Tag Archives: toxic

Shelter warning of holiday plant dangers for pets

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JOPLIN, Mo. — A local shelter is warning pet owners to beware of two common holiday plants.

The Joplin Humane Society says poinsettias and mistletoe have poisonous sap and are toxic to pets.

Dogs and cats can get sick if they eat or come in contact with either of those plants.

“Any behavior out of the usual. vomiting is a big one. if you notice that your pet is throwing up a lot i would definitely contact my vet and see if you can get him in and get him taken care of,” said Thomas Jay, Animal Behavior Manager Joplin Humane Society.

If you have poinsettias or mistletoe at home keep them out of reach of pets.

GRDA monitoring toxic algae bloom in Grand Lake’s Horse Creek

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AFTON, Okla. – The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) is urging caution around area of Grand Lake’s Horse Creek because of the presence of a toxic blue green algae (BGA) bloom.

Most recent testing by GRDA shows the Horse Creek bloom varying in toxin levels from 5 micrograms per liter to more than 20 micrograms per liter. Environmental Protection Agency recommends contact no more than 8 micrograms per liter.

At this time, GRDA’s ongoing monitoring suggests that the Horse Creek bloom remains the primary area of concern and will continue to monitor for additional blooms throughout the lake.

“Again, we want the public to be aware that the overwhelming majority of Grand Lake does not show any signs of BGA and is ready for visitors to come and enjoy,” said GRDA Vice President of Corporate Communications Justin Alberty. “However, we are continuing with our daily testing and surveys all across the lake because conditions can change rapidly.”

BGA may resemble thick pea soup, green paint or bluish, brownish or reddish-green paint. When BGA washes up on shore, it can form a thick mat on the beach. BGA can reproduce rapidly in water bodies with adequate amounts of sunlight and nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. It is recommended that individuals avoid swimming or participating in water recreational activities in areas where the water is discolored or where you see foam, scum or mats of algae on the water.

If you see a BGA bloom, ODEQ recommends that you avoid all contact with the water, keep your pets and livestock away from the water and immediately contact ODEQ at (800) 522 0206 or GRDA at (918) 256 0911.

Toxic substance mailed to county officials in Kansas

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A federal terrorism task force is investigating after mail laced with a dangerous toxin was sent to a Sedgwick County government office, causing coughing and skin irritation for two employees and forcing several more to undergo decontamination.

The Sedgwick County Finance Department in the county courthouse received the certified letter on Monday, the Wichita Eagle reported.

The three-page letter was coated in a white powder, and two employees who handled the letter experienced symptoms of coughing and skin irritation, Sedgwick County Manager Tom Stolz said. One of the employees was sent to a hospital for observation. Both are expected to be OK.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force determined that the substance is diaminotoluene, a chemical used in dye making, Stolz said. It is highly toxic and potentially fatal if enough is inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.

Three other finance employees, two courthouse police officers and two sheriff’s deputies underwent decontamination as a precaution, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Stolz said the letter purported to come from Moorish nationalists, but the origin of the letter remains under investigation.

The Southern Poverty Law Center defines Moorish nationalists as people who believe African Americans constitute an elite class with sovereign immunity that places them beyond federal and state authority.