Bathing ban at Altmühlsee: Dangerous blue-green algae cause alarm!

Bathing ban at Altmühlsee: Dangerous blue-green algae cause alarm!

The summer temperatures have increased noticeably in the last few days, unfortunately this has also cast a shadow on the desire to swim. Due to an alarming increase in blue-green algae at Altmühlsee, a bathing ban has been issued for the popular Schlungenhof and Muhr am See bathing areas. nn.de reports that the health risks caused by cyanobacteria and their toxic substances cannot be ignored. Water sports and spending time on the shore are not completely prohibited, but bathers are urged to pay attention to the signs on site as the situation can change quickly.

Blue-green algae, which are actually bacteria and not true algae, thrive in shallow waters, especially in warm, dry weather. ndr.de makes it clear that these microbes can produce toxic substances that pose significant health risks to humans and animals. People with weakened immune systems, small children and pregnant women are particularly susceptible. Symptoms of poisoning can range from nausea to diarrhea to difficulty breathing. Contact with pets is also tricky: dogs should definitely avoid the water as they are also at risk.

Current warnings and behavioral instructions

In addition to the Altmühlsee, there are also other bodies of water in the region where bathing bans and warnings have been issued. For example, the Remersch excavator ponds are currently also affected, where swimming is prohibited due to cyanobacteria. Here the administration recommends avoiding any contact with the water, including when fishing or doing water sports. tageblatt.lu warns that the visibility depth is severely limited, which makes the safety situation during rescue operations even more difficult.

The health problems that can arise from contact with contaminated water range from headaches to skin irritations to more serious illnesses. The regular checks carried out by the health department show that the water quality in EU bathing waters is always a focus. These checks take place monthly not only at Altmühlsee, but also at other bathing lakes.

What now?

The beaches at Altmühlsee and the waters at the Remersch quarry ponds will be reopened as soon as the health risks no longer exist. In order to stay up to date, interested citizens can access current information on the respective websites: For the Altmühlsee, for example, on landkreis-wug.de, while information on the Remersch quarry lakes can be found on waasser.lu.

Discussions about the dangers of blue-green algae have become more common in recent years, especially during the hot summer months. Educating and raising awareness among the population is therefore more important than ever. So stay alert and enjoy the summer, but please do so carefully!