While beaches on Mississippi’s barrier islands remain open for now, they are being carefully monitored for signs of harmful algae.
The blue-green algae is comprised of a bacteria that produces toxins that can cause sickness such as skin, eye, nose, or throat irritation; abdominal pain; headaches; and vomiting, among others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The phenomenon was caused by spring flooding of the Mississippi River after heavy rainfall. To alleviate the impact of the flooding, officials had opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which diverted water to the Gulf of Mexico. The problem, however, was that the floods washed millions of tons of fertilized topsoil into the river, so when that nutrient-rich water made it into the Gulf, it created an ideal environment for algae growth.
While holidaymakers can relax on the sand, they won’t be able to enjoy the waters until the bloom is over. According to The New York Times, beach closures have unsurprisingly hit the state’s tourism industry hard amid the Fourth of July holiday. 