People are being warned to stay out of Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head after testing detected high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
Ballina Shire Council issued a Red Alert on September 24 following sampling by its environmental health officers, advising people to avoid swimming, canoeing, water skiing and any other activity that brings them into contact with the lake.
Council says potentially toxic blue-green algae can cause gastroenteritis if swallowed, while contact with affected water can lead to skin and eye irritation.
‘Consumption of water containing algal toxins may cause liver damage and other health problems,’ Council said.
Anyone who believes they may have been affected has been advised to seek medical advice.
People have also been told not to eat mussels or crayfish from the lake while the alert is in place, while anyone eating fish caught there should clean and wash them thoroughly in uncontaminated water and avoid consuming the internal organs.
Council says avoiding fishing altogether during an algal bloom is the safest option.
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, occur naturally in waterways and can multiply rapidly in still or slow-moving water when there is abundant sunlight and sufficient nutrients.
A Red Alert is triggered when algae concentrations reach levels considered a potential risk to recreational users.
Council says the warning will remain in place until ongoing monitoring shows the risk has fallen sufficiently. Its Lake Ainsworth monitoring page says the lake should not be used for primary recreation while the Red Alert remains in force.
The latest warning follows previous blue-green algae blooms at the popular Lennox Head swimming spot, including a Red Alert in October last year.
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