emit cyanotoxins that can damage the nervous system, liver, and skin upon exposure to humans through touch, inhalation, or consumption of organisms from contaminated water. These blooms can also lead to fish deaths, foul odors, and the contamination of drinking water, posing further public health risks and reducing the commercial and recreational usability of waterways.
HABs emit cyanotoxins that can damage the nervous system, liver, and skin upon exposure to humans through touch, inhalation, or consumption of organisms from contaminated water. These blooms can also lead to fish deaths, foul odors, and the contamination of drinking water, posing further public health risks and reducing the commercial and recreational usability of waterways.
In Stockton, California, HABs routinely impact the ecosystem and public health in the San Joaquin Delta, a vital water source for agriculture and municipal use. Exacerbating the issue, community groups have expressed a lack of general awareness of the health risks of HABs.
Image from CBS News of HABs in downtown Stockton
Image from ABC 10 News of HABS in downtown Stockton
The Stockton waterways face several challenges that contribute to the persistence and severity of HABs in the area.
Known causes of blooms
Known causes of blooms
Waterway pollutants known to increase HAB formation include nitrogen and phosphorus used by the algae as food.
Stockton-specific factors
Stockton-specific factors
Agricultural operations and wastewater management tend to most directly increase the concentrations of these chemicals; however, most if not all industrial operations indirectly result in nutrient pollution because various compounds released into the atmosphere by fossil fuel consumption, including nitrogen and phosphorus, can eventually be deposited into the water through atmospheric deposition and rainfall.
Low water flow is also known to enable dramatic algae growth.
The Mormon Slough runs from the east through Downtown Stockton. Due to flooding, water was diverted away from the Mormon Slough in the early 1900s. This has resulted in stagnant water in the Slough that enables extreme HAB formation. Subsequent development makes the possibility of restoring water to the Slough complex and not immediately feasible.
High water temperatures are the final factor known to promote HAB growth.
Local temperature increases due to global warming have also increased water temperatures and therefore the growth of cyanobacteria.
Despite the dangers, community members have expressed a lack of widespread awareness of the hazards associated with HABs. As a result, Stockton residents can be exposed to cyanotoxins and secondary organic aerosols with negative impacts on their health.
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