Blue-green algae release chemical suspected in some amphibian deformities

Harmless as they may look, some of the microbes called cyanobacteria have the power to dose waterways with a range of chemicals that might cause deformities in frogs or other vertebrate wildlife.

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, could be an underappreciated but widespread source of compounds called retinoic acids in waterways, says environmental toxicologist Jianying Hu of Peking University.