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. 2020 Apr 28;12(5):284.
doi: 10.3390/toxins12050284.

The Occurrence of Potential Harmful Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in the Obrzyca River (Poland), a Source of Drinking Water

Wanda Czyżewska  1 , Marlena Piontek  2 , Katarzyna Łuszczyńska  2
Affiliations

The Occurrence of Potential Harmful Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in the Obrzyca River (Poland), a Source of Drinking Water

Wanda Czyżewska et al. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

Harmful cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins may contaminate drinking water resources and their effective control remains challenging. The present study reports on cyanobacterial blooms and associated cyanotoxins in the Obrzyca River, a source of drinking water in Poland. The river was examined from July to October 2019 and concentrations of microcystins, anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsin were monitored. The toxicity of water samples was also tested using an ecotoxicological assay. All studied cyanotoxins were detected with microcystins revealing the highest levels. Maximal microcystin concentrations (3.97 μg/L) were determined in September at Uście point, exceeding the provisional guideline. Extracts from Uście point, where the dominant species were Dolichospermum flos-aquae (August), Microcystis aeruginosa (September), and Planktothrix agardhii (October), were toxic for Dugesia tigrina Girard. Microcystin concentrations (MC-LR and MC-RR) were positively correlated with cyanobacteria biovolume. Analysis of the chemical indicators of water quality has shown relationships between them and microcystins as well as cyanobacteria abundance.

Keywords: biotoxicological test Dugesia tigrina; cyanobacterial bloom; cyanotoxins; source of drinking water.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage share of particular water sources in the consumption water supply for the inhabitants of Zielona Gora in 2019.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Biovolume of cyanobacteria vs. N:P ratio in the Obrzyca River at sampling points.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Test area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Cultures of planarians for biotoxicological studies [65].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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