New light shone on algae problem

AN eco-friendly method of removing deadly toxins produced by blue-green algae from drinking water has been developed by scientists at the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Chemist Peter Robertson and biologist Linda Lawton combined their expertise to devise a technique using titanium dioxide, a substance traditionally used in suntan lotion and paint pigments, to destroy the toxins. By shining light on the substance they found they could treat water contaminated at more than 100 times the levels normally found in the environment in less than ten minutes.