Latest news with #HAB
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Five bodies of water added to KDHE's blue-green algae advisory list
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment added five bodies of water to its blue-green algae advisory list on Friday: Warning Elkhorn Lake, Jackson County (Added July 11) Frazier Lake, Grant County Gathering Pond, Geary County Kill Creek Park Lake, Johnson County (Added July 11) Marion County Lake, Marion County (Added July 11) Watch Atchison City Lake #9, Atchison County Atchison State Fishing Lake, Atchison County Jeffrey Energy Make-Up Lake, Pottawatomie County Marion Reservoir, Marion County Melvern Outlet River Pond, Osage County (Added July 11) Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County (Added July 11) There are currently no bodies of water under a hazard status. A harmful algae bloom (HAB) may look like foam, scum, or paint floating on the water. It can appear blue, bright green, brown, or even red. Blooms can develop rapidly. Depending on the type of exposure, coming into contact with a HAB can cause rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headaches. Toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols, and skin contact. Avoid contact and keep pets away. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a HAB or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die. Suspected HAB-related health incidents should be reported as soon as possible at When KDHE receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes, it investigates publicly accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, the KDHE will then issue a status level of warning, watch, or hazard. A hazard status indicates that an HAB is present and that extreme conditions exist. When a hazard is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. It is recommended that either a portion of the lake or the entire lake or zone be closed to the public. In some cases, the adjacent land should be closed as well. Actual setback distances will be determined on a site-specific basis, if necessary. When partial closures (i.e., beach or cove) are issued, the remaining lake or zone area will carry a warning status. A warning status indicates that conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure. Contact with the body of water should be avoided. When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. Inhalation of spray or aerosols may be harmful. Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock. Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans. Water contact should be avoided. Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded. Do not allow pets to eat dried algae. If lake water contacts the skin, wash it with clean water as soon as possible. Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation. A watch status means that blue-green algae have been detected and a HAB is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water. During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. Water may be unsafe for humans/animals. Avoid areas of algae accumulation, and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water. Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms. Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact. Clean fish thoroughly with potable water and eat fillet portions only. Advisories are lifted when cell densities and toxin concentrations dissipate to levels below the Watch thresholds. The water recreation season runs from April 1 to Oct. 31, as do the HAB response program's active operations. You can visit the KDHE website year-round to check the current advisory status for bodies of water in Kansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Sky News AU
Sky News Weather breaks down South Australia's marine crisis, as harmful algal bloom changes course and moves towards Adelaide beaches
The deadly algal bloom floating in South Australian waters - causing masses of dead fish and rays to wash up on local beaches - has reached Adelaide after a change in weather conditions. The bloom, which has been attributed to unusually dry and warm conditions over the state earlier this year, was first identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March. The arrival of cold and windy weather has failed to quell the worsening outbreak, and only shifted its focus to other parts of the state. Sky News Weather has broken down the meteorological drivers that have most contributed to the crisis, including rising sea surface temperatures and dry, warm weather that has taken hold in Australia's south at the start of this year. What is an algal bloom? It is a naturally occurring microalgae known as Karenia mikimotoi. The species is not known to cause long-term health effects in humans, but swimmers and surfers have reported rashes and stinging eyes after entering the water. The HAB (harmful algal bloom) is causing serious concern for fisheries, as well as the oyster and pipis industry, as dead sea life including fish, sharks and rays wash up on beaches. The bloom is the first HAB for the region since an event in 2014, which developed around the Coffin Bay area. What caused the bloom in the first place? According to the South Australian Government, experts have identified three plausible influences: Firstly, a prolonged marine heatwave led to near record ocean heat off the SA coast from September 2024 to this May. Sea surface temperatures were 2.5C above normal over this extended period – not only offshore, but also within the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent. Secondly, there was unusually dry and warm weather over the same period. Large parts of south Australia's southern regions have suffered through the driest January – May period on record this year, as high pressure systems blocked the passage of cool season frontal rain until early winter. Thirdly – the oceans of south Australia are very nutrient rich. Outflows of floodwater from the Murray River (a result of the 2022/2023 floods) carry high levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and iron. These factors turned south Australian waters into an optimal nesting ground for the HAB. Algae feed by photosynthesis (sunlight) and need warm, nutrient-rich water to grow. According to the SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions, predicting the duration of this HAB is difficult. They can last for weeks to months. Changing environmental conditions are believed to be the key to ending the HAB. It makes sense at first thought – get rid of the sunshine, warmth and nutrients, and the species would now be in an unhabitable environment. This has not been the case. During June, frequent cold fronts brought welcome rain for South Australian farmers. The weather events also brought strong gales, rough seas and abnormally high tides to the state's coastline. Ocean temperatures cooled and the top layer of the oceans (where the algae lives) was mixed considerably. The latest information from SA government surveys suggest that the weather shift dispersed some of the bloom but also moved it to impact other areas – including closer to Adelaide's beaches. It is unknown when the HAB will completely clear. One last question worth asking is – could this event be attributed to climate change? Another question to follow – could our planet's oceans see more HAB events than ever before due to climate change? If we consider the warm, calm and dry conditions which led to this HAB, Australia's changing climate can certainly be a factor, especially in southern waters. Climate change is reducing the likelihood of cool season cold fronts whilst increasing the prevalence of calmer high-pressure system over the nation's south. This has led to a decrease of about nine per cent in cool season rainfall since 1994. Ocean warming is also a direct result of climate change. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases traps heat in the atmosphere, and a substantial part of this excess heat is absorbed by the oceans. For the latest weather outlooks and climate forecasts be sure to tune into Sky News Weather Channel 601 on Foxtel
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zohran Mamdani Used to Rap — and His Catalog Has Been Surging in Streams
On Tuesday night (June 24), New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani became the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, defeating a crowded field that included early frontrunner and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. As the race heated up and Mamdani gained momentum, a surprising part of his past re-emerged online: his rap career. More from Billboard NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani's Old Rap Videos Are Going Viral Ask Billboard: Here Are the Nos. 1 & 2 Reasons That the Hot 100 Has Been Historic This Month Inside Bouyon: How a Fusion of Local Folk Music & Digitized Instruments Gave Way to Dominica's Fast-Spreading Homegrown Genre Before his political rise, the 33-year-old rapped under the names Young Cardamom and then Mr. Cardamom. As old videos circulated online in the lead-up to the primary, curious voters were quick to stream his music, resulting in notable gains. In 2016, Mamdani released a six-track EP, Sidda Mukyaalo, alongside his close friend and collaborator Abdul Bar Hussein (who raps under the name HAB). On the EP, the pair raps in six different languages, while drawing from the members' shared Ugandan heritage — Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York City at age seven. In addition to the EP, the tandem released the song '#1 Spice' on the soundtrack to the Disney biographical drama Queen of Katwe. Here's a recent week-by-week breakdown of on-demand official streams for Young Cardamom and HAB's catalog (which comprises seven songs), in the United States and globally, according to Luminate: Combined U.S. Streams for Young Cardamom & HAB's Catalog May 23-29: less than 1,000 May 30-June 5: less than 1,000 (up 10%) June 6-12: 2,000 (up 473%) June 13-19: 15,000 (up 582%) Combined Global Streams for Young Cardamom & HAB's Catalog May 23-29: less than 1,000 May 30-June 5: less than 1,000 (up 24%) June 6-12: 3,000 (up 312%) June 13-19: 20,000 (up 555%) Compared to the two weeks before the news of Mamdani's rap background surfaced (May 23-June 5), the duo's catalog jumped 2,300% in the U.S. and 1,543% globally. '#1 Spice' saw the most substantial gains in the act's catalog. Queen of Katwe stars Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo, and was directed by Mamdani's mother, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair. Nyong'o even appears in the song's music video, alongside Mamdani and HAB. Here's a four-week breakdown of the song's streams in both the U.S. and globally: U.S. Streams for '#1 Spice' May 23-29: less than 1,000 May 30-June 5: less than 1,000 June 6-12: 2,000 (up 561%) June 13-19: 14,000 (up 557%) Global Streams for '#1 Spice' May 23-29: less than 1,000 May 30-June 5: less than 1,000 (up 29%) June 6-12: 3,000 (up 362%) June 13-19: 19,000 (up 556%) In just two weeks, '#1 Spice' surged by 2,600% in U.S. streams and 1,900% globally. According to a 2019 New York Times story about actress Madhur Jaffrey, Mamdani made his rap debut in the late 2000s while running for student vice president at Bronx High School of Science. He rapped under a platform that promised freshly squeezed juices for all. He lost that election, but it paved the way for his future political aspirations. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Algal bloom found in Anderson County lake: SCDES
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — State environment officials issued a recreational watch after detecting a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Broadway Lake on Wednesday. According to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), samples were found to contain cyanobacteria, which can produce cyanotoxins like cylindrospermopsin and microcystins. HABS are common in the Palmetto States. They often occur during warmer and drier months, and can stick around for weeks. Cooler temperatures, heavy wind and rain can help break up and kill off the HAB. Blooms, officials added, look like green spilled paint or a bluish-green coloration to the water. State leaders said that people should not make direct contact with lake waters in areas where the HAB is present. Pets and animals should not swim or drink the lake water in impacted areas. Common symptoms associated with algae blooms include stomach pain, skin rash, headache, coughing and watery eyes. SCDES said that if a pet is showing symptoms after coming into contact with a HAB, please consult your veterinarian. Need more information? Contact the SCDES's Bureau of Water at (803) 898-8374. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State issues blue-green algae warnings for Kansas lakes
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) — State health and wildlife officials have issued warnings for several Kansas lakes due to potentially toxic blue-green algae blooms, urging residents and visitors to stay alert while enjoying water activities this summer. Car crashes into Garden City home The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in coordination with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), issued a public health advisory as part of its Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) response program, which runs each year from April through October. Current advisories include: Warning: Frazier Lake (Grant County) Gathering Pond (Geary County) Marion Reservoir (Marion County – status elevated May 30) Watch: Augusta Santa Fe Lake (Butler County – status lowered May 30) Lifted: Pony Creek Lake (Brown County) Officials say blue-green algae can appear as foam, scum, or paint on the water's surface, in colors ranging from blue and green to brown or red. Blooms can form quickly and may be harmful to humans and animals through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation. 'Symptoms from exposure may include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, and fever,' KDHE said. 'If you or your pets come into contact with algae, rinse thoroughly with clean water.' The advisory outlines different safety levels: A Warning means harmful algae is expected or present. Swimming and water contact should be avoided, and pets should not drink or enter the water. A Watch indicates algae may be present. Water activities near visible blooms are discouraged, but boating and fishing are generally safe with precautions. A Hazard status—none currently in effect—signals extreme conditions and could lead to lake closures. KDHE encourages Kansans to report suspected blooms year-round and offers resources for identifying algae and staying safe at 'Blooms can be deadly for pets,' the agency warns. 'Dogs are especially vulnerable if they drink or come into contact with contaminated water or eat dried algae on the shore.' For updates, public advisories, and a map of affected lakes, visit the KDHE Harmful Algal Bloom page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
