Potential health issues associated with poor water quality in Lake Champlain include risks from swimming in the Lake, such as blue-green algae toxins and E. coli contamination, and eating certain fish contaminated with PCBs or mercury. The April 2003 update to the Lake-wide management plan, Opportunities for Action, promoted human health issues to "high priority" status.

Blue-green algae have plagued Missisquoi and St. Albans Bays on northern Lake Champlain for the past several summers, deterring beachgoers and boaters alike. In 2003, health advisories were posted by Quebec in July and August, and by Vermont in August because the blooms are sometimes toxic if ingested in large quantities. Although blue-green algae are naturally part of the Lake's ecosystem, blue-green algae blooms are increasingly common in some shallow, warm waters.

The public should be cautious around any blooms, and watch pets and small children in particular. For more details and any current advisories, please visit the LCBP's Blue-Green Algae page. See the Learn More section (below) for more information.

Researchers from UVM's Rubenstein Lab are monitoring the Lake for blooms and toxicity levels, and volunteers watch for shoreline blooms from June to October. Another goal of the project is to help health departments in New York, Vermont and Quebec identify potential health hazards for public water users, and to develop a communications network and common approach to documenting blue-green algae blooms. A team from the Quebec Ministry of the Environment also tests Missisquoi Bay.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria is an indicator of bacterial and pathogen pollution. High E. coli levels are a common cause of occasional beach closings along Lake Champlain. E. coli comes from animal waste, including that of humans, pets, livestock, birds, and wildlife. In urban areas dog droppings are one of the leading causes of E. coli pollution. Each gram of dog poop has over 20,000,000 E. coli colonies in it (Scoop the Poop Campaign website). Like other forms of polluted runoff, or nonpoint source pollution, animal wastes are carried into streams and rivers, and eventually Lake Champlain everytime it rains.

Learn more on the Beaches page and the LCBP's Swimming and Health page. For up-to-date beach closure information in Burlington, visit the Burlington Eco-Info site.

Both Vermont and New York have issued advisories for certain fish, including lake trout and walleye because of mercury and PCBs. These contaminants, which are found in Lake sediments and in animal or plant life, are of concern because of their tendency to bioaccumulate in some fish species. Bioaccumulation is the retention and buildup of contaminants in an animal over time. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set "action levels" or tolerances for contaminants. If fish tissue analysis indicates that action levels are exceeded, an advisory for eating fish is established by state health departments.

Visit the LCBP's Fish Advisory page for the detailed advisories and links to the New York and Vermont advisories.

• Protecting Human Health (LCBP website--more info on Blue Green Algae, Swimming, and Fish Advisories, Drinking Water)
• Blue Green Algae Factsheet - English (Quebec Ministry of Environment)
• Blue Green Algae Factsheet - French (Quebec Ministry of Environment)
• E. coli and Beach Closings (Burlington Eco-Info Site)
• Get the Scoop on Poop Project (LCBP Wayside Exhibit)
• Mercury Education and Reduction Campaign (VT DEC)
• Evaluation of Potential Blue-green Algal Toxins in Lake Champlain (2000).. Rosen, B., A. Shambaugh, M. Watzin, G. Boyer, F. Smith, L. Ferber, C. Eliopoulos, and P. Stangel; UVM School of Natural Resources. November 2001. LCBP Technical Report #39.
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Cyanobacteria in Burlington Bay, Lake Champlain (2001). M. Watzin, A. Shambaugh, E. Brines and G. Boyer; UVM Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory. November 2002. LCBP Technical Report #40
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Cyanobacteria in Lake Champlain (2002). M. Watzin, A. Shambaugh, E. Brines and G. Boyer; UVM Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory. December 2003. LCBP Technical Report #41