Toronto Public Health (TPH) has issued a warning about the presence of a potentially toxic algae along the waterfront in Etobicoke.

In a press release on Tuesday, TPH said the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae blooms at the mouth of Mimico Creek and Humber Bay Park East.

Blue-green algae called Cyanobacteria range in colour from olive-green to red and naturally occur in ponds, rivers or streams.

TPH says it’s easy to spot – blooms often form a large mass or scum on the surface of the water. It should be avoided because it can make you sick — some species of the algae can potentially produce toxins which are harmful to humans and animals.

Drinking or coming into contact with water that has sufficient amounts of the algae in it can cause headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, skin rashes and mucous membrane irritation.

TPH says residents should be careful and take precautions for themselves and their pets when they visit this part of Etobicoke’s waterfront. They add that it’s best to stay out of the water at the mouth of Mimico Creek.

Humber Bay Park is not a designated public beach and beaches in the area are not regularly monitored for water quality or supervised by lifeguards.

The following are the beaches that are monitored daily for E. coli levels between June to September and where you can safely take a dip:

Marie Curtis Park East Beach

Sunnyside Beach

Hanlan’s Point Beach

Gibraltar Point Beach

Centre Island Beach

Ward’s Island Beach

Cherry Beach

Woodbine Beaches

Kew Balmy Beach

Bluffer’s Beach Park

Rouge Beach

If you are exposed to blue-green algae, wash yourself with clean water as soon as possible. If you feel any symptoms, contact a health care provider.