Cyanobacterial toxins are among the hazardous substances most widely found in water. They occur naturally, but concentrations hazardous to human health are usually due to human activity. Therefore, to protect human health, managing lakes, reservoirs and rivers to prevent cyanobacterial blooms is critical. This second edition of Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water presents the current state of knowledge on the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins as well as their impacts on health through water-related exposure pathways, chiefly drinking-water and recreational activity. It provides scientific and technical background information to support hazard identification, assessment and prioritisation of the risks posed by cyanotoxins, and it outlines approaches for their management at each step of the water-use system. It sets out key practical considerations for developing management strategies, implementing efficient measures and designing monitoring programmes. This enables stakeholders to evaluate whether there is a health risk from toxic cyanobacteria and to mitigate it with appropriate measures. This book is intended for those working on toxic cyanobacteria with a specific focus on public health protection. It intends to empower professionals from different disciplines to communicate and cooperate for sustainable management of toxic cyanobacteria, including public health workers, ecologists, academics, and catchment and waterbody managers. Ingrid Chorus headed the department for Drinking-Water and Swimming-Pool Hygiene at the German Environment Agency. Martin Welker is a limnologist and microbiologist, currently with bioMérieux in Lyon, France.

With the ever-increasing incidence of harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms, this monograph has added urgency and will be essential reading for all sorts of researchers, from neuroscientists to cancer research specialists. The volume contains the proceedings of the 2005 International Symposium on Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms, and has been edited by H. Kenneth Hudnell, of the US Environmental Protection Agency. It contains much of the most recent research into the subject.

The conference on The Water Environment: Algal Toxins and Health was held at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, on June 29, 30, July 1, 2, 1980. Its principal objectives were to bring together, for the first time, researchers, public officials and interested parties in order to present and discuss what is known about algal toxins. The conference concentrated almost exclusively on toxins and toxic blooms of blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria). Since the most common Cyanobacteria bloom forming species are also the ones most likely to produce toxins, they are a problem in the maintenance of safe animal and human water supplies. While poison ings by Cyanobacteria involve mainly domestic and wild animals, they may also be responsible for cases of human gastroenteritis and con tact poisoning. Even though human poisonings by Cyanobacteria have historically not been a widespread problem, continued deterioration of our recreational and municipal water supplies suggests that blooms of non-toxic and toxic Cyanobacteria blooms will increase. In addi tion to studies on their role as disease agents, there is basic research being done on their pharmacological properties to determine their mode of action and usefulness as tools in the study of basic neuromuscular mechanisms. These papers were centrally typed for reproduction as camera ready copy. Each paper was reviewed and edited by at least two per sons of the editorial committee. This volume is organized into five major sections: 1.

In September 1989, dogs and sheep died at Rutland Water following the ingestion of a scum of toxic blue-green algae. The NRA therefore undertook the first major national appraisal of blue-green algae throughout England and Wales. Their report describes the results of the 1989 survey and looks at how events were managed. Recommendations are made for future management, monitoring, research and development. It also reviews blue-green algal toxins, the factors which affect blue-green algal bloom production and approaches to controlling algal populations.

Cyanobacteria and their toxins are an increasing global public health menace. Most recently, problems have been experienced in Australia, the United States and, due to drought and increasing water scarcity, pose a severe threat in the U.K. With an international range of contributors, all leading experts in their fields, Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water examines the increasing need to protect drinking water and water resources from the hazards of Cyanobacteria and their impact on health. Written and edited by a World Health Organization working group, Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water is an operational handbook in a practical, assessible style. Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water will be invaluable to environmental health officers, professionals in the fields of water supply, public health, fresh water ecology and education, national and international organizations, special interest groups, post-graduate students and utilities responsible for managing drinking water supplies.

Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, commonly occur in a variety of water types throughout the world. A variable, but, high proportion of the cyanobacterial blooms and scums, which can develop annually in lakes, reservoirs, canals and slow-flowing rivers, contain potent toxins. Although animal poisonings and human health problems associated with the ingestion of, or contact with, cyanobacterial scums have long been recognized, a developing understanding of the health hazards posed by the toxins requires that reliable, sensitive, specific and convenient methods are available for their detection and quantification.Detection methods for cynobacterial toxins looks at the application of biological, toxicological, biochemical and physicochemical techniques in studies of cyanobacterial toxins and at experimental methods that have identified at least 50 cyanobacterial compounds toxic to vertebrates.Academics, public health bodies, environmental protection agencies and water companies are all involved in monitoring cyanobacterial levels and effects, and this book will help to ensure that their research is not duplicated, is standardized and comparable, and that optimal progress can be made in an important area that is still in its developing stages.