Cyanobacteria and their Toxins
Real Concern or Just Green Water?
Nicolas Clercin
Research Scientist, IUPUI
Center for Earth and Environmental Science
[email protected]
What is an algal bloom?
Grand Lake St Marys, OH July 2010 (EPA)
Geist Reservoir, IN Summer 2011
(Environmental Law & Policy Center)
NASA’s Aqua/MODIS Satellite – Oct, 9th 2011
Impacts Associated with Algal Blooms
• Anoxia (Oxygen Depletion)
– Fish kills
– Changes in freshwater community structure
• Degradation of recreational resources
– Socio-economic impacts
– Property value impacts
– Recreational use limitation
University Lake, IN
• Taste and odor in drinking water
– MIB (musty) and Geosmin (earthy smell)
• Algal Toxins
–
–
–
–
Fish and other aquatic life
Livestock
Pets (reports of dog deaths in Indiana, 2009)
Humans
Fox River, IL 2005
Palestine Lake, IN
Algae classification
• Kingdom: Prokaryota
– Cyanobacteria or “blue-green algae”
• Prokaryotic algae lacking typical membrane-bound nuclei and plastids
• Capable of photosynthesis (Photobacteria)
• Gram- bacteria like E. coli* (gastroenteritis), Salmonella* (typhoid fever),
Shigella* (dysentery), Pseudomonas (nosocomial infections), Neisseria
(meningitis), Bordetella pertussis, Vibrio cholerae…
• Kingdom: Eukaryota
– Eukaryotic algae with typical nucleus and pigments localized
within plastids.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Chlorophytes (green algae)
Bacillariophytes (diatoms)
Cryptophytes (cryptomonads)
Pyrrhophytes (dinoflagellates)
Chrysophytes (golden algae)
Euglenophytes (euglenoids)
*Microbial Contaminants in EPA Contaminant Candidate List 3 (CCL3)
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/index.html
Cyanobacteria
•
Chroococcales
– Solidary or colonial coccoid “blue-greens”, never form true filaments
•
•
Include: Aphanocapsa, Aphanothece, Chroococcus, Coelosphaerium, Gloeocapsa, Gloeothece,
Gomphosphaeria, Hyella, Merismopedia, Microcystis, Pleurocapsa, Synechococcus, Woronichinia
Oscillatoriales
– Filamentous colonies, no heterocyst- and akinete-formation
•
•
Include: Homeothrix, Limnothrix, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Planktothrix, Plectonema,
Pseudanabaena, Schizothrix, Spirulina, Trichodesmium
Nostocales
– Filaments forming heterocysts and akinetes, but never true branches
•
•
Include: Anabaena, Anabaenopsis, Aphanizomenon, Calothrix, Cylindrospermun, Cylindrospermopsis,
Gloeotrichia, Nostoc, Rivularia, Scytonema
Stigonematales
– Filaments forming heterocysts and true branches
•
Aphanocapsa
Include: Brachytrichia, Desmosiphon, Fischerella, Hapalosiphon, Stigonema
Merismopedia
Chroococcales
Lyngbya
Spirulina
Oscillatoriales
Anabaena
Gloeotrichia
Nostocales
Fischerella
Stigonema
Stigonematales
Toxicity - Cyanotoxins
•
Hepatotoxins: disrupt proteins that keep the liver functioning, may act slowly
(days or weeks later)
 Microcystins (>80 structural variants)
•
•
LD50: 25-60 μg kg-1
Potent carcinogen (liver, kidneys)
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Microcystis aeruginosa, M. viridis
Anabaena flos-aquae, A. circinalis
Planktothrix agardhii, P. mougeotii
Oscillatoria limosa
Nostoc sp.
Anabaenopsis millerii
Aphanocapsa
Microcystin-LR
 Nodularins (9)
•
LD50: 60 μg kg-1
 Nodularia spumigena
 Cylindrospermopsins (3)
•
LD50: 300 μg kg-1
 Aphanizomenon ovalisporum
 Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
 Umezakia natans
Cylindrospermopsin
Toxicity - Cyanotoxins
•
Neurotoxins: cause rapid paralysis of skeletal and respiratory muscles
 Anatoxin-a (5)
 LD50: 200-250 μg kg-1
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Anabaena flos-aquae, A. planctonica
Anabaena spiroides, A. circinalis
Aphanizomenon sp.
Cylindrospermum sp.
Microcystis sp.
Oscillatoria sp.
Anatoxin-a
 Anatoxin-a(S) (1)
 LD50: 20 μg kg-1
 Anabaena flos-aquae, A. lemmermannii
Saxitoxin
 Saxitoxins (20)
 LD50: 10 μg kg-1
 Potent neurotoxin; Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)
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Anabaena flos-aquae, A. lemmermannii
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
Lyngbya wollei
Planktothrix agardhii
BMAA
 β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), neurodegenerative agents, causative of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS/PDC)
Toxicity - Cyanotoxins
•
Dermatotoxins: produce rashes and other skin reactions (hours or days). Potent
irritants, vesicants and carcinogens.
 Lyngbyatoxin-a (1)
• Potent irritant and vesicant, aka seaweed dermatitis
 Moorea producta (ex- Lyngbya majuscula)
 Aplysiatoxins (2)
• Potent tumor promoters
 Lyngbya majuscula
•
Lyngbyatoxin-a
Endotoxins: inflame gastrointestinal epithelium. They are pyrogenic (fever) and
induce immune response. At high enough concentrations in blood, endotoxins are
lethal (septic shock).
 Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)
Toxins and Taste & Odor Compounds
Produced by Cyanobacteria
Dermatotoxin,
Endotoxin
Hepatotoxin
(Liver)
Aphanacapsa spp.
LPS
microcystins
Microcystis spp.
LPS
microcystins, nodularin
Snowella spp.
LPS
microcystins
Synechococcus spp.
LPS
microcystins
Woronichinia spp.
LPS
microcystins
Species
Lyngbya spp.
LPS, lyngbyatoxins
Oscillatoria spp.
LPS, aplysiatoxins
Planktothrix agardhii
LPS, aplysiatoxins
Pseudoanabaena spp.
LPS
Anabaena spp.
LPS
microcystins
cylindrospermopsin
Anabaenopsis elenkinii
LPS
microcystins
Aphanizomenon spp.
LPS
Cylindrospermopsis
raciborskii
Nodularia spp.
Neurotoxin
(Nervous System)
Taste/Odor
Compound
anatoxins
MIB, Geosmin
saxitoxins
MIB, Geosmin
microcystins
anatoxins, saxitoxins
MIB, Geosmin
microcystins
saxitoxins
MIB, Geosmin
MIB, Geosmin
anatoxins
saxitoxins
MIB, Geosmin
cylindrospermopsin
microcystins
anatoxins
saxitoxins
Geosmin
LPS
cylindrospermopsin
saxitoxins
LPS
microcystins ,nodularin
LPS = Lipopolysaccharide
Modified from: Graham et al., 2008;
Lawton and Edwards, 2008; NOAA, 2007; Graham, 2007; Wiedner et al., 2006
Status of Harmful Algal Bloom
Guidelines and Standards
• Currently, there are NO US Federal guidelines, Water Quality Criteria and
Standards or Regulations concerning harmful algal blooms.
• Cyanobacterial toxins are on EPA CCL3; EPA is reviewing standards and risks.
• World Health Organization* established guidelines for drinking waters (1998)
and recreational use of water bodies (1999), based on:
– Cell concentrations and/or biovolume;
– Chlorophyll-a (equivalent to cell levels);
– Microcystin.
• Several states have statewide monitoring programs and well-defined public
health reporting and response systems – Indiana is following this path.
*WHO (1998) Guidelines for Drinking–Water Quality. Second Edition, Addendum to Volume 2, Health
Criteria and Other Supporting Information. World Health Organization, Geneva.
*WHO (1999) Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and
management. I. Chorus and J. Bartram (eds.), E & FN Spon, New York, 416
WHO Guidance Values for Probability of
Acute Health Risks During Recreational Exposure
to Cyanobacteria and Microcystin-LR
Hazard Status
Microcystin – LR
Recommended Action
Low
< 20,000 cells. mL-1
or
< 10 μg. L-1 chlorophyll-a
or
< 2.5 mm3 L-1 cyanobacterial
biomass
<10 µg/L
Post Advisory Signs and
Continue Monitoring
Moderate
20,000 - 100,000 cells. mL-1
or
10 - 50 μg. L-1 chlorophyll-a
or
2.5 - 12.5 mm3 L-1
cyanobacterial biomass
10 - 20 µg/L
Post Advisory Signs and
Restrict Swimming
20 - 2,000 µg/L
Post Advisory Signs, Prohibit
Swimming and Other
Water-contact Activities
High
Cyanobacteria
> 100,000 cells. mL-1
or
> 50 μg. L-1 chlorophyll-a
or
> 12.5 mm3 L-1 cyanobacterial
biomass
US States with Reports of
Acute Cyanobacterial Poisonings*
Cyanobacterial Poisonings
and Health Advisories
Cyanobacterial Poisonings
Health Advisories
*Graham, J. L. , K.A. Loftin, and N. Kamman. Monitoring Recreational Freshwaters. Lakeline. Summer 2009. pp 18-24
Central Indiana Reservoirs
2008-2011
Density (cells/mL)
107
106
High Risk
105
•
– Moderate risk from
April to June
– High risk from July to
November
Moderate Risk
104
103
Low Risk
102
101
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct
Cell Density:
Nov Dec
Biovolume (mm3/L)
105
104
•
103
102
High Risk
101
Moderate Risk
– Always at high risk!
Low Risk
100
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct
Nov Dec
•
102
Microcystin (g/L)
Biovolume:
Recreational Water
101
State of Indiana
100
Drinking Water
Detection Limit
10-1
10-2
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Jun
Jul
Aug Sep
Oct
Nov Dec
Microcystin:
– Toxic from April to
January
– Close to Indiana
recommendation
from July to October
2008-2011 Occurrences of Microcystin
as Measured by Elisa-Adda in Central Indiana Reservoirs
8.0
Geist
6.0
4.0
Microcystin (g/L)
2.0
0.0
Morse
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
3.0
Eagle Creek
Reservoir dam
Upper reservoir
2.0
1.0
0.0
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
# Occurrences
(% Occurrences)
# Analyzed
> 0.15 μg/L
> 1 μg/L
> 3 μg/L
> 6 μg/L
Jul-09
Central
Indiana
715
365
(51.0%)
82
(11.5%)
16
(2.2%)
1
(0.1%)
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Eagle Creek
Morse
Geist
299
97
(34.2%)
5
(1.7%)
0
(0%)
0
(0%)
202
116
(57.0%)
13
(6.4%)
0
(0%)
0
(0%)
214
152
(71.0%)
64
(29.9%)
16
(7.5%)
1
(0.5%)
Jan-12
Indiana Monitoring and Response to
Harmful Algal Blooms
• State of Indiana worked with CEES-IUPUI in 2008 to report results
of CEES/Veolia Water monitoring of 3 central Indiana reservoirs
• State of Indiana utilizes 100,000 cells/mL and/or 6 µg/L (ppb)
microcystin for posting advisories and press releases
– IDEM Website Postings: www.algae.in.gov
– ISDH Press Releases
• CEES research programs have continued to provide information to
State since 2009 for posting on state website
• CEES now provides information for 3 central Indiana Reservoirs
and Patoka Lake (Southern Indiana) since 2010
• IDEM collaborated with CEES-IUPUI in 2010/11 and developed its
own statewide monitoring program
Thank you
NASA’s Aqua/MODIS Satellite – Lake Erie Jan, 15th 2012