BFAR: Taal Lake water discoloration could cause allergy to humans

Taal Volcano (Arianne Lacanilao/PCI Photo)

By Zen Trinidad, Philippine News Agency

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 4-A (Calabarzon) on Thursday cautioned against wading at the Taal Lake as water discoloration in the towns of Balete and Talisay, and Tanauan City in Batangas could cause allergic reactions to humans and result in fish mortality.

Nenita Kawit, head of BFAR 4-A-Batangas Inland Fisheries Technology Outreach Station (BIFTOS) in Tanauan City, attributed the discoloration to the rapid growth of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae that competes with dissolved oxygen in the water, especially at night when photosynthesis does not occur.

She said in a phone interview that a team was dispatched to test the observed discoloration of Taal Lake waters in Balete and Talisay towns on Wednesday.

Kawit noted the presence of a large number of blue-green algae, which turned the color of the water into green and in some areas, yellow.

She, however, clarified that this occurrence is not correlated to the Taal Volcano activities.

Exposure to high levels of blue-green algae and their toxins may cause skin, eye, or throat irritation and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties, she said.

Kawit said there has been no reported fish mortality in the area but as the algal bloom continues for a longer period, the dissolved oxygen in the water needed by the fish may be depleted as sunlight cannot penetrate the water for photosynthesis to occur and for oxygen to be released into the water.

“As of today, there is a decrease of algal bloom in the lake after the rain yesterday but it is advisable to minimize exposure and refrain from water activities to avoid possible skin problems,” she advised.