Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria in freshwater environments produce toxins (e.g., microcystin) that are harmful to human and animal health. HAB frequency and intensity are increasing with greater nutrient runoff and a warming climate. Lake spray aerosol (LSA) released from freshwater lakes has been identified on lakeshores and after transport inland, including from lakes with HABs, but little is known about the potential for HAB toxins to be incorporated into LSA. In this study, freshwater samples were collected from two lakes in Michigan: Mona Lake during a severe HAB with microcystin concentrations (>200 μg/L) well above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended "do not drink" level (1.6 μg/L) and Muskegon Lake without a HAB (<1 μg/L microcystin). Microcystin toxins were identified in freshwater, as well as aerosol particles generated in the laboratory from Mona Lake water by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at atmospheric concentrations up to 50 ± 20 ng/m. Enrichment of hydrophobic microcystin congeners (e.g., microcystin-LR) was observed in aerosol particles relative to bulk freshwater, while enrichment of hydrophilic microcystin (e.g., microcystin-RR) was lower. As HABs increase in a warming climate, understanding and quantifying the emissions of toxins into the atmosphere is crucial for evaluating the health consequences of HABs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b07727 | DOI Listing |
Water Res
January 2025
Laboratory of Algology and Microbial Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address:
Cyanobacterial blooms, driven by nutrient loading and temperature, pose significant ecological and economic challenges. This study employs a combined data-driven and trait-based modelling approach to predict changes in cyanobacterial communities in a mono- and a polydominant shallow temperate lakes under varying temperature and nutrient scenarios. Results of the AQUATOX simulation model for two aquatic systems suggest that a 2 °C temperature increase, consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's predictions, may influence cyanobacteria species composition and dominance, with trends indicating a possible shift favouring Nostocales over Oscillatoriales and Chroococcales.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxins (Basel)
January 2025
Scottish Association for Marine Science-UHI, Oban PA37 1QA, UK.
This study explored harmful algal bloom (HAB) risk as a function of exposure, hazard and vulnerability, using Scotland as a case study. Exposure was defined as the fish biomass estimated to be lost from a bloom event, based on the total recorded annual production. Hazard was estimated from literature-reported bloom events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
January 2025
Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
Contaminations are challenging for monocultures, as they impact the culture conditions and thus influence the growth of the target organism and the overall biomass composition. In phycology, axenic cultures comprising a single living species are commonly strived for both basic research and industrial applications, because contaminants reduce significance for analytic purposes and interfere with the safety and quality of commercial products. We aimed to establish axenic cultures of , known as the food additive "Spirulina".
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMRS Bull
November 2024
Bioelectronics & Bioenergy Research Lab, Centre for Functional Ecology-Science for People & the Planet, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract: Filamentous cyanobacteria originate toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) in aquatic ecosystems, severely impacting freshwater ecosystems and life. Despite being natural bloomers, these microorganisms are challenging to handle , due to the formation of aggregates with entangled filaments. Consequently, their precise growth dynamics, although vital to timely predict HABs, remains inaccessible.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Pollut
January 2025
School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Electronic address:
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) cause severe economic and environmental impacts, including hypoxic events and the production of toxins and off-flavor compounds. Chemical treatments, such as copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO·5HO), are often used to mitigate the damaging effects of algal blooms. However, treatment effects are usually short-lived leading to waterbodies requiring repeated CuSO·5HO applications to control persistent algal blooms, particularly in highly eutrophic systems, such as aquaculture ponds or small agricultural impoundments.
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