Research at Stone Lab, The Ohio State University’s island campus on Lake Erie, has determined that some commercially available filter pitchers are able to remove microcystin, the main toxin produced by harmful algal blooms (HABs), from tap water. Funded by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s Lake Erie Protection Fund and inspired by a question research coordinator Dr. Justin Chaffin heard a lot at outreach events, the study showed that the biggest predictor of whether a pitcher filter will remove microcystin from water is how long it takes that water to percolate through the filter. Pitcher filters, such as those made by Brita, Pur, or Zero Water – the brands used in the study – use activated carbon which does the heavy lifting in removing contaminants from water. Molecules like chlorine and microcystin stick to the carbon particles, while water molecules travel through the filter and into the pitcher.
In the aftermath of the 2014 harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Lake Erie, which left residents in the city of Toledo without drinking water, there’s been a lot of activity around making sure something similar doesn’t happen again. Water treatment plants have added additional testing for the algal toxin microcystin that caused Toledo’s water shutdown, scientists are monitoring HABs as they develop, and backup intakes let larger plants avoid pulling in potentially contaminated water altogether. But remembering the news reports of people stuck without water for days, some concerned citizens may still wonder “what if?”
The Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI) continues to support research efforts focused on solving Ohio’s harmful algal bloom problem. Started in response to Toledo’s 2014 harmful algal bloom and subsequent drinking water ban, the initiative has provided $4 million in funding for projects ranging from monitoring algal blooms as they develop in Lake Erie to studying the impacts of microcystin on liver disease. Led by representatives from The Ohio State University and the University of Toledo, and managed by Ohio Sea Grant, HABRI encompasses research projects in four major focus areas: tracking blooms from the source, protecting public health, producing safe drinking water, and educating and engaging people about addressing harmful algal blooms. One of the most direct impacts of algal blooms on humans is the safety of drinking water. The August 2014 harmful algal bloom in Toledo shut off water for more than three days, an impact felt by residents and businesses alike. In addition to monitoring bloom locations and adjusting both water intake and treatment methods accordingly, new treatments for contaminated drinking water are being developed to remove both algal particles in general and the toxins produced by cyanobacteria in particular.
In choosing the musical Godspell for the Woodmore Drama Club’s next production, Marcia Busdeker, the club’s director, said she was looking for a show that would challenge students. “It’s one of those shows with roles that require actors to really stretch. It’s good exercise for them and they learn about themselves as well as the characters they’re portraying,” Busdeker said. “I also like to push the limit a little bit. It’s a show about the Gospel according to Matthew in a playful manner. So it’s pushing the envelope a little bit when it comes to separation of church and school.”
The Ohio Department of Agriculture will appeal a court decision ordering the return of animals the department seized in 2015 from the Tiger Ridge Exotics refuge in Stony Ridge. Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Reeve Kelsey last week issued the order, setting a deadline of Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. for the animals to be returned to Ken Hetrick, the refuge owner. “ODA attorneys will also file a motion delaying the ordered movement of the animals until the appeal process is resolved. The department finds the law, and subsequent court decisions across the state, are clear regarding the scope of Ohio’s Dangerous Wild Animals Program. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture has authority in determining DWA issues, as specified by Ohio Revised Code,” said Mark Bruce, communications director for the agriculture department. |
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