Eating greens grown in water contaminated with algae

[progenito]

I haven't been able to get an answer on this one, and it's pretty important to all of us. We know algae harms plant growth at high concentrations, but there exist a class of substances toxic to humans and many animals as well - - cyanotoxins.

Strictly speaking, these are produced by cyanobacteria which are a common cause (and result) of pollution in drinking water globally.

I read through a few academic reviews regarding the issue of the consumption of food crops grown in soil watered with algae contaminated water, and it turns out I may not be crazy:

www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Irrigating_Food_Crops_Water_Containing_Cyanobacteria-Oct_2017.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj_2M_5ktzcAhWnDcAKHaksDM4QFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3iHW0Czv6dhjCaCgfP9Cjf

This review is actually pretty recent and worst of all, it raises more questions than it answers. But it demonstrates that it is a plausible occurrence, though to my knowledge no illness outbreak has been yet traced to this particular cause.

That having been said, my fellow hydroponics enthusiasts, I'd like to ask for the benefit of your years of experience to ask if you believe you may have potentially experienced any foodborne illness stemming (heh) from consuming herbs or leafy greens grown in the aerogarden.

Some background...

I have a fresh contamination of algae right now, but it's in its early stages and the water is still mostly clear. The unit in question is the Aerogarden Farm, and both basins are contaminated now. I'm bleaching one out right now in fact.

It isn't affecting the greens that much at the moment, which continue to thrive, but now I'm second guessing whether or not they're safe to use.

I have been growing lettuce in the AGs since 2009 and have not gotten sick from ANY edible projects.

Mike, a veteran AGer recently experienced a lot of algae in his new Farm and got rid of the algae and covered the place where the light was sneaking through ....the fill hole. He posted on this and you can find it by searching 'Algae' posts by Mike. Hopefully he will see this request and jump on in.

The amount of algae or cyanotoxin (big scary word) is minimal in the average Tall machine.Sometimes on top of a sponge, or around the edge of the deck seam, but minimal. Not enough to sicken or kill people, animals or fish. I cannot speak for the Farm, but blocking all holes where light can get to all that water will take care of the problem. City water is also a minimizer with all the chlorine etc in there.

In all these years I have NEVER gotten sick from the AG crops and I eat a lot of lettuce! 

FEAR NOT! Happy AGing!!

(I also add that the stuff you eat from your AG is a lot fresher and safer than the produce at the market covered in wax and sprayed with all kinds of stuff, stamped "organic" and stored for a long time in warehouses or on trailer trucks or trains! And to think of what it has on it during the picking is a no-no! I once had lettuce taste like cigarette ash))

[progenito]

Thank you, I appreciate your input. Yes I read Mike's thread thoroughly already and it was very helpful. I'm adding about a tablespoon of peroxide to each reservoir now and am in the process of rinsing the bleach out.

I'm going to have to look into this peroxide supplementation more carefully, it seems almost too good to be true.

Ironically the algal bloom is inspiring me to grow edible algae. There's still so much to learn about this extemely ancient microscopic creature.

In any case, glad to hear that no problems have been had. The research is still in an early stage and I want to make sure we all keep healthy.

[Shawn]

Welcome to the forum.  I second what Corinne said.  So far the only Algae I have seen is on the sponges and I do not own a farm but again as mentioned the problem was corrected covering the open areas.

I have not been AG'ing as much as the others but I have never been sick from eating anything I have grown not I have heard anyone else getting ill either.

Here is to Bountiful Harvests of produce.

[spideybry]

It is an interesting question with probably no clear cut answer. Though most likely the main issue is the concentration of algae/cyanotoxins in the water which in turn raises the total content of the concentration in the body of water. Without knowing the rate of absorption of the cyanotoxin into the plant, it is hard to say the effects will be significant enough to cause harm to humans.

"whether or not this bioaccumulation could pose a human health risk, or how great a risk is presented, remains uncertain."

To be on the safe side, assuming that there is a correlation between the absorption of cyanotoxin in the plant and the total concentration of cyanobacteria in the water, reducing the overall concentration level in the water would lead to less cyanotoxin being absorbed. Changing water and cleaning the surfaces might help, but I would think that the roots would have some residual cyanobacteria left to reseed the water in the container. Idk just my thoughts.

[Shawn]

And remember you should do a Rinse and refill every month.  I do it every 6 weeks.  This also should help keep the water fresh and also removes and residual nutrients and roots in the water that can clog the pump.

[ladyjane]

Just got off the phone with customer service person.  She has a great deal of expertise with the Aerogardens.  She says they discovered in their testing lab that for the Algae you put 1 cap full of Peroxide right in the water and leave it there to control algae and make sure to use the caps to cover any pod holes you are not using.  Hope this helps

[MaryL]

I’ve only ever had one garden that grew a lot of algae, enough to concern me, and I still don’t know why it got out of control, but it was just the one.  For the little amounts that can sometimes grow I don’t worry.  I’ve never gotten sick from my homegrown produce, for what it’s worth.  There have been outbreaks of e-coli in the large agricultural fields that supermarkets buy from, though.  I posted an article about it in the prior forum during one such outbreak.  Scary stuff.

[cheddachasa]

I have algae in my reservoirs and the tubing. I changed out the clear tubing for black but it’s difficult to get rid of it in the reservoirs. My tomatoes drink so much it’s not an issue there but my young pepper plant doesn’t have a giant thirst yet. Maybe I should disconnect that reservoir until the plant gets a bit older.

If it is worrying you, you can remove the plants from the sponges, lay them on a surface or on a pan so that some plain water is keeping the sponges moist(if it is going to take you a long time) and sanitize the machine by getting into the areas and plastic baskets where you see green. I use hot faucet water and Dawn or other Dish soap when I do a simple sanitizing.

But FYI if you are growing hydro you ARE going to see a little algae at one time or another. Let's not get phobic about a bit of algae or mold,gang! You would faint if you knew what is in the storage areas of markets.

[Happy]

Aug 13, 2018 20:05:02 GMT -5 @cornne said:

... You would faint if you knew what is in the storage areas of markets.

I’m sure you’re right, Corinne!