Wild swimmers in Scotland’s lochs are at risk from a concentration of harmful chemicals that could more than double if no action is taken to limit global warming, a new report claims.
The level of phosphorus in lochs and reservoirs is rising, and together with already warming waters is a recipe for harmful algal blooms to form, scientists say.
Algal blooms affect water quality and the animals and plants living in it. The blooms include cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, which can make humans sick.
People who have swum through, or swallowed, algal scum can suffer skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and muscle and joint pain.
The toxins can cause damage to the liver or nervous system and be potentially fatal for
