Although it's been known for a long time that sewage and agricultural runoff cause water quality problems, new technology has allowed scientists for the first time to isolate and quantify the presence of microcystin, said lead author Diane Orihel.
"As lakes have higher and higher concentrations of nutrients, we see more and more (blue-green algae) and more and more microcystins," said Orihel, whose research was published Tuesday.
"We need to get serious about water quality in these lakes. This is now a human health concern across Canada."
