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Province's lakes have high concentrations of algae-produced toxin
Blue-green algae is seen on Pigeon Lake, Alta. in August, 2007. Lakes in southwestern Manitoba and in central Alberta in 2012 had the highest concentrations of microcystin, which is produced by blue-green algae. (HANDOUT / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Manitoba lakes have some of the highest concentrations of a potent toxin produced by blue-green algae, a study published today found.
The study surveyed more than 250 lakes across Canada and found a potent liver toxin, microcystin, in every province.
Lakes in southwestern Manitoba and in central Alberta had the highest concentrations of microcystin, which can cause liver hemorrhaging in high concentrations.
Killarney Lake had the highest concentration in Manitoba, says Diane Orihel, a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta and lead author of the study.
Microcystin is found in lakes heavily loaded with nutrients from agricultural runoff and development.
The survey found nearly 10 per cent of the 256 lakes surveyed had microcystin levels that exceeded Canadian guidelines even for recreational use.
"Microsystin is now a concern across the country," says Orihel. "It points to where the problems may lie; however, it doesn’t give us answers as to why."
Orihel says there needs to be more research on whole ecosystems in order to find the conditions that produce these high levels of the toxin. She says the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario would be the ideal place for experiments, which have now been targeted by government budget cuts.
The government is cutting its funding for the project, which is monitored by a team of scientists at the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg.
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