Human and Climatic Drivers of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (CyanoHABs)

Paerl, Hans W.

doi:10.1002/9781119678304.ch2

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Climate change contributes to increased blooms locally [9,10] and globally [11]. Where climate change induces hotter, drier environments and increased water temperatures, agriculture's need for increased water consumption competes with environmental watering needs created by reduced waterflows [12]. This situation is most apparent in the MDB.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bloomin’ Ridiculous: Climate Change, Water Contamination and Algal Blooms in a Land Down Under

Crampton,

Ragusa

2023

Hydrology

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Climate and anthropogenic change, particularly agricultural runoff, increase blue-green algae/cyanobacteria blooms. This article researches cyanobacteria alert-level identification, management, and risk communication in Lake Hume, Australia. Two methods, document and content analysis, evidence contamination events and risk communication, reflect water governance and data management limitations. Results found that Lake Hume had amber or red alerts for only one week, December 2021–December 2022. This failed to prevent government tourism promotion of recreational usage, contravening water authority red alert advice. Lake-use restrictions lacked compliance enforcement. Events during amber alerts lacked risk communication to vulnerable populations (children). Lake Hume’s governance by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority restricted risk communication to one authority that reproduced generic advice in minimal outlets/time points. Geophysical signage failed to address diversity needs (language, literacy, age, and disabilities). No risk communication was found for residents with diseases exacerbated by aerosolization. Despite WHO promoting cyanotoxin investigation, Australian research is absent in international literature. Further, Lake Hume cyanobacteria produce potentially carcinogenic microcystein. This coexists with census data revealing cancer rates higher than the national average in a waterside town. The results demonstrate the need to incorporate robust public health risk assessments, communication, and management into water management and advocate international legislation changes based on evidence-based research to reduce blooms and prevent agricultural runoff.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%