Shetland Islands Council’s Environmental Health team has received notification that the Loch of North House near Twatt, Bixter contains blue-green algae.
Signs will be erected next to the loch warning that contact with algal scum should be avoided and for animals not to drink or enter the water. Adjoining landowners have been advised of the situation, as have NHS Shetland and Shetland Angling Association.
Blue-green algae exist in fresh waters and can collect to form ‘blooms’ looking like blue-green paint, in the water or on the shore line. Blue-green algae can be toxic and give rise to adverse medical effects, include skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, and fever and pains in muscles and joints. Toxic algae have caused deaths of livestock and dogs.
The treatment of water supplies removes blue-green algae and additional treatment may be applied to destroy or remove toxins should they arise. The actions currently taken are precautionary.
If anyone suspects blue-green algae at other locations in Shetland, please submit a notification via the “Bloomin’ Algae” App, available to download for free.
For further information, please contact Environmental Health on 01595 745250.
- Some blue-green algae may give rise to adverse medical effects - but not always. The behaviour of algae is erratic and the level of its toxicity can fluctuate; it can appear one day, be dispersed by the wind and mixing and re-accumulate at any time.
- More details on the “Bloomin’ Algae” app can be found on the webpages of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology