Dr. Elijah Stommel, Chair of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's Department of Neurology, Lake Champlain International adviser, and internationally renowned researcher, will be presenting in Shelburne this Friday evening on the potential link between cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS. This is open to the public. Not to be missed!
Blue-Green Algae, Toxins, and Your Health
April 29, 2016
6:00 - 8:00 pm
All Souls Interfaith Gathering
Shelburne, Vermont
Background info from the event organizers:
"Iconic Lake Champlain, along with many bodies of water is threatened. And the lake is threatening our health. Recent research has confirmed that devastating neurodegenerative diseases may be linked to cyanobacteria in blue-green algae.
The panel for this event will include researchers and the legal community looking at the correlation between cyanobacteria in blue-green algae and neurodegenerative diseases.
-Elijah Stommel, MD, Ph.D., Department of Neurology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
-Christopher M. Kilian, Esq. Vice President Vermont Director, Director, Clean Water and Healthy Forests Program, Conservation Law Foundation
-Nathan Torbick, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Applied Geo Solutions
"Findings published in January, 2016 found that the neurotoxin BMAA produced by cyanobacteria is capable of producing neurodegeneration in a vervet animal model. This finding would suggest that individuals with the genetic predisposition who receive high exposure to cyanobacteria, as found in Lake Champlain, may be at higher risk for developing diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. There is also a well established concern for liver disease with exposure to the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin. Mechanisms of cyanobacteria exposure, tracking cyanobacterial blooms and issues related to mitigation of cyanobacterial blooms will be discussed by the panel."
For additional information on this event, please contact Glynda McKinnon at 802-355-0015 or glyndam3@gmail.com
Pictured below: Dr. Stommel, standing.

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