First Toxic Algae Appears on Lakes
Blue-green algae being tested in a lab.
Image: YLE
The summer's first blooms of toxic blue-green algae have been spotted on seven Finnish lakes. The season's first algae survey did not detect any algae floating on the sea.
The algae was found in lakes in south-western and southern Finland. Experts from the Finnish Environment Institute say the situation is normal for this time of year.
Direct contact with the algae can cause skin irritations or even flu-like symptoms, especially in children.
A weekly report on the development of blue-green algae will be issued every Thursday by the Finnish Environment Institute in co-operation with other business, traffic, and environmental administrations.
YLE