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Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Inland Waters: Assessment and Control of Risks to Public Health
8 Information
8.1 Provision of public information on the local risks from algal blooms - both directly (using, for example, leaflets) and through the news media is seen as important.
8.2 Responsibility for the provision of information is likely to lie primarily with the owners of waters, employers and others similarly placed. However, local authorities, Scottish Water, SEPA and NHS Boards should consider when, by whom, and with what content, information which comes to their attention on blue-green algal blooms should be given to:
- water-owners;
- other official bodies;
- those engaged in healthcare - in particular, those providing haemodialysis services, General Practitioners and Veterinary Surgeons;
- those with identifiable interests - for example, those receiving haemodialysis, farmers, members of canoe and angling clubs and recreational authorities;
- the news media;
- the public.
8.3 Active provision of information to the news media is considered in Annex I.
8.4 While local authorities, Scottish Water, SEPA and NHS Boards will have differing lead responsibilities (for example, NHS Boards in the assessment of and response to enquiries from the public on hazards to human health), it would be helpful for agreement, as far as possible, between interested official bodies, on the content of both press releases and information used by staff when responding to enquiries from the public.
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