EPA lake study finds runoff pollution, toxic algae
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its National Lakes Assessment based on 2012 data, which shows that many lakes haven’t changed that much in the past five years.
But the EPA notes that toxic algae problems are on the rise, and a greater share of lakes seem to be clouding up.
Key findings:
- Forty percent of U.S. lakes have excessive phosphorus and 35 percent have too much nitrogen. Both occur naturally and have multiple sources, but agriculture is a key source in the Midwest.
- An algal toxin, microcystin, is detected in 39 percent of lakes, but less than 1 percent have readings above World Health Organization guidelines.
- Atrazine is detected in 30 percent of lakes, typically at low levels.
- Many lakes have less life than they should because of runoff pollution.
Read details of the main issues.
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