Chinese scientists develop 'weapon of mass destruction' as last resort in fight against harmful algal blooms

Scientists in China have used “cold plasma” to attack and destroy a dominant species of algae that causes widespread problems in the seas, lakes or waterways of numerous countries, including poisoning sources of drinking water and killing fish and other marine life on a large scale.

Researchers at the Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Bio-engineering, at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science in East China’s Anhui province, discharged cold plasma, also known as non-thermal plasma, on the harmful cyanobacterial bloom, which resulted in it dying or losing its ability to reproduce within eight hours, they said.

Cyanobacteria takes its name from the Greek word for the colour of the bacteria, which is usually blue-green. It thrives in calm, nutrient-rich waters and can produce toxins that affect humans and animals, causing symptoms including skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea and even liver damage.

Other algal blooms, or groupings of aquatic microorganisms, are referred to as “red tides”, and they can be as deadly as an oil spill. At least some algal blooms are human-induced, with seaweed farming, untreated sewage and industrial plant discharges among the potential culprits in China.