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Poisonous algae closes Hinkley's Pond [Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.]
(Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jun. 29--By SUSAN MILTON
smilton@capecodonline.com
HARWICH -- Hinkley's Pond off Route 124 and the regional bike trail is temporarily closed because of blooming algae that can be harmful to humans and animals, according to the Harwich Emergency Management Office.
The toxic algae bloom of cyanobacteria closed the pond in the Headwaters/Pleasant Lake area late Friday after town officials received test results from the state, public information officer Jill Mason said today. The closure is expected to last two weeks.
Due to the serious health risk to humans and animals, town officials used its automated telephone system Friday night to deliver a warning to residents who live near the pond, Mason said. Town officials also posted a warning on the Cape Cod Rail Trail to alert riders and walkers who use the pond for cooling off on warm summer days.
Some blooming cyanobacteria produce toxins that are among the most powerful natural poisons known and there is no known antidote, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some but not all cyanobacterial blooms can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of fresh water ponds. The blooms may be blue, bright green, brown, or red and may look like paint floating on the water, Often, the first sign of a harmful algal bloom is a sick dog that swam in an algae-filled pond.
Possible health impacts range from a rash, hives or skin blisters from touching the water; to runny eyes and nose, and a sore throat from inhaling water droplets; to diarrhea and vomiting from swallowing the contaminated water.
Consuming contaminated water also can cause neurological symptoms, including drooling, weakness, staggering, convulsions and death in dogs. Humans may experience dizziness, numb lips, tingling fingers.
Similar algae blooms closed the West Reservoir in West Harwich in 1996, 2001 and 2004, and Walker's Pond in Brewster in 2000, according to Cape Cod Times archives.
Many residents who live near the pond received a recorded telephone message warning of the closure from the Harwich Health Department, one resident said.
Some but not all residents received the warning message by telephone. Property-owners must sign up for such alerts, either online at www.harwichwater.com click on voice broadcast system or through the water department and the Council on Aging. The water department, for example, has used the system to alert residents to its periodic flushing of water mains.
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