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Oregon warns public to stay away from Klamath

It poisons the water

Yes we know that Intel code-names its processors after American places. But did you know that Klamath in Lake in Oregon is one of the world's great sources of blue-green algae. And did you also know that in 1996, Oregon's health division warned the public to stay away from Klamath -- because the lake was so polluted with bird droppings. Blue-green algae contains an unusually long list of rich nutrients and is being promoted as the latest wonder health tonic. In America, growing numbers of people eat this algae , even though it smells like "old seaweed and is mad from slime of the surface of the lake", according to the Daily Telegraph. Apparently it can cure everything from Alzheimer's disease to herpes. In Britain, the River Authority issues health warnings whenever there are blue-green algae outbreaks -- mostly because the stuff is poisonous. If it brings you up in a rash -and that's if you touch it. Imagine what it could do to you if you eat the stuff. Blue-green algae of the Klamath variety is also poisonous. A 1997 Consumer's Association study of Klamath Lake -sourced tablets sold in health stores, showed that four out of seven contained microcystins -- poisons that can damage the liver, the Daily Telegraph says. The Consumers' Association also found low-levels of a "nerve poison that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PCP), which has caused muscle and nerve-cell damage in people who have eaten shellfish". ®.

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