By Tyler Treadway
TC Palm
July 26, 2016
Toxins from blue-green 
algae blooms are in the air as well as the water.
Tests by Martin County found the toxin microcystin in the air at sites along the St. Lucie River covered with thick, matted algae blooms. And the blooms themselves contained toxic levels “I never dreamed we’d see,” said Deborah Drum, the county’s ecosystem manager.
According to a report issued Tuesday afternoon during a Martin County Commission meeting, an algae bloom at Central Marine marina in Rio contained microcystin at a rate of 33,000 parts per billion and one at nearby Outboards Only had a level of 14,000 parts per billion.
The World Health Organization considers levels above 10 parts per billion to be hazardous in recreation contact.
The tests found microcystin in the air at Central Marine at a rate of 0.64 parts per billion.
To continue reading the article, please click on the following link:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/indian-river-lagoon/health/tests-show-algae-toxins-also-contaminating-air-quality-38788367-fe2d-1b86-e053-0100007faaf1-388311361.html
To view the Martin County press release on the air quality test results, click on the following link:
https://documents.martin.fl.us/Documents2010/content/info_release/adm/2016/MC_Info_Release_Air_Quality_Tests_FINAL.pdf