[미국] 이리호 조류로 인해 Toledo 수자원 오염

지난주 Toledo시 주변의 수자원이 이리호 유해적조인 남조류와 시아노박테리아에서 생산되는 유독성 펩티드인 미소시스틴에 영향을 받았다고 밝혔다.

그 결과 오하이오 주지사인 John Kasich는 오염원이 발견된 세 개의 East Toledo시 비상사태를 발령하고 50만 주민들에게 '(음용 금지)Do-Not-Drink' 와 '(끓여서 음용 금지)Do-Not-Boil'를 강화했다.
3일 동안 시의 주민들은 오염에 영향을 받아서 수돗물 소비와 사용이 금지되고 오직 주 기관이 제공하는 상수원에 의존했다.

Last weekend, water resources across the city of Toledo, Ohio, were affected by the presence of the contaminant Microcystin, a toxic peptide often produced by cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, that supposedly originated from a harmful algal bloom in Lake Erie.

As a result, Ohio Governor John Kasich declared a state of emergency and officials enforced a "Do-Not-Drink" and "Do-Not-Boil" order on Saturday, Aug. 2, for nearly 500,000 residents in three East Toledo counties -- Lucas, Wood, and Fulton -- where the pollutant was found.

Water quality tests conducted at Toledo's Collins Park Water Treatment Plant revealed the presence of Microcystin in two samples.

For three days, residents of the city impacted by the crisis -- about two-thirds of the Toledo area -- were banned from using or consuming their tap water and were dependent on water supplies brought in by state agencies.

On Monday, Aug. 4, Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins lifted the ban in a news conference after a number of further tests indicated that the presence of Microcystin had receded to safe levels following rigorous treatment methods.

State and local officials are continuing to monitor the algal bloom, as well as the toxic levels of Microcystin in Lake Erie and local water resources. In the news conference, Collins stressed the importance of better addressing these algae problems in Lake Erie through, for example, scientific and political partnerships.

Microcystin if ingested has the potential to cause diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, and liver problems, to name a few conditions.

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 8월 7일]