Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in drinking-water
Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae grow in eutrophic (nutrient-rich) freshwaters. Some strains of cyanobacteria produce one or more of a range of toxins that can be dangerous to humans and wildlife. Human health concern relates primarily to drinking-water and to recreational water exposure. Some cyanobacteria produce floating "scums" that concentrate cells and any toxins present.
You can link from here to:
- The book "Toxic cyanobacteria in water"
- Occurrence of cyanobacterial toxins in surface water of rural Bangladesh: report of a pilot study
- The section of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality that deals with managing chemical hazards in drinking-water
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Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, Chapter 12 which includes a fact sheet on Microcystin-LR
pdf, 637kb -
The full background document on microcystin prepared to support the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
pdf, 54kb - Safe recreational water environments which include a chapter on algal and cyanobacterial toxins
- Water-related diseases: cyanobacterial toxins