Cyanobacterial blooms are a hazard that typically has an event nature: In many water-bodies, low levels of toxic cyanobacteria prevail many weeks or months on end, while hazardously high concentrations may be fairly short-lived events caused by accumulations of cells as surface blooms and/or by cell lysis leading to high levels of dissolved toxin that may break through drinking-water treatment trains.

Where cyanobacteria are known to occur or even to occasionally reach high levels or develop blooms or where this possibility needs to be taken into account, immediate response to such events is important to avoid human exposure. Planning for such events is an important part of the overall strategy for managing health hazards associated with toxic cyanobacterial blooms.

Immediate response requires preparedness and plans for action. These need to include:

• When and What: Triggers (alert levels) that put the plan into action – usually with 2-3 alert levels, depending on the intensity and/or toxicity of blooms – and specific pre-defined responses to each alert level that prevent human exposure
• Who: Clear lines of responsibility and action: (who needs to do what and by when ?)
• After the incident: Follow-up investigation

On to: è Early warning, contingency plans and emergency response: WHEN and WHAT?

Back to: è Evaluating your assessment for cyanobacterial proliferation (3.1) or for cyanotoxin breakthrough (3.2)

Back to: è Start