What is Microcystin? Blue-Green Algae Toxin Taints Toledo, Ohio, Water Supply

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has declared a state of emergency in Toledo after a water treatment plant tested positive for microcystin, a toxin that can cause liver and kidney damage. The microcystin toxin is a product of cyanobacteria, a typically harmless form of blue-green algae, which has reportedly been in abundance in nearby Lake Erie.