1. Isabella Sanseverino, Lorna Fewtrell and
Harmful algal and
cyanobacterial bloom
Methods for water
quality analysis
Isabella Sanseverino, Lorna Fewtrell and
Teresa Lettieri
Stakeholder consultation meeting,
Brussels, 24 November 2017

2. Proliferation of algae /cyanobacteria
Harmful Algal bloom (HAB)
Proliferation of algae /cyanobacteria
Discoloration of water
caused by a red tide
Cyanobacterial
scum during a bloom
Fish kill during the bloom event

3. Toxic phytoplankton
Cyanobacteria are principally associated with blooms occurring in freshwater while dinoflagellates and diatoms are common in seawater.
Courtesy by Steve Morton and the “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

4. Cyanobacteria Bloom
Cyanobacteria can multiply quickly in waters and form blooms when favorable conditions e.g. high temperature, intense light, high pH and increased availability of nutrients, especially phosphorous and nitrogen, artificially released by anthropogenic activities.
Cyanobacterial species produce highly toxic secondary metabolites, known as cyanotoxins which can be hazardous for humans and other animals, and for aquatic organisms.
Recent studies have reported that global climate change can also favor hazardous cyanobacterial species, increasing their growth rate, dominance, persistence, geographical distribution, and activity.

5. Route of exposure
This is mainly through drinking water, or by eating contaminated foods; it may even involve ingesting water during recreational activities
Oral route
Dermic route
Inhalation
This is mainly during recreational activities
In the prioritization process of new substances’ list , some substance from the previous exercise will come up, we will verify matching the two list and see if the they show up.
This may occur through the aspiration of water containing cyanobacteria cells and their toxins during recreational activities. 

6. Cyanotoxin Neurotoxin Hepatotoxins Dermatoxin (dermatitis)
(liver damage)
Neurotoxin
(interfere with neuromuscular system)
Dermatoxin
(dermatitis)
Lyngbyatoxin-a
(cyanobacteria producing this toxin
apparently not present in European waters)
Aplysiatoxin
In the prioritization process of new substances’ list , some substance from the previous exercise will come up, we will verify matching the two list and see if the they show up.
Microcystins
Nodularins
Cylindrospermopsins
Anatoxin-a
Anatoxin-a(s)
Saxitoxins

7. Cyanotoxin and health
The reported health problems are most likely related to chronic exposure to low microcystin concentrations through consumption of contaminated water, food and dermal exposure.
Several human illness have been attributed to cyanotoxins in recreational water, drinking water and in water used from hemodialysis (WHO, Guidelines for safe recreational water environments, 2003).
Still several gaps of knowledge, however some studies would suggest that there is more relationship between abundance of cyanobacteria and health effects rather toxin and health effects.
For recreational water WHO guidelines (2003) established as “ recommended value” either based the cell number or chlorophylla (mg/L).
In the prioritization process of new substances’ list , some substance from the previous exercise will come up, we will verify matching the two list and see if the they show up.

8. Methods for detection(I)
Identification/ Cell counts/ Biovolume
Microscopy
Chlorophyll a / Phycocyanin (relevant for cyanobacteria)/ Phycoerythrin
Radiation/ Water temperature/pH/ Salinity/ Dissolved oxygen/ Nitrogen and Phosphate (phosphorus has also used as predictor in modelling)
Physicochemical methods
Molecular-based methods
PCR/ qPCR/ Microarray
Biochemical-based
methods
ELISA, PPIA (only for mycrocistin)
HPLC/ LC-MS/ LC-MS-MS/ MALDI-TOF/ LC-TOF-MS/NMR
Analytical methods (Toxins)
No standard procedure, use of parameters or specific concentrations across Europe
Most countries use a visual inspection component (Secchi depth, presence of scums or foams)

9. Cyanobacterial-related parameters used in Member State guidance/legislation
Parameters
Diff. action levels MS
Total Phosphorous
Cyanobactera
(CB) cell count
CB Biovolume
Cyano-Chl-a
Chl-a
Visual
Scums or foam
Transp.
(secchi disk)
Toxin determination CZ √ DE  √
√ (for de-warning) DK
+/- FI FR HU IT NL SO
Already seen this in Lorna’s presentation, but it does give an idea of the range of different approaches currently being used.

10. Some considerations about the cyanotoxin measurement as warning methods
Some States in the USA promote toxin-based monitoring, in order to “communicate … actual risks, as opposed to potential risk represented by cell count data alone” thus reducing the risk of “advisory fatigue”
This measurement for decisions making is not straightforward and the reasons are
1. Cyanotoxins causing the effects are not known or not measured
2. They are released in water when the bloom event already occurred
3. Potential correlation between cyanobacteria abundance and health has been reported
May be expand on some of the toxin measurement problems

11. HAB monitoring Lake of Varese (10 Km from Ispra) Cyanobacteria density
Toxin release
Chl a (μg/L)
Cyanotoxin (ppb)
Lake of Varese
(10 Km from Ispra)
EPI (chl a)
Mic/Nod (ppb)

12. Aspects for consideration (I)
Role for general classification ? Should it be also included an additional classification measure for the algal bloom? And what about the information on which to base day-to-day decisions?

13. Classification
Because HABs are not currently included in the BWD classification you get a potentially confusing situation where a site can be classified as suitable to use (that is sufficient, good or even excellent), but swimming is not advised because of HABs

14. Aspects for consideration (II)
Is there a role for toxin monitoring?
Decision-making
De-warning
How to deal with lots of problem sites?
Is there a role for public education?
And what about the role of modelling?

15. Conclusion/Vision
Currently not a formal part of the classification of the Bathing water quality (Member States are ‘left to their own devices’ leading to potentially different levels of protection) However specific guidance and consistent levels at European level for algal/ cyanobacterial bloom related would be desirable. It should be a flexible /pragmatic approach allowing countries to choose the parameters /methods to measure Comparability and equivalency of the different methods to ensure the same level of protection across MS

16. Thanks for your attention
My acknowledgments
JRC
Ingrid Chrous
Jutta Fastner
Isabella Sanseverino
Bathing Water
European Microbiology
sub group of experts
(EMEG)
Lorna Fewtrell
NOTES
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Maja Feder
Thanks for your attention