toxins in lake ??

[funkyuser]

Are there any dangers with ingesting small amounts of water while swimming and diving in lakes?

I've heard about algal blooms and animals dying.

I did a quick search and found something about the algal bloom. This particular problem would only happen during summer months afaik:

http://www.irishscientist.ie/2000/contents.asp?contentxml=092s.xml&contentxsl=insight3.xsl

One of the most dramatic effects of the toxins from cyanobacteria is due to the neurotoxin, anatoxin-a. This toxin was responsible for incidents involving dogs that died shortly after contacting water in Caragh Lake, Co. Kerry and Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary. Not only was this the first discovery of anatoxin in Ireland but a rare analogue, homoanatoxin, was also found. One of the key features in forensic investigations of this type of neurotoxin poisoning is the detection of the toxin degradation products (James et al., Toxicon , 35 , 963, 1997). During seven years of cyanobacterial toxin studies in Ireland, 35% of lakes with a cyanobacteria bloom were found to contain significant toxin levels.

Also what about agricultural effluent and chemicals?

I dont know of any locals that swim in nearby lakes. I dont want to be the first one that discovers this.

sorry this post was a bit hasty