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Backer Lorraine

Cyanobacteria and marine algae are ubiquitous in the earth's freshwaters and oceans. Under the right circumstances, these organisms can proliferate, causing harmful algal blooms (HABs) which may produce toxins that threaten human and animal health as well as local and regional ecology. Animals may play in, swim in, or drink from ponds and lakes that have extensive blooms, even if the water bodies smell or look unpleasant to people; the first warning that a toxin-producing HAB exists may come from the death of a pet dog or livestock.

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