North Carolina residents have been warned to keep away from bright green or discolored water that may contain dangerous toxic algae, local outlet WXII12 reported.

State officials from environmental and public health agencies issued an advisory on Thursday after algal blooms were spotted near piers northeast of Wilmington, N.C. People should be sure to keep children and pets away from any water that is discolored, has scum or looks bright green.

"While it is safe to boat or fish in the affected areas," stated the advisory, as quoted by PortCityDaily.com, "health officials routinely encourage the public to avoid contact with large accumulations of the algae and to take precautions to prevent children and pets from swimming or ingesting water in an algal bloom.

Officials are analyzing algal and water quality samples taken from three different areas and should have results by the end of the week. While algae is usually beneficial to an ecosystem, certain conditions can produce large algal blooms that may be toxic for humans as well as the aquatic wildlife. 

"When hot temperatures and calm water combine with nutrient-rich waters, large algal blooms may form that can produce toxins that pose a human health hazard," the state Division of Water Resources said. "The algal blooms also may reduce the oxygen available to fish and other aquatic animals, which can result in fish kills."

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