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Seasonal blooms of cyanobacteria (CB) are a typical feature of Lake Alto Flumendosa (Sardinia, Italy). The waters of this lake are used for drinking water supply, for agricultural and industrial uses, and fish farming activities. Since cyanotoxins are not monitored in edible organisms, diet could be a relevant route of human exposure. CB also represent a threat for the health of wild and domestic animals that use lake water for beverage. Therefore, to characterize the CB community and assess the risk for human and animal population, CB dynamic, mcyB+ fraction, and microcystins (MCs) concentration have been followed monthly for 18 months, in three stations. Results confirmed the presence of several toxigenic species. Planktothrix rubescens dominated between August 2011 and April 2012 (3.5×106 cells L-1), alternating with Woronichinia naegeliana (8×106 cells L-1) and Microcystis botrys (9×105 cells L-1). Dolichospermum planctonicum was always present at low densities (104 cells L-1). MCs were detected, at values well below the 1 µg L-1 threshold of WHO for drinking water. The molecular analysis of mcyB gene for P. rubescens indicated the presence of a persistent toxic population (average 0.45 mcyB/16S rDNA). Highly significant linear regressions were found between P. rubescens and the sum of the demethylated MC variants, and between M. botrys and the sum of MC-LR and MC-LA, also when co-occurring, suggesting that these two species were responsible for different MC patterns production. The regression lines indicated a quite stable MC cell quota. However, in some spotted samples very different values were obtained for both MC concentrations and cell quota (from 10-fold lower to 30-40-fold higher than the 'average') showing an unexpected significant variability in the rate of toxin production. The relatively low cell densities during the monitoring period is consistent with the low-to absent MC contamination level found in trout muscle; however, the analytical method was affected by low recovery, probably due to MC-protein binding. Our results show that, during the study period, no risk of exposure for the human and animal population occurred. However, the persistence of a complex CB community characterised by a significant toxic fraction suggests the need for periodic monitoring activity. Particularly, the hidden deep summer P. rubescens blooms, located where water is taken for drinking water supply, and M. botrys, able to produce the most toxic MC variants with high cell quota, should be kept under control. The documentation and interpretation of sudden changes in toxins concentrations deserve special attention. This is particularly relevant in proximity of fish farming plants and water catchment sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous photosynthetic micro-organisms forming blooms and scums in surface water; among them some species can produce cyanotoxins giving rise to some concern for human health and animal life. To date, more than 65 cyanobacterial neurotoxins have been described, of which the most studied are the groups of anatoxins and saxitoxins (STXs), comprising many different variants. In freshwaters, the hepatotoxic microcystins represent the most frequently detected cyanotoxin: on this basis, it could appear that neurotoxins are less relevant, but the low frequency of detection may partially reflect ana priorichoice of target analytes, the low method sensitivity and the lack of certified standards. Cyanobacterial neurotoxins target cholinergic synapses or voltage-gated ion channels, blocking skeletal and respiratory muscles, thus leading to death by respiratory failure. This review reports and analyzes the available literature data on environmental occurrence of cyanobacterial neurotoxic alkaloids, namely anatoxins and STXs, their biosynthesis, toxicology and epidemiology, derivation of guidance values and action limits. These data are used as the basis to assess the risk posed to human health, identify critical exposure scenarios and highlight the major data gaps and research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the risk assessment associated with human exposure to cyanotoxins, secondary metabolites of an ubiquitous group of photosynthetic procariota. Cyanobacteria occurr especially in eutrophic inland and coastal surface waters, where under favorable conditions they attain high densities and may form blooms and scums. Cyanotoxins can be grouped according to their biological effects into hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, and toxins with irritating potential, also acting on the gastrointestinal system. The chemical and toxicological properties of the main cyanotoxins, relevant for the evaluation of possible risks for human health, are presented. Humans may be exposed to cyanotoxins via several routes, with the oral one being by far the most important, occurring by ingesting contaminated drinking water, food, some dietary supplements, or water during recreational activities. Acute and short-term toxic effects have been associated in humans with exposure to high levels of cyanotoxins in drinking and bathing waters. However, the chronic exposure to low cyanotoxin levels remains a critical issue. This article identifies the actual risky exposure scenarios, provides toxicologically derived reference values, and discusses open issues and research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The human GSH conjugation has been compared between hydrophilic and hydrophobic MCs. • The lipophilicity ranking of MCs is: MC-LF>-LW>-LR>-YR>-RR. • With MC-YR and -LW the spontaneous reaction always gave the major contribution. • MC-LF was very poorly detoxified. • In vitro detoxication is favored by MC variant hydrophilicity. Cyanotoxins, among which >200 variants of Microcystins (MC), constitute an emerging issue in food safety. Microcystins (MC) toxicity is congener-specific; however, the in vitro inhibition of PP1/PP2A (the key molecular event of MC toxicity) by single MC variants is comparable and MC toxicokinetics seems to be the critical point. Here, the variability in GSH conjugation catalysed by human recombinant enzymes and human hepatic cytosol has been compared between hydrophilic (MC-LR and MC-RR) and hydrophobic (MC-LW, MC-YR and MC-LF) variants, according to measured logPow. In vitro detoxication reaction (spontaneous plus enzymatic) is favored by the variant hydrophilicity, with MC-LF very poorly detoxified. With MC-YR and -LW the spontaneous reaction always gave the major contribution, whereas with MC-LR and -RR the enzymatic reaction became by far predominant when GSH was depleted. Consequently, the well-known GST polymorphisms seems not to be the major driver for potential human variability in susceptibility towards the MC-toxicity, except for MC-RR and –LR when GSH is depleted. Looking at these results and literature data, MC-RR (the least cytotoxic and acutely toxic in rodents) is the more hydrophilic, has the lowest OATP-mediated hepatic uptake and the highest detoxication efficiency. The opposite is true for the most lipophilic MC-LF: once entered in the cells with the highest uptake, it is very poorly detoxified, and resulted as the most toxic in various cell types. MC-dependent TK should be considered in order to estimate the variability in toxicity and to support the use of quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolation models of single toxins and their mixtures co-occurring in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria thrive in many aquatic environments, where they can produce cyanotoxins with different toxicological profile. Anthropic pressure and climate changes are causing the expansion in terms of time and space of their blooms, increasing the concerns for human health in several exposure scenarios. Here the update of the Italian guidelines for the management of cyanobacterial blooms in bathing water is presented. A risk-based approach has been developed according to the current scientific knowledge on cyanobacteria distribution in the Italian Lakes and on chemical, toxicological and epidemiological aspects of different cyanotoxins, summarized in the first part of the paper. Oral, dermal and inhalation exposure to cyanotoxins, during recreational activities, are individually examined, to develop a framework of thresholds and actions aimed at preventing harmful effects for bathers. Guidelines, also by comparing international guidance values and/or guidelines, provide criteria to plan environmental monitoring activities, health surveillance and public communication systems. Finally the still important scientific gaps and research needs are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vico Lake, a volcanic meso-eutrophic lake in Central Italy, whose water is used for drinking and recreational activities, experienced the presence of the microcystins (MC) producing cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens . In order to assess the human health risks and to provide the local health authorities with a scientific basis for planning tailored monitoring activities, we studied P. rubescens ecology and toxicity for two years. P. rubescens generally dominated the phytoplankton community, alternating with Limnothrix redekei , potentially toxic. P. rubescens was distributed throughout the water column during winter; in summer it produced intense blooms where drinking water is collected (−20 m); here MC were detected all year round (0.5–5 μg/L), with implications for drinking water quality. In surface waters, MC posed no risk for recreational activities in summer, while in winter surface blooms and foams (containing up to 56 μg MC/L) can represent a risk for people and children practicing water sports and for animals consuming raw water. Total phosphorus, phosphate and inorganic nitrogen were not relevant to predict densities nor toxicity; however, a strong correlation between P. rubescens density and aminopeptidase ectoenzymatic activity, an enzyme involved in protein degradation, suggested a role of organic nitrogen for this species. The fraction of potentially toxic population, determined both as mcyB + /16SrDNA (10–100%) and as the MC/ mcyB + cells (0.03–0.79 pg MC/cell), was much more variable than usually observed for P. rubescens . Differently from other Italian and European lakes, the correlation between cell density or the mcyB + cells and MC explained only ∼50 and 30% of MC variability, respectively: for Vico Lake, monitoring only cell or the mcyB + cell density is not sufficient to predict MC concentrations, and consequently to protect population health. Finally, during a winter bloom one site has been sampled weekly, showing that monthly sampling during such a phase could greatly underestimate the ‘hazard’. Our results highlight the need to adopt a stepwise monitoring activity, considering the lake and the cyanobacteria specific features. This activity should be complemented with communication to the public and involvement of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Humans can ingest toxic cyanobacteria, ubiquitous in the environment. [•] Microcystis survived (30–70%) 2h-exposure to pH 2 (mimicking the gastric passage). [•] Survivors started to grow within 24h, in the dark at 37°C up to 4days. [•] They maintained the toxic gene and produced toxins even with intestinal bacteria. [•] Results suggest that human short-term internal exposure to CTX is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]