South Australia's premier has questioned the use of the word "toxic" to describe the state's ongoing algal bloom, despite the word being used in government advice and by scientists researching it.

"A lot of people refer to the algal bloom as the 'toxic algal bloom' — it's not toxic," Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning.

"If you went into the water and you encountered the algal bloom, you're not going to have any sort of severe, lasting health impacts — at worst, you'll have an irritation."

When ABC Radio Adelaide's Jules Schiller pointed out that "we're seeing dead fish, though, we're seeing dead fish and penguins and turtles — I mean it's toxic to them", Mr Malinauskas responded: "No it's not, Jules".

"It's beyond heartbreaking to see the marine life that is dying a

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