The Free State is funding a research project on the spread of blue-green algae in Bavarian lakes and the associated health risk with around 312,000 euros. The responsible health minister, Klaus Holetschek, said on Sunday in Munich at the start of the research project “CyanoBenToxII” at the Technical University of Munich: “The Bavarian lakes are affected by climate change in many ways. These climate-related changes can not only affect the quality of water, but also the health of people and animals. Because blue-green algae – i.e. cyanobacteria – benefit from climate change and, under certain conditions, can produce poisons that are dangerous to the health of humans and animals.”
The minister added: “Dogs have already been poisoned because they drank from heavily contaminated water or ate blue-green algae. But people, especially small children, who drink contaminated water are also at risk and, depending on the amount of blue-green algae poison they ingest, can Mucous membrane irritations or gastrointestinal disorders or even poisoning. That’s why we are pushing forward research into the triggers for the excessive spread of blue-green algae and its consequences.”
In the research project “Toxic benthic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Bavarian lakes – distribution and derivation of triggering environmental factors”, or “CyanoBenToxII” for short, at the Technical University of Munich, predominantly benthic cyanobacteria are examined. These are blue-green algae that – it is hardly noticeable – prefer to settle under water – for example at the bottom of bodies of water.
Holetschek explained: “So far, little is known about the distribution of this type of blue-green algae. That’s why we want to use the research project to find out where they occur and under what circumstances they produce their poisons, the so-called cyanotoxins. Based on the findings, polluted waters should be recognized in a timely manner and appropriate preventive measures developed.”