Pfiesteria: harmful algal blooms as indicators of human: ecosystem interactions.

As man continues to expand and to develop large land areas near surface waters the pollution of these waters will intensify. Historically man has used lakes and rivers for waste disposal with little regard to the effects of these wastes on the receiving waters . . . With the predicted population growth and subsequent demands on the environment, the frequency with which recreational and muncipal waters will become dominated by algae can be expected to increase. The opportunities for exposure can be expected to increase with man’s increased utilization of surface waters for recreation and municipal purposes. This increased utilization will also be responsible for accelerating natural eutrophication processes which in turn will favor the development of noxious [algal] blooms. In order to avoid the potential health hazards that these algae present, man will have to take steps necessary to prevent alterations in aquatic environments known to enhance the growth of these organisms. J. H. Gentile, ‘‘Blue Green and Green Algal Toxins,’’ 1971