Blue Green algae: Blue Green algae: an overview an overview

Blue Green algae: Blue Green algae: an overview 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 Federal-Provincial Roles and Responsibilities for Drinking WaterResponsibilities for Drinking Water

Federal-Provincial Roles and Federal-Provincial Roles and Responsibilities for Drinking WaterResponsibilities for Drinking Water

Federal Federal (Health Canada)(Health Canada) adviceadvice research research risk assessment/management risk assessment/management

with provinceswith provinces drinking water quality on drinking water quality on

Federal landsFederal lands

Federal Federal (Health Canada)(Health Canada) adviceadvice research research risk assessment/management risk assessment/management

with provinceswith provinces drinking water quality on drinking water quality on

Federal landsFederal lands

Provincial/TerritorialProvincial/Territorial provision of safe DWprovision of safe DW source water source water

protectionprotection water treatmentwater treatment monitoring & surveysmonitoring & surveys researchresearch

Provincial/TerritorialProvincial/Territorial provision of safe DWprovision of safe DW source water source water

protectionprotection water treatmentwater treatment monitoring & surveysmonitoring & surveys researchresearch

Responsibilities divided among levels of Responsibilities divided among levels of governmentgovernment

Responsibilities divided among levels of Responsibilities divided among levels of governmentgovernment

Federal-Provincial-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Territorial Committee on

Drinking Water Drinking Water

Federal-Provincial-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Territorial Committee on

Drinking Water Drinking Water Representatives from each province, Representatives from each province,

territory, and the federal governmentterritory, and the federal government• 30+ year working collaboration30+ year working collaboration• Meets twice yearlyMeets twice yearly

Establishes the Establishes the Guidelines for Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water QualityCanadian Drinking Water Quality

Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Bureau is the Technical Health Bureau is the Technical Secretariat to the CommitteeSecretariat to the Committee

Representatives from each province, Representatives from each province, territory, and the federal governmentterritory, and the federal government• 30+ year working collaboration30+ year working collaboration• Meets twice yearlyMeets twice yearly

Establishes the Establishes the Guidelines for Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water QualityCanadian Drinking Water Quality

Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Canada’s Water Quality and Health Bureau is the Technical Health Bureau is the Technical Secretariat to the CommitteeSecretariat to the Committee

IdentificationIdentification

AssessmentAssessment

EvaluationEvaluation• costscosts• benefitsbenefits• consultationconsultation

IdentificationIdentification

AssessmentAssessment

EvaluationEvaluation• costscosts• benefitsbenefits• consultationconsultation

Drinking Water Guideline Drinking Water Guideline Development ProcessDevelopment Process

Drinking Water Guideline Drinking Water Guideline Development ProcessDevelopment Process

Cyanobactieria in CanadaCyanobactieria in CanadaCyanobactieria in CanadaCyanobactieria in Canada

Identification of a Identification of a problemproblem

Assessment was requiredAssessment was required

Identification of a Identification of a problemproblem

Assessment was requiredAssessment was required

Cyanobacterial Toxins in Cyanobacterial Toxins in Canada: The History, Part ICanada: The History, Part ICyanobacterial Toxins in Cyanobacterial Toxins in

Canada: The History, Part ICanada: The History, Part I

1990-1992-1993: M-LR identified in Alberta 1990-1992-1993: M-LR identified in Alberta lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s drinking water source, and in the city’s drinking water source, and in the city’s distribution systemdistribution system

Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in 19941994

EHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DWEHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DW EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not

have the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelineshave the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelines

1990-1992-1993: M-LR identified in Alberta 1990-1992-1993: M-LR identified in Alberta lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s lakes, detected in Shoal Lake, Winnipeg’s drinking water source, and in the city’s drinking water source, and in the city’s distribution systemdistribution system

Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Manitoba requests an ‘Emergency Health Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in Advisory’ (EHA) from Health Canada in 19941994

EHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DWEHA of 0.5 µg/L derived for M-LR in DW EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not EHAs are developed for specific situations; they do not

have the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelineshave the rigorous review/consultation of full guidelines

Cyanobacterial Toxins in Cyanobacterial Toxins in Canada: The History, Part IICanada: The History, Part II

Cyanobacterial Toxins in Cyanobacterial Toxins in Canada: The History, Part IICanada: The History, Part II

M-LR added to the priority list for M-LR added to the priority list for evaluationevaluation

Canadian surveys to date indicate Canadian surveys to date indicate Microcystin-LR is the most common Microcystin-LR is the most common hepatotoxin present in water supplieshepatotoxin present in water supplies

M-LR added to the priority list for M-LR added to the priority list for evaluationevaluation

Canadian surveys to date indicate Canadian surveys to date indicate Microcystin-LR is the most common Microcystin-LR is the most common hepatotoxin present in water supplieshepatotoxin present in water supplies

Blooms of Cyanobacteria in Blooms of Cyanobacteria in CanadaCanada

Blooms of Cyanobacteria in Blooms of Cyanobacteria in CanadaCanada

Blooms occur in all provincesBlooms occur in all provinces (Prairies, Québec etc) (Prairies, Québec etc)

TTend to occur repeatedly in same supplyend to occur repeatedly in same supply small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to

prairies generally affectedprairies generally affected

Blooms occur in all provincesBlooms occur in all provinces (Prairies, Québec etc) (Prairies, Québec etc)

TTend to occur repeatedly in same supplyend to occur repeatedly in same supply small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to small shallow, slow-moving bodies of water common to

prairies generally affectedprairies generally affected

Bloom Bloom Bloom Bloom

Cyanobacteria: General Cyanobacteria: General Description Description

Cyanobacteria: General Cyanobacteria: General Description Description

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea)Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea)

May produce neurotoxins, May produce neurotoxins, hepatotoxins hepatotoxins

Skin irritants, other toxins Skin irritants, other toxins

Surface water supplies Surface water supplies (Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins)(Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins)

Hepatotoxins more widespreadHepatotoxins more widespread

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea)Cyanobacteria (blue-green algea)

May produce neurotoxins, May produce neurotoxins, hepatotoxins hepatotoxins

Skin irritants, other toxins Skin irritants, other toxins

Surface water supplies Surface water supplies (Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins)(Hepatotoxins/neurotoxins)

Hepatotoxins more widespreadHepatotoxins more widespread

Microcystin -LRMicrocystin -LRMicrocystin -LRMicrocystin -LR

Microcystin L-R: hepatotoxinsMicrocystin L-R: hepatotoxins

Produced by Microcystis Produced by Microcystis aeruginosa aeruginosa (an others blue-greens algal species)(an others blue-greens algal species)

Monocyclic heptapeptides Monocyclic heptapeptides (L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine)(L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine)

Microcystin L-R: hepatotoxinsMicrocystin L-R: hepatotoxins

Produced by Microcystis Produced by Microcystis aeruginosa aeruginosa (an others blue-greens algal species)(an others blue-greens algal species)

Monocyclic heptapeptides Monocyclic heptapeptides (L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine)(L–amino acids; L=Leucine; R=arginine)

Microcystin-LR StructureMicrocystin-LR StructureMicrocystin-LR StructureMicrocystin-LR Structure

Sources of Human ExposureSources of Human ExposureSources of Human ExposureSources of Human Exposure

Consumption of drinking waterConsumption of drinking water Recreational use of lakes and riversRecreational use of lakes and rivers

oral, dermaloral, dermal

ShowersShowers inhalation, dermalinhalation, dermal

Algal food tabletsAlgal food tablets oraloral

Consumption of drinking waterConsumption of drinking water Recreational use of lakes and riversRecreational use of lakes and rivers

oral, dermaloral, dermal

ShowersShowers inhalation, dermalinhalation, dermal

Algal food tabletsAlgal food tablets oraloral

AnimalsAnimalsPrimarily Primarily

hepatotoxinhepatotoxin• Kidney damageKidney damage• Lung damageLung damage• Tumour promotorTumour promotor

HumansHumans• Stomach cramps, Stomach cramps,

vomiting, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, diarrhea, fever, headache, painful headache, painful muscles & jointsmuscles & joints

• Acute Acute gastroenteritisgastroenteritis

• Liver damageLiver damage

M-LR Effects on Animals & M-LR Effects on Animals & HumansHumans

Microcystin administered by gavage Microcystin administered by gavage to mice at levels of 0, 40, 200 and to mice at levels of 0, 40, 200 and 1000 1000 µg/kg bw/day for 13 weeksµg/kg bw/day for 13 weeks

40 40 µg/kg bw : no definite effectµg/kg bw : no definite effect

200 200 µg/kg bw : slight liver changes in some µg/kg bw : slight liver changes in some animalsanimals

1000 1000 µg/kg bw : liver changes in all animalsµg/kg bw : liver changes in all animals

No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) set at 40 (NOAEL) set at 40 µg/kg bw/dayµg/kg bw/day

Critical EffectsCritical Effects

TDI =0.040 mg/kg bw/day1000

= 0.00004 mg/kg bw

M-LR Guideline DerivationM-LR Guideline Derivation

WhereWhere– x10 for intraspecies variationx10 for intraspecies variation– x10 for interspecies variationx10 for interspecies variation– x10 for less than lifetime x10 for less than lifetime

studystudy

MAC = 0.00004 mg/kg/day x 70 kg x 0.80

1.5 L/day= 0.0015 mg/L (1.5 µg/L)

Factors Affecting Bloom Formation & Toxin Factors Affecting Bloom Formation & Toxin Production / PersistenceProduction / Persistence

Bloom FormationBloom Formation• Inorganic nutrientsInorganic nutrients• Water temperatureWater temperature• pH level: 6-9pH level: 6-9• DaylightDaylight• TurbidityTurbidity• TurbulenceTurbulence• Water flowWater flow

Toxin productionToxin production• Environmental Environmental

factorsfactors Temperature, light, Temperature, light,

nitrogen levels, nitrogen levels, carbon dioxide carbon dioxide and/or pHand/or pH

• Genetic differencesGenetic differences• Metabolic processesMetabolic processes

Toxin releaseToxin release

Persistence Persistence • Stable in waterStable in water• Resistance to pH Resistance to pH

extremesextremes• Heat resistantHeat resistant

Reservoir managementReservoir management Nutrient deprivation practices Nutrient deprivation practices

Algal cell removalAlgal cell removal Coagulation, clarification, filtration, disinfectionCoagulation, clarification, filtration, disinfection Must not damage cellsMust not damage cells

Toxin removalToxin removal Oxidation (ozonation); other methods such as Oxidation (ozonation); other methods such as

UV, chloramination & hydrogen peroxide not as UV, chloramination & hydrogen peroxide not as effectiveeffective

Activated carbon (wood-based products best)Activated carbon (wood-based products best) Slow sand filtration-biodegradationSlow sand filtration-biodegradation

Microcystins – Water Microcystins – Water Management Management

Flow chart: Management Water supplyFlow chart: Management Water supply

10

9

8

5

3

2

1

sample raw* and treated supplies for toxin(algal identification)

Visually monitor for bloom formation

ANNEX ACyanobacterial Toxins -- Microcystin -LR

Flow Chart- Water Supplies for Human Consumption -

perform toxin analysis oftreated water supplies

7

send both raw and treated samples forMicrocystin-LR analysis

Treated Water

alternativesupply ortreatment

adjustment

resampletreatedsupply

notify communityand agencies

Consultation anddecision-making

April, 2002

NOTE: For recreationalwater supplies, followthe raw water protocol(steps 1-4)

6 (treated) 11 (treated)12 (treated)

M-LR>1.5 µg/L

M-LR<1.5 µg/L

resultsto

agencies

Raw Water

4 (raw) 11 (raw)

M-LR>1.0 µg/L

M-LR<1.0 µg/L

12 (raw)

resultsto

agencies

* A field kit could be used for screening. A validationsample should be send to a laboratory for confirmationof actual levels following a positive field test.

To obtain information onDWhttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/water/

index.htm

Find more informationFind more information

To obtain the supporting document on M-LRhttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/water/

pdf/microcys.pdf

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Michèle Giddings for providing technical supports,

advices and specific expertise on Microcystine L-R and Drinking Water Guidelines