toxic blooms
Poisonous algae explosions
Toxic blooms are rapid overgrowths of algae or cyanobacteria in water that produce harmful substances.
Also called harmful algal blooms, they occur when excess nutrients—often from agricultural runoff—fuel explosive growth in lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
The toxins can poison fish, contaminate drinking water, and sicken humans and animals: The beach was closed due to toxic blooms.
Climate change and pollution have made them increasingly common.
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- red tideToxic algae discoloring seawater
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- fish killSudden mass aquatic death
water · lake · pond · scum · green · murky · contamination · shellfish · poisonous · summer · stagnant · nutrient · runoff · warning · beach closure · no swimming · oxygen · suffocate
toxic bloomspristine waters
Naturally pure aquatic environments
clean water · pure water · clear water · potable water · ecological health
toxic bloomsbiodiversity
Range of life forms
kelp forests · ecological balance · species diversity · coral reefs
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