Monday August 21, 2023
KGW 8 —
There is a new way to discover toxins in algae blooms that impact waterways, according to researchers at Oregon State University.
Researchers said the new method may provide a more efficient way to deal with the danger. The most recent example of toxic algae bloom is in a large section of the Willamette River near downtown Portland. The notice has been in effect since Aug. 15, with the Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County Health Department warning people and their pets to stay out of the water and avoid drinking it.
The current system of testing for toxins is not that efficient or economical. It requires water samples to be gathered, transported to labs and run through a costly analysis.
That’s according to an Oregon State University researcher, who said two years of study has developed a way to quickly test volatile organic compounds released as gases by algae blooms, to determine toxicity and danger.