Toxic Algae
Toxic Algae are Invasive and Cause Serious Damage to Ecosystems
The Rising Threat of Harmful Algal Blooms
Toxic algal blooms are harming wildlife, pets, and people, while damaging freshwater ecosystems as they spread across the country and around the world. Climate change is fueling their growth, turning them into a far more frequent and dangerous global threat.
What is it? A harmful algal bloom is an overgrowth of algae that negatively affects other organisms—either through toxins they release, physical disruption, or other harmful effects on the environment.
Harmful Algal Blooms and Health
Extent and Impact of Infestation
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are occurring more frequently due to both natural processes and human activity. Nutrient pollution from agriculture and urban runoff—especially nitrogen and phosphorus—feeds algal growth in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The U.S. EPA reports nutrient pollution affects over a third of lakes and half of rivers and streams.
Climate change worsens the issue by warming waters, which favors cyanobacteria over harmless algae. These blooms absorb sunlight, further heating water and accelerating growth. Droughts, followed by heavy storms, increase runoff and raise nutrient levels. Additionally, elevated CO₂ from burning fossil fuels and deforestation feeds cyanobacteria. Invasive mussels worsen blooms by clarifying water, allowing more sunlight to reach algae.
HABs pose serious risks to wildlife, pets, and people. Exposure can occur through water contact, ingestion, or inhalation. Toxins can poison fish and shellfish, and pets—especially dogs—are particularly vulnerable. Drinking water drawn from contaminated lakes affects up to 48 million Americans. In 2014, an algae bloom in Lake Erie led to a tap water ban for 500,000 people in Toledo, Ohio.
Toxins can also create dead zones with little oxygen, killing aquatic life. Over 166 U.S. dead zones have been recorded. HABs block sunlight from reaching underwater plants, disrupting entire ecosystems. For instance, eelgrass die-offs in Chesapeake Bay led to a 70% decline in blue crab populations.
Status of a Solution
We have started in-house discovery for microbial natural products suitable for algaecide development. Once a leading candidate has been selected it will require further research, efficacy and spectrum testing, process and formulation development, field testing, toxicology and regulatory dossier preparation and submission and manufacturing feasibility studies before being launched commercially.
In addition, utilizing our deep knowledge and extensive experience in the discovery and development of natural microbes, we are using AI and machine learning to aid in the discovery process. We are confident we can find candidates and select a leading candidate for development in the near term.
