Explore: Harmful Algal Bloom

A harmful algal bloom (HAB), or excessive algae growth, sometimes called a red tide in marine environments, is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts

fresh water or marine water systems. It may be a benign or harmful algal bloom. Algal bloom is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from

a dinoflagellate species from the genus Karenia that can cause a harmful algal bloom. Its first appearance was in Japan in 1935 and since then, it has

health from toxins and pathogens detected in the algal mats found in the lake. These harmful algal blooms have a number factors contributing to their occurrence

being introduced. Some harmful algal blooms resulting from eutrophication, are toxic to plants and animals. Freshwater algal blooms can pose a threat to

a few days, but blooms can last weeks. While some of these blooms are harmless, others fall into the category of harmful algal blooms, or HABs. HABs can

visible coloration of the water, colloquially known as red tide (a harmful algal bloom), which can cause shellfish poisoning if humans eat contaminated

and lipids) derived from sources such as the offshore breakdown of algal blooms. These compounds can act as surfactants or foaming agents. As the seawater

The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014 (S. 1254; Pub. L. 113–121 (text) (PDF)) is a U.S. public law that reauthorizes

lake can produce blooms often beginning in the spring and lasting through the fall. Referred to as harmful algal blooms (HAB), these blooms consist of solid