Cyanotoxins Occurrence in Portugal: A New Report on Their Recent Multiplication

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Moreira, C (Author) Other; Gomes, C (Author) Other; Vitor Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP; Agostinho Antunes (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Toxins

Vol. 12

Final page: 154

ISSN: 2072-6651

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-T2A

DOI: 10.3390/toxins12030154

Abstract (EN): Historical reports show that in Portugal, cyanotoxins reports were mainly in the Center (cylindrospermopsins) and South (cylindrospermopsins, saxitoxins) regions of the country apart from the well distributed microcystins. Therefore, in our study, seven freshwater ecosystems located in the North and Center Regions of Portugal were screened between April and September of 2017 for the main cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsins, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxins) by a two methods approach that combined the application of molecular (PCR) and immunological (ELISA) assays. Results from our survey reveal that both methods revealed the presence of all main cyanotoxins. ELISA results showed that 48% of the samples were above (1.6-18.8 mu g/L) the guideline value established for microcystins (1 mu g/L), while in the remaining cyanotoxins, 33% of the samples were above (1.1-6.8 mu g/L) the guideline value established for anatoxin-a (1 mu g/L). Further, for saxitoxins, only one sample gave a value above (4.3 mu g/L) the guideline (3 mu g/L) and this corresponded to a North Region ecosystem. In the cytotoxin cylindrospermopsins, none of the samples were above the guideline established value (1 mu g/L). This study will improve the risk assessment strategy in Portugal, as well as advance water quality and water management.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16