Blue Green algae: an overview Monique D’Amour Safe Environments Programme (Longueuil, Québec) and Michèle Giddings Water Quality & Microbiology Division (Ottawa, Ontario) Health Canada

Federal-Provincial Roles and Responsibilities for Drinking Water Federal (Health Canada) 4 advice 4 research 4 risk assessment/management with provinces 4 drinking water quality on Federal lands Federal (Health Canada) 4 advice 4 research 4 risk assessment/management with provinces 4 drinking water quality on Federal lands Provincial/Territorial 4 provision of safe DW 4 source water protection 4 water treatment 4 monitoring & surveys 4 research Responsibilities divided among levels of government

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water ã Representatives from each province, territory, and the federal government 30+ year working collaboration30+ year working collaboration Meets twice yearlyMeets twice yearly ã Establishes the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality ã Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Bureau is the Technical Secretariat to the Committee ã Representatives from each province, territory, and the federal government 30+ year working collaboration30+ year working collaboration Meets twice yearlyMeets twice yearly ã Establishes the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality ã Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Bureau is the Technical Secretariat to the Committee

Identification Assessment Assessment Evaluation Evaluation costscosts benefitsbenefits consultationconsultationIdentification Assessment Assessment Evaluation Evaluation costscosts benefitsbenefits consultationconsultation Drinking Water Guideline Development Process

Cyanobactieria in Canada ã Identification of a problem ã Assessment was required ã Identification of a problem ã Assessment was required

Cyanobacterial Toxins in Canada: The History, Part I ã : M-LR identified in Alberta lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s drinking water source, and in the city’s distribution system ã Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in EHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DW 4 EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not have the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelines ã : M-LR identified in Alberta lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s drinking water source, and in the city’s distribution system ã Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in EHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DW 4 EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not have the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelines

Cyanobacterial Toxins in Canada: The History, Part II ã M-LR added to the priority list for evaluation 4 Canadian surveys to date indicate Microcystin-LR is the most common hepatotoxin present in water supplies ã M-LR added to the priority list for evaluation 4 Canadian surveys to date indicate Microcystin-LR is the most common hepatotoxin present in water supplies

Blooms of Cyanobacteria in Canada ã Blooms occur in all provinces (Prairies, Québec etc) T end to occur repeatedly in same supply T end to occur repeatedly in same supply 4 small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to prairies generally affected ã Blooms occur in all provinces (Prairies, Québec etc) T end to occur repeatedly in same supply T end to occur repeatedly in same supply 4 small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to prairies generally affected

BloomBloom

Cyanobacteria: General Description ã Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea) ã May produce neurotoxins, hepatotoxins ã Skin irritants, other toxins ã Surface water supplies (Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins) ã Hepatotoxins more widespread ã Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea) ã May produce neurotoxins, hepatotoxins ã Skin irritants, other toxins ã Surface water supplies (Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins) ã Hepatotoxins more widespread

Microcystin -LR Microcystin L-R: hepatotoxins Produced by Microcystis aeruginosa (an others blue-greens algal species) Monocyclic heptapeptides (L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine) Microcystin L-R: hepatotoxins Produced by Microcystis aeruginosa (an others blue-greens algal species) Monocyclic heptapeptides (L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine)

Microcystin-LR Structure

Sources of Human Exposure ã Consumption of drinking water ã Recreational use of lakes and rivers 4 oral, dermal ã Showers 4 inhalation, dermal ã Algal food tablets 4 oral ã Consumption of drinking water ã Recreational use of lakes and rivers 4 oral, dermal ã Showers 4 inhalation, dermal ã Algal food tablets 4 oral

ã Animals Primarily hepatotoxin Kidney damageKidney damage Lung damageLung damage Tumour promotorTumour promotor ã Humans Stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, painful muscles & jointsStomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, painful muscles & joints Acute gastroenteritisAcute gastroenteritis Liver damageLiver damage M-LR Effects on Animals & Humans

ã Microcystin administered by gavage to mice at levels of 0, 40, 200 and 1000 µg/kg bw/day for 13 weeks 40 µg/kg bw : no definite effect 40 µg/kg bw : no definite effect 200 µg/kg bw : slight liver changes in some animals 200 µg/kg bw : slight liver changes in some animals 1000 µg/kg bw : liver changes in all animals ã No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) set at 40 µg/kg bw/day Critical Effects

TDI = mg/kg bw/day 1000 = mg/kg bw M-LR Guideline Derivation Where –x10 for intraspecies variation –x10 for interspecies variation –x10 for less than lifetime study MAC = mg/kg/day x 70 kg x L/day = mg/L (1.5 µg/L)

Factors Affecting Bloom Formation & Toxin Production / Persistence ã Bloom Formation Inorganic nutrientsInorganic nutrients Water temperatureWater temperature pH level: 6-9pH level: 6-9 DaylightDaylight TurbidityTurbidity TurbulenceTurbulence Water flowWater flow ã Toxin production Environmental factorsEnvironmental factors 4 Temperature, light, nitrogen levels, carbon dioxide and/or pH Genetic differencesGenetic differences Metabolic processesMetabolic processes ã Toxin release ã Persistence Stable in waterStable in water Resistance to pH extremesResistance to pH extremes Heat resistantHeat resistant

ã Reservoir management 4 Nutrient deprivation practices ã Algal cell removal 4 Coagulation, clarification, filtration, disinfection 4 Must not damage cells ã Toxin removal 4 Oxidation (ozonation); other methods such as UV, chloramination & hydrogen peroxide not as effective 4 Activated carbon (wood-based products best) 4 Slow sand filtration-biodegradation Microcystins – Water Management

Flow chart: Management Water supply

To obtain information onDW sesc/water/index.htm Find more information To obtain the supporting document on M-LR pdf/microcys.pdf

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Michèle Giddings for providing technical supports, advices and specific expertise on Microcystine L-R and Drinking Water Guidelines