Show Notes
What are toxic algae, and how dangerous are they really? In this episode of AquaDiary, Ally breaks down the health risks of harmful algal blooms (HABs), including cyanotoxins like microcystin, how exposure can affect people and pets, why dogs can die within hours, what the health advisory limits are federally and by state, what toxic blooms mean for lakes and drinking water systems, how to find out if your state is monitoring for cyanotoxins, how to see if you're being exposed to toxins in your drinking water, and why public awareness still lags behind the science. She also explores emerging research into possible long-term neurological risks, including whether certain algae toxins may one day be linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Topics covered: toxic algae, mattoon water crisis, harmful algal blooms (HABs), cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, microcystin, anatoxin-a, BMAA, algae toxins, dog deaths from algae blooms, toxic lake water, harmful algal bloom health risks, cyanotoxins in drinking water, algae blooms and pets, lake water safety, tap water contamination, public health, water treatment, health advisories, emerging research, and environmental science.
References: Caller, T.A., et al. (2009). A cluster of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in New Hampshire: A possible role for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 10(Suppl. 2), 101–108. Cox, P.A., et al. (2016). Chronic exposure to BMAA may trigger Alzheimer's-like pathology in primates. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Durden, W.N., et al. (2025). Alzheimer's disease signatures in the brain transcriptome of estuarine dolphins. Communications Biology, 8(1), 1400. Environmental Working Group. Tap water database — does your state monitor microcystin https://www.ewg.org/tapwater Garamszegi, S.P., et al. (2023). Detection of BMAA in postmortem olfactory bulbs of Alzheimer's disease patients. Toxicology Reports, 10, 392–400. IPM Newsroom. (2025, September 5). What to know about algal blooms after Mattoon's water crisis. NPR Illinois. (2025, September 15). Toxic bacteria shut down Mattoon's water supply. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). Health advisory for microcystins (0.3 µg/L children; 1.6 µg/L adults). https://www.epa.gov World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. [Microcystin-LR guideline: 1.0 µg/L] Links:
EWG Tap Water Database (microcystin by state): https://www.ewg.org/tapwater NY HABs Tracker (harmful algal bloom advisories): https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html Find your Annual Drinking Water Report: Search [your town name] + 'annual drinking water report' or https://www.epa.gov/ccr Water filter — tested for microcystin removal (Berkey): https://amzn.to/4t25nPY Microcystin regulations by state: https://static.ewg.org/reports/2019/microcystin/img/EWG_Microcystins-StateReg_C02.pdf
More from AquaDiary: Water Mysteries, Science & News
In 1804, a newspaper claimed two fishermen shot and killed a 100-foot serpent in Cayuga Lake. Over 200 years later, the city of Ithaca has an official resolution protecting it. In this episode, I team up with Kenny Biddle, Chief Investigator at the Center for Inquiry, to dig through the old newspaper trail, measure the monster, and talk to the people keeping the legend alive. Along the way, we talk to Sylvie, creator of the Old Greeny Fringe Fest; Pat Sewell, the alder behind the resolution; and Ben Sandburg, executive director of the History Center in Tompkins County. Plus, there’s a pattern in the sighting dates that says Old Greeny is “due to return,” and I explain why that math should make you suspicious. I’m Ally, an environmental scientist who manages lakes for a living, and this is AquaDiary: lake science, legends, and mysteries. GUESTS Kenny Biddle, Center for Inquiry: https://skepticalinquirer.org/category/a-closer-look/ Sylvie, Old Greeny Fringe Fest: https://oldgreenyfringefest.com/ Pat Sewell, Ithaca Common Council, Third Ward Ben Sandburg, Tompkins County History Center: https://www.thehistorycenter.net/
There's a river in the sky carrying up to 15x the flow of the Mississippi River. You've heard the term atmospheric river in the news — this episode is the explanation nobody gave you. In this episode, environmental scientist Ally breaks down what atmospheric rivers actually are, how scientists measure and rate them on a scale from beneficial to catastrophic, why the West Coast depends on them for its water supply while also being devastated by them, what El Nino might change about that in 2026, and why the East Coast, the South, and the Midwest are not off the hook. Topics covered: what an atmospheric river is, integrated vapor transport, orographic lift, the AR1-AR5 rating scale, the ARkStorm scenario, Oroville Dam, forecast informed reservoir operations, El Niño and what a very strong event means for this winter, and what climate change is doing to these systems. The full source list is available for free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAquaDiaryPodcast//About AquaDiary:AquaDiary is a science communication project focused on water, environmental science, and the systems that shape our world. You can reach Ally for collaborations at www.aquadiary.org or at [email protected]
How does a mountain collapse cause a flood when there is almost no rain?In August 2026, a rock-and-ice avalanche collapsed from the northern face of Langtang Lirung in Nepal, sending an enormous volume of material down the Himalayan valley and generating a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. In this episode, we examine the glaciology, geology, hydrology, and remote-sensing evidence behind the event, including how hanging glaciers and fractured bedrock fail. Sources: 34 sources are available for free on Patreon Official website: www.aquadiary.org
What happens when algae show up in the water that eventually becomes your drinking water?In this episode of AquaDiary, we go behind the scenes again with Rochester, NY to find out how the city monitors for algae, where and how they collect samples, what they're looking for in those samples, and how they ensure algae toxins never become a drinking water concern. Ask me a question or work with me: [email protected] Merch available and speaking event details on www.aquadiary.org Substack newsletter Patreon (sources)
Fluoride is under a federal microscope right now. RFK Jr. told the CDC to drop its fluoridation recommendation, Utah already banned it, and the EPA fast-tracked a new toxicity review. So, is your tap water lowering your IQ? I spent a while reading the actual primary sources both sides cite so you don't have to. Short version: the studies finding an IQ effect are real and well-designed. So are the studies finding none. They're mostly answering different questions. Dose and timing turn out to matter more than "fluoride: yes or no." I walk through where the evidence actually lines up, and where the genuine open question still is.// Full citations and in-text citations on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheAquaDiaryPodcast Free newsletter for updates and resources: substack.com/@aquadiarypodcast Learn more at aquadiary.org