MARBLEHEAD — The Board of Health on Tuesday issued an advisory warning residents to avoid Redd’s Pond due to a harmful algae bloom.
The board issued the advisory after a visual inspection of the pond revealed a suspected bloom of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. The advisory urges residents to avoid contact with the water and any areas of algae concentration, including on the shore.
While the public health advisory is in place, residents are not allowed to fish, boat, or allow dogs to swim in the water.
“If you or your child or dog comes in contact with the water or an algae bloom, rinse off
immediately,” the advisory, which is posted to the town’s website, reads.
Blue-green algae can form harmful blooms in lakes, ponds, and rivers that make the water murky, and can sometimes make the water look like pea soup or paint, according to the advisory.
“Blue-green algae blooms can produce toxins that may make people and pets sick. Toxins may be present within the algae cells or in the water. Ingestion of the toxins can cause acute gastrointestinal distress and, depending on the specific toxin, can affect the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and/or neurological systems, and in severe cases cause death,” the advisory reads.
The advisory asks anyone whose dog has been around an algae bloom and shows symptoms such as vomiting, staggering, drooling, or convulsions to call a veterinarian immediately.
“Dogs have been known to eat the scum that washes ashore and/or lick scum out of their fur. In
Massachusetts and many other states, canine deaths have been documented due to the ingestion of harmful algae,” the advisory states.
The health department cautioned that there is no timetable for the advisory to be lifted, as algae blooms can last for weeks during the summer, or disappear quickly. The state Department of Public Health will determine when to lift the advisory based on algal cell counts in samples taken from the water.
“DPH recommends that the recreational water advisory not be lifted until two consecutive weekly samples show algal cell counts below the safe limit of 70,000 cells/milliliter of water,” the advisory reads.
Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to call the Marblehead Health Department at (781)-631-0212.
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
