Toledo water supplies are not safe to drink, containing toxins that has forced the governor of Ohio to declare a state of emergency for regions surrounding the city. Over 400,000 people are affected by the bacterial contamination.
Microcystin is a toxin released in algae blooms. The substance is extremely toxic to humans, animals, and even plants. In people, the toxin attacks the liver, and can be deadly.
Residents are being advised not to drink or cook with water from municipal systems. Even houseplants should not be watered with the contaminated supply. Boiling is not adequate to deal with the bacterial contamination.
After ingestion, the toxin travels to the liver, where much of it is stored, while the remainder enters the bloodstream, infecting other body tissues. Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
The contamination was caused by harmful algal blooms (HAB's) that developed in Lake Erie. This waterway is the shallowest of all the Great Lakes.
"[Harmful algal blooms] occur when excess nitrogen and phosphorus are present in lakes and streams. Such nutrients can come from runoff of over-fertilized fields and lawns, from malfunctioning septic systems and from livestock pens," local CNN affiliate WTOL reported.
John Kasich, governor of Ohio, declared a state of emergency in northwestern parts of the state, including Wood and Lucas counties. Affected regions include suburbs of Toledo, as well as other surrounding regions.
The National Guard will be establishing water stations around the city, providing residents with easy access to safe supplies. Many people started to line up for water at likely distribution spots before supplies started arriving, or locations were announced.
Restaurants have been advised to close in affected areas, and grocery stores are destroying stocks of produce, such as lettuce and spinach, which are misted with water.
Microcystin was first discovered in tests conducted of the municipal water supply at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant. Workers there discovered the contamination in two separate samples of the water.
Water in the fourth-largest city in the Buckeye State is considered safe for washing and bathing, provided water is not ingested during the process. For that reason, officials are cautioning parents to monitor young children while bathing, to prevent them from drinking the contaminated liquid.
Weekend tests should show how serious the problem has become in Toledo.
As of 2 August, there were no reports of illness caused by the contaminated water. City officials report they are responding to the situation with "an abundance of caution."
