Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Poison algae closes Italian beaches

Genoa -- Northern Italy is hoping a break from the heat will also mean a break from a toxic algae bloom that has shut down some beaches.

An environmental protection official in Genoa said 10 people have been affected by the algae, either with skin rashes or breathing problems. Swimming has been banned since Saturday along a three-mile stretch of beaches around the port city.

The tropical algae normally lives on the bottom of the sea but rises to the surface during blooming, releasing a neurotoxin into the air. The algae are not dangerous normally, but can be when there's a large concentration.

3 comments:

yellowdoggranny said...

i read someplace that if the heat and droughts continue...parts of europe will be inhabital...just like texas.

Anonymous said...

Can you dry it out and smoke it?

dom said...

And all of France too JS
Trust you to think of that Debs