Nieporęt. Another bloom of cyanobacteria in Lake Zegrze, bathing ban in two places

Temporarily, bathing is prohibited in two places on Lake Zegrze and its surroundings. The ban applies to the “Dzika Plaża” bathing area in Nieporęt and on the Narew River in a place occasionally used for bathing at ul. 600-lecia in Wieliszew. The ban was introduced in these places due to the bloom of cyanobacteria – the State District Sanitary Inspector in Legionowo informed on Friday.

As added in the announcement, bathing is permitted at the bathing area at the municipal beach in Serock. The current water level can be checked on the website of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate's Bathing Service.

Cyanobacteria are bacteria that are considered to be among the oldest organisms on our planet. They can settle in the most inhospitable ecosystems. They can be found in soil, on rocks, on tree bark, on glaciers, in hot springs, in salt and fresh waters.

Bacteria are resistant to poor oxygen conditions, tolerate high pH values, and when they are not present in large numbers, they are an important component of natural water ecosystems.

The bloom of cyanobacteria limits the amount of oxygen and light that cannot reach deeper layers of water, causing the death of organisms living there, which causes the water to appear and smell unsightly.

Some of the cyanobacteria found in water produce toxins that can cause skin rashes, itchy and watery eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, as well as muscle and joint pain in people who have drunk water with an algae bloom or swam in algae layers.