Cyanobacterial Toxins in Water

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) commonly occur in fresh- and brackish waters and may produce massive annual growths as a consequence of nutrient enrichment from natural waters, agricultural fertilizer run-off, or from domestic/industrial effluents. The cyanobacterial species which dominate these growths typically belong to the genera which produce toxins. Cyanobacterial toxins cause fatal poisonings of agricultural livestock, wild animals, birds and fish on a world-wide basis. The involvement of the toxins in human health problems has also been inferred in several countries and their presence in drinking water sources is of interest to the drinking water industry. The occurrence and properties of cyanobacterial toxins are discussed here. New methods are being developed for the purification of the toxins and for their recovery and quantification from waters. These include the use of chemical, cytotoxicity and immunological methods to complement the mouse bioassay which has hitherto been used in cyanobacterial toxin studies with laboratory cultures and water samples. Information on the regulation of cyanobacterial toxin production and on the possible biological significance of the toxins in aquatic environments is also presented. A greater awareness of cyanobacterial toxins in waters destined for human use is required.

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