The Health Department in Florida's Orange County has issued a health advisory following the identification of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Minnehaha, highlighting a worldwide problem.

Florida's health officials have recently identified substantial amounts of blue-green algae in water samples collected on February 20th.

These algal blooms pose risks to visitors or nearby residents, so they are advised to stay away from the water and refrain from aquatic activities until the blooms are removed.

Florida’s Environmental Department plans to collect and analyze algae samples from the reported site and release the results once completed.

This environmental hazard silently transforms pure water bodies into lifeless, deoxygenated dead zones, endangering not only aquatic life but also the livelihoods and health of human populations.

Recently, the frequency and duration of algae occurrence have risen due to climate changes and other environmental factors, so intensive attention and proactive approaches for resolution are urgently needed.

Water is the essence of life, and preserving aquatic ecosystems is crucial for the well-being of all living organisms on Earth, but the increasing effects of climate change have revealed a hidden danger - eutrophication.

Eutrophication, a recurring issue in rivers and lakes, where entire bodies of water or parts become abnormally enriched with minerals and nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus.

This severe phenomenon happens not only in Florida but across the globe.

For example, in the Nakdong River in South Korea, serious concern has been raised as the river that serves as a primary water source for 13 million people has been contaminated by algae blooms.

Moreover, contaminated water directly impacts our consumption, as fish and crops sourced from contaminated environments are consumed by humans.

The eutrophication problem is difficult to address since the factors influencing the issue (temperature, sunlight, and nutrient availability) are limited for control.

For instance, controlling the temperature of outdoor areas is nearly impossible because people cannot change or manipulate the absorption of sunlight.

Eutrophication threatens aquatic ecosystems and the well-being of humanity.

The impacts of this insidious threat range from loss of biodiversity to severe economic losses and human health risks.

The most problematic factor of eutrophication is that not many people are notified of this issue.

Fortunately, a collective effort involving governments, industries, and the people is required to combat eutrophication.

Recently, some organizations and companies have started to pay attention to this pressing issue and have provided helpful approaches to help resolve the problem.

For instance, Seoul Synthetic Biology Union (SSBU) launched a nitrate biosensor that can measure the nitrate concentration in the water and express the result in different colors (red, yellow, and green) to detect the severity of eutrophication before it develops into an extreme algal bloom.

As nitrogen enrichment is the leading cause of eutrophication, the sensor can effectively detect the prevailing nitrate concentration and alert the eutrophication status in certain areas.

By promptly taking action against eutrophication, we can protect our precious water resources, preserve biodiversity, and secure a sustainable future.

Jaden Cho

Grade 11

Asheville School