Schizophrenium, the type of algae used to make algae-based DHA supplements,

is grown under controlled conditions and has been found to be free of marine biotoxins.

The same can't be said for blue-green algae products like AFA, alpha-nizamin-floss-Aquay,

a blue-green algae harvested from Klamath Lake in Oregon and marketed as a dietary supplement.

Studies have shown this blue-green algae can produce significant levels of cylindrospermopsin

and saxotoxin.

Cylendrospermopsin is a liver toxin, and saxotoxin is a neurotoxin, listed as a Schedule 1 substance

in the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The first big expose of AFA was published in 2000, with microstocin liver toxins found in 85

of 87 samples, 72 percent exceeding Oregon State's safety limits of one part per million,

which is based on an average adult weighing 60 kilograms, about 132 pounds, and consuming about

2 grams a day.

AFA has the toxicogenic genes that produce these macro systems directly,

but when you're harvesting it outdoors, it's almost impossible to avoid the presence of other algae species

that can produce toxins, too. Since their release on on the market and after some public inquiries about adverse health effects

of these products, the producers of the Clameth Lake Blue-Green algae products have repeatedly

claimed that their products are safe.

Well, okay, maybe not safe, but at least has toxin contamination below the regulatory limit.

In 2018, dozens of blue-green algae products containing aFA were tested, and about a quarter

were close to or over the regulatory limit.

The only one Klamath Lake Powder significantly exceeded the limit and nearly three parts

per million.

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