Toxic algae have been discovered in water samples from the Oder. The blooms of these can produce toxins that kill aquatic organisms such as fish and mussels, but are not harmful to humans. Fish death in Oder has been worrying about the people of Poland and Germany for days.
“According to further investigations, the Institute for Inland Fisheries in Olszty has found rare microorganisms, i.e. Gold Algae, in water samples from the Oder,” Environment Minister Anna Moskwa said Thursday.
On the German side, the poisonous algae species Prymnesium parvum was recently identified in the Oder. Prymnesium Parvum is also sometimes referred to as Golden Alga, but this is not a biological term. Several species are called this because they shimmer gold. Neither the Institute for Inland Fisheries in Olsztyn nor the Polish Ministry of the Environment initially found out whether it was the same type of algae discovered in Germany.
However, additional investigations confirmed that a golden algae bloom had occurred. The cause of the algae blossom is still under investigation.
No clear evidence of a single cause
One expert saw the increase in certain algae as the decisive factor. “To me, it is relatively plausible that this huge increase in algae has occurred – and in connection with the release of toxic substances produced by these algae, Jörg Oehlmann, head of the Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology at Goethe University Frankfurt. “We also know from these toxins that they can cause such fish death even at very low concentrations.”
EU Commission urges results
“It is extremely important and urgent to determine the cause and take the right measures downstream,” said a spokesman for the Brussels authority. “The sooner we can identify the cause of this ecological catastrophe, the sooner we can begin to manage and mitigate its broader impacts on wildlife, fisheries, agriculture and recreation.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
