YOUR COMMENTS

Do the toxins from cyanobacteria become air borne? I am wondering about Beaver Lake in Derry and Beaver Brook which runs through and behind neighborhoods in Derry and Londonderry. Which either feeds the lake or has water from the lake feeding the brook? We don't swin in Beaver Lake and don't swim in the brook either. How would a person be tested for this bacteria?
- D Lawley, Londonderry New Hampshire

I live in an area surrounded by lakes and ponds. My brother has ALS. He was diagnosed about a year ago but the process of diagnoses and the time from on set to diagnosis was at least a year.I remember about 4-5 years ago the lake our camp is on North pond in Smithfield Me. turned green. The wake from the boat motor looked like it was stirring pea soup. How do I go about finding the statistics in our area for ALS diagnosis? I would also like to know how to find out if cyanobacteria is or was present in our lake. I do know of other cases. I asked my brothers doctor (Anne -Marie Wills at Brighams in Boston) if she thaught ALS was on the rise for some reason and at that time she said no. I have always considered an enviromental connection to people with predisposition. I pray they find someting soon that may help my brother.
- Laurie Hanna, Belgrade Lakes Maine

My father died of ALS June 2006. We grew up with a cottage on Franklin Pierce Lake in Antrim. Interesting correlation between algae and cyano bacteria. I don't remember a lot of algae in the lake at the locations of our cottages on the lake.
- Bobbie, Peterborough, NH

My husband, Joseph Bigl. grew up
in Berlin N.H. and died of ALS in July,
2000.

The last 50 years of his life was spent in
Maine.

Good luck in all you do toward a cure
for this dreadful disease.

Mary B.
- Mary W. Bgl, P.O.Box397, Bucsport ME 04416

My husband grew up on Webster Lake. He was diagnosed with bulbar ALS in 2005. He has since passed away.
- Judy Pellegrini, New Jersey

I was diagnosed wih ALS a year ago. I have been living 1-3 km away from a lake covered with pea-green scum caused by cyanobacteria for 42 years and we get our drinking water from another facility with the same problem. We are told not to worry!!
- Ronelle Cloete, Welkom South Africa

This is good news. At least they are testing and hopefully, it will help prevent ALS from striking in the future. I don't think we should play the BLAME game. We should continue to work toward treatment and a cure for ALS.
- Karen Waite, Chesapeake VA

This is disturbing to me growing up in Enfield Center as a child and swimming in Mascoma Lake thirty years ago. We also lost my bother in law to ALS last year, it brings the question to mind, did he swim somewhere that may have caused his disease? I hope the cause is found in all the lakes and a cure for ALS so people do not have to suffer with this HORRIBLE disease.
- Cheryl Keeler, Merrimack NH

There is a group called the Institute for Ethnomedicine that is investigating cyanobacteria with the Dartmouth team. They believe the cause is something called BMAA - a neurotoxin produced by blue-green algae. My mom has been fighting ALS for almost 4 years now and lives near ponds. I really hope they are on to something too. www.ethnomedicine.org
- Jen, Seacoast NH

Very interesting article. I would like to see more articles and information about ALS covered.

To join the fight against ALS you can go to CCALS.org or alsanne.org
- John, Manchester, NH

Wow, I'm just sitting here stunned. We all grew up on Webster lake in Franklin NH, a frequent source of cyanobacteria. My brother in law passed away from ALS two and a half years ago. I am just floored, somebody with money has to look into this and quickly because the blooms are becoming all too normal.
- John M, McLean VA

These are amazing findings- definitely sounds like there is a pattern. My mom lost her battle with ALS 3 yrs ago and she lived NEAR (not on) Lake Champlain in VT. We were at the beach often. I remember growing up the local beach was always closed because of pollution. I would love to know if there is a link with my mom and the Lake. I know of 2 other cases in the local area who have passed away from ALS and they had a waterfront property on Lake Champlain (a father and daughter).
- Kristina C, Vermont

My father passed in the mid-eighties after living 50ft from the Mystic River in Medford and yearly trips to Lake Sunapee in NH. A solid correlation between ALS and bacteria would benefit thousands.
- Tom, Medford, MA

@Brian - Yes, people have died due to use of DDT. DDT is known to cause breast cancer. It also had massive environmental effects, including severe declines in Bald Eagle populations. If you're good with breast cancer and an extinct bird on our money, then DDT is just fine.
- AS, Massachusetts

My Mother died of ALS in 2006 after living on Lake Champlain in Burlington VT for most of her life. She was doing the Marshall Protocol which believes that ALS is a bacteria based disease. This would substantiate that. Hopefully, with more funding and research we can get a cure for this terrible disease.
- Nicole, Keene, NH

I just moved to AZ about 3 years ago and was just diagnosed in December with a form of ALS. I was living in Derry NH. I Grew up In Seabrook. I never really lived by a lake but I do find this interesting. I didn't know anything about this until recently. I do a lot of research now. If you know something aobut a lake that caused this or anything, don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thank you Clauidne
- Claudine Brady, Cave Creek, AZ

Cannan Street lake always made me sick when I was a child.
- Enfield Resident twice remove, Enfield NH

This is an incredible finding. Has the the ALS Association commented on it at all?
I lost my Uncle to ALS almost 3 years ago. He grew up on a lake in NH. I never would have linked his ALS to that environmental factor. I always suspected it might have had something to do with where he worked and a predisposition to it.
- Annette Carroll, Salem, NH

I am writing in response to your June 7th article about ALS at Lake Mascoma. I would like to see a follow up article that covers the consequences of this finding.

Statistical clusters like this are sometimes the very event that can spark insight to a cure for this disease.

I think that public awareness of the progress in this fight can give hope to those afflicted as well as those who know somebody who has been stricken with this disease.

Can you provide a web address with more details about this research?
- Mark D., Hampstead, NH

I lost my Uncle to ALS 3 years ago.
He grew up on a lake in NH.
We never imagined that might be the source.
I am sponoring a fundriaser and donating the proceeds to the ALS Association in his memory on 8-8-09 at the NH Institute of Art
It is open to the public. Perhaps together we can find a cure.
Check out www.acarrollconsulting.com for more info.
- Annette Carroll, Salem, NH

This is a bizzare finding. My parents had a water front vacation home in NH for years. She just just passed away from ALS in April.
- Mike, Derry

Remember when towns went around a couple of times each year spraying eveything and anything they could reach from the road with DDT. We had no ticks, no EEE, no Lyme Disease and it kept the mosquitoes under control. Did anyone ever die from DDT spraying?
- Brian, Farmington

It sounds to me like there is a need for more environmental action?
- Art, Portsmouth

We have no one but ourselves to blame for the filth and trash that litters are oceans, lakes and the rest of our planet. People use the earth as a dump, ashtray, and garbage disposal.

If anything, blame YOURSELVES. Do YOUR part to help protect our home for our future generations.

The human race will be the end of mankind.
- SP, Laconia, NH

Well, that will help real estate values. Look what overdevelopment has brought our lakes.
I'd write more, but I have to go fertilize the lawn which runs down to the water's edge.
- Andrew, Moultonborough

We have polluted our air, land ,and water. That we need to live. But please get your facts right when you issue a statement.Every year lakes and beaches are close for one reason or another. But we have not found a cure for human pollution we have caused. But we blame animal and others. But we should look in the mirror and then put the blame where it belong. But cures can also cause the problem. Scientists still does not have all the answer. So be careful when something does not look or feel right . Play it safe.
- mo, plymouth

Upper Lake Klamath in Oregon is harvestd for blue Green Algae and sold as a food supplement. It is sold in health food stores.

It seems like a good idea to research that area and the folks who have used it as a part of their diet for 20 and more years. I have been seen literature stating that a volcano, (Mt Mesana?) that erupted thousands of years ago and whose cavity fills with snow that melts in the spring and feeld the lake where this algae lives. The area is also surrounded by farms and farm animals where pesticides etc, run off into the Lake.
- FranMacDonald, Hooksett, NH

Mirror Lake in Tuftonboro should be on that list also. The filtered sewage from Wolfeboro has been running into that lake for years and people can't even swim in it any more.

The big lake will be next.
- Bill, Tuftonboro

Willand Pond in Somersworth is the body of water being tested for cyanobacteria. We apologize for the error.
- Editor, Manchester, N.H.

This article leaves me with strong hopes that the cure for ALS will soon be found! My father passed from this horrible disease. .. Thank you to all the doctors who research and give people like me hope that very soon we will CURE ALS.
- Christi W., Manchester

The beginning of your article said Willand Pond in Somersworth and the last paragraph said Willard Pond (which is in ANtrim). Which is it or are they both experiencing this?
- db, Washington

Goose Pond in Canaan was also closed this week for the same cyanobacteria.
- jim, canaan