Toxic blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are abundant in Finnish waters, especially in the coastal areas of the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland, says the Finnish Environmental Center Syke.
According to the department’s senior researcher, the situation is slightly worse than in recent years. Mika Raateoja.
"There is reason to worry," he said.
The institute has warned that people and animals โ especially small children and dogs โ can become very ill if they touch, swallow or even inhale the water droplets.
According to Raateoja, as long as wind and rain mix blue-green algae with the water mass, blooms do not appear on the surface, which makes it difficult to estimate its level from the water surface.
"For us scientists, the blue-green algae situation is bad, even if you can’t see it on the surface." Raateoja explained. "Blue-green algae grow very slowly. Its numbers will not suddenly rise to a worse level."
Since the growth of blue-green algae is favored by constant warmth, its concentration in marine areas is not expected to decrease in the near future due to warmer than average temperatures.
Better indoor water conditions
According to the report, blue-green algae conditions in inland waters are currently better than average.
However, the worst season of blue-green algae growth is yet to come, so according to the SYKE team leader, it is too early to breathe a sigh of relief. A Karelian fairy tale.
"The amount of blue-green algae is usually at its peak in July-August, when the waters are warm," he said.
Although temperature is an important factor in the growth of blue-green algae, thunderstorms also affect it.
"Thunderstorms can increase the nutrient content of water bodies by leaching from catchment areas. Therefore, if there are more thunderstorms in July, blue-green algae blooms may also increase," The Karelian explained.