Beyond the bloom, UWindsor researchers investigate hidden health risks of toxic algae
Steve Simpson Sr., Senior Water Guardian from Caldwell First Nation gathers a water sample during a 2025 Harmful Algae Bloom Grab in Lake St. Clair. (PHOTO COURTESY OF GLIER/University of Windsor)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
Could harmful algal blooms pose greater risks to human health than current testing methods can detect?
A University of Windsor research team is using human cells and miniature laboratory-grown models of organs to investigate whether existing approaches to measuring algal toxins capture their potential health effects.
The findings could eventually inform how drinking water and recreational water safety are assessed, with implications for communities across Canada.