Hey, there! Log in / Register

Jamaica Pond: Now even more toxic

By adamg on Wed, 07/29/2015 - 8:39pm

Results from Monday testing of Jamaica Pond water show cyanobacteria levels more than three times higher than the maximum considered safe for people and their pets, the Boston Public Health Commission reports.

The results of this sampling indicate that algae levels exceed the state-established 70,000 cells/milliliter. Massachusetts Department of Public Health analysis of the sample taken on July 27th shows cyanobacteria levels of 240,000 cells/mL, above the DPH guideline level of 70,000 cells/mL threshold.

The numbers are way higher than even last week's results.

That means the ban on swimming, boating, fishing or even just coming in contact with the pond's water continues, because the blue-green algae can make you or your dog sick; in rare cases, it can prove fatal.

The Boston Public Health Commission will continue to review state sampling results for the presence of a algae bloom in Jamaica Pond over the coming weeks. Water sampling will occur at least weekly while ​the algae bloom persists, and for several weeks after it is no longer visible. DPH recommends that the recreational water advisory not be lifted until two consecutive weekly samples show algal cell counts below the safe limit of 70,000 cells/milliliter of water.​​​​​​​

Neighborhoods: 
Jamaica Plain
Free tagging: 
Jamaica Pond
public health
Boston Public Health Commission


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

By Bellvue Hill Bully on Wed, 07/29/2015 - 8:56pm.

Is there any cause given for this spike in pollution, and are other local bodies of water affected?

up
Voting closed 0

By Jeff F on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 12:21am.

Cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) are common organisms, found all over the world. Something very much like them is thought to have been the progenetor of all plant life on earth.

It's totally normal and expected to find them in any reasonable size body of water (even fishtanks). Cyanobacteria are just part of the regular environment. An excess of nitrogen and phosphorus can certainly encourage big blooms of it, but so can hot weather and sluggish water.

The problem is that some, but not all, varieties may produce compounds that are toxic to animals (including us humans). Normally, these are so dilute that we aren't affected by them before sunlight and oxygen break them down into something harmless. They're only potentially dangerous when present in really concentrated amounts. And the number of human cases of poisoning/illness that have been definitively attributed to cyanobacteria toxins is actually very low.

But better safe than sorry. Because it's hard to test for all the various toxins that might be produced by all the different strains of cyanobacteria, it's easier just to place a ban on a body of water when the blue-green algae count hits a certain threshold (and it's a lot cheaper than using chemical controls or large-scale aeration).

up
Voting closed 0

By 500Monkeys on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 8:37am.

Any idea how long such blooms typically last in a pond setting like this? Or if there is a safe and economical treatment? Is it typically just a matter of time?

And: Will Moby Carp be safe? Has Jessie the Jamaica Pond Monster spread this scourge to Lake Champlain?

up
Voting closed 0

By c1josh on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 9:29am.

the GREAT WHITE CARP!

up
Voting closed 0

By KSquared on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 9:49am.

http://digital.vpr.net/post/blue-green-algae-closes-two-burlington-beach...

Tis the season for blue-green algae.

up
Voting closed 0

By anon on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 12:02pm.

...is that Ty is secretly trying to kill Spackler when he tells him 'pond'd be good for you'.

up
Voting closed 0

By Worried on Wed, 08/12/2015 - 11:24pm.

Does anybody know what type of toxin may be present in the water at Jamaica Pond? I read that cyanobacteria can produce Microcystins and anatoxins. The former can cause liver damage or failure exhibiting symptoms of GI distress like vomiting and diarrhea, whereas the latter tend to produce neurological symptoms like muscle tremors and paralysis. None of it's good. But if a dog was exposed it'd be good to know which types of symptoms to be on the look out for.
Thanks

up
Voting closed 0

By anon on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 7:03am.

Temperature, lack of rainfall, fertilizer runoff, goose poo

up
Voting closed 0

By dd808 on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 7:56am.

Maybe we should train our Olympic swimmers there for Rio.

up
Voting closed 0

By Marco on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 11:27am.

...other area ponds? I looked online at some other city websites but see no info on it. Is this just isolated at Jamaica Pond? If so, why?

up
Voting closed 0

By Jeff F on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 1:51pm.

A very quick google shows that White Pond in Concord is also closed right now because of cyanobacteria counts, and Willis Pond in Sudbury was flagged a couple weeks ago, but tested below warning levels yesterday.

There are certainly many other bodies of water that have blue-green algal blooms at some point during the summer, but the state undoubtably only has the resources to check the most heavily used ones.

Picture in your mind a typical New England pond on a hot summer afternoon. Can you imagine some pond scum in the leeward corner of the pond? That's an algal bloom!

Hopefully most folks realize that it's a bad idea to swim in guck like that or to let their dogs drink it.

up
Voting closed 0