Can blue-green algae blooms be controlled?
Herbicides and algicides can be used to kill blue-green algae in fresh water environments, but this is not advisable because these treatments may break open algae cells and release more toxins into the water. These chemicals are also toxic to other life forms, including fish and the organisms they eat. The use of chemicals in natural lakes could create more problems than they solve. The mitigation of algae blooms is better accomplished through preventive rather than remedial measures. Blooms of blue-green algae may form when nutrients are readily available in the surface water body. Therefore, taking steps to reduce or prevent additional sources of these nutrients from entering the water can reduce the occurrence of blue-green algae blooms.
