OT:'Black yeast' poses little health risk

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'Black yeast' poses little health risk

United Press International*

Feb. 12, 2008

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2008/02/12/black_yeast_poses_lit

tle_health_risk/2018/

ALBUQUERQUE, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A fungus called " black yeast " found in

bottles of treated river water in Albuquerque poses little risk to

the public, a New Mexico health official said.

Authorities reported the " black yeast " in bottled water used to get

local residents used to the river water that will be the main water

source in Albuquerque next fall.

Judith Espinoza with the New Mexico State Health Department said

there were no reported cases of infection from drinking the water,

the Albuquerque Journal said Tuesday.

Espinoza said nobody should drink water with unknown floating

objects in it but said that was largely " just common sense. "

Minor infections were reported from contact with the fungus and open

cuts but Espinoza told the Journal that such minor infections could

be treated with anti-fungal medication.

Water from the Albuquerque water utility " met or exceeded " all

drinking-water treatment regulations, the New Mexico Environment

Department said last week.