Cyanobacteria on the Moselle river;
Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has announced that the health alert issued in relation to different parts of the Moselle valley remains in force.
The Health Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health has confirmed that the alert triggered in August concerning the presence of cyanobacteria in various places along the Moselle, especially in places with slow circulation of water, is still maintained.
The effect is caused by bacteria, also called "blue algae", normally present in these waters but which, under certain conditions, develops excessively and forms coloured carpets (blue-greenish coloration or pea-green colour) on the water surface.
Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that can cause health problems for humans and animals. These problems depend on the amount of toxins absorbed: skin irritations, headaches, nausea, gastroenteritis, cramps, paralysis and liver damage.
The exact cause of this excessive proliferation is not known but often results from an inadequate supply of nutrients for these bacteria, in the presence of high water temperatures.
The ministry recommends to avoid contact (swimming, water sports) with water where these coloured carpets are located as swallowing this water should be avoided. This recommendation applies to both people and animals.
