Toxic Algae Bloom Advisory Issued For Arlington Ponds

ARLINGTON, MA — Officials are issuing a public health advisory for Spy Pond and Hill's Pond at Menotomy Rocks Park due to a visible algal bloom. The Board of Health advises residents to not swim or stand in the water and keep their pets away from the water.

A harmful algal bloom is an overgrowth of algae in a water body that could affect water quality and aquatic life. Some blooms produced by bacteria can create toxins that harm people, animals and the local environment.

Contact with high levels of a harmful algal blooms has been found to contribute to eye, ear and skin irritation. During an algae bloom, the amount of algae and toxin in the water can become elevated and exposure can be potentially harmful to people and animals.

Ingestion of elevated concentrations of the algae and its toxin can lead to more serious health effects, such as muscle cramps, twitching, and liver damage.