What are the effects of microcystins?
Human Health Effects Caused by the Most Common Toxin-producing Cyanobacteria
| Cyanotoxins | Acute Health Effects in Humans |
|---|---|
| Microcystin-LR | Abdominal pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting and nausea, dry cough, diarrhea, blistering around the mouth, and pneumonia |
| Cylindrospermopsin | Fever, headache, vomiting, bloody diarrhea |
How do you neutralize cyanotoxins?
Cyanotoxins can be eliminated from water by a variety of methods for example flocculation, membrane filtration, and adsorption on activated carbon, oxidation by permanganate, ozonation and chlorination [7]. However, the conventional treatment methods when used alone are unable to remove cyanotoxins completely.
What is a microcystin used for?
Microcystins are hepatotoxins that have strong affinity to serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs), which can remove phosphate from the protein in many biochemical pathways. This inhibition is believed to be a primary mechanism that causes liver damage and side effects of other organs.
How is microcystin treated?
Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) at low levels could be used to remove Microcystis cells. Inline powdered activated carbon (PAC) could also be used to remove any toxins that may have been released. Pre-treatment oxidation Oxidation often lyses cyanobacteria cells releasing the cyanotoxin to the water column.
What happens if you ingest cyanobacteria?
Ingestion: Gastrointestinal (GI) effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild liver enzyme elevations. The time to onset of GI symptoms after oral exposure is usually 3–5 hours and symptoms can last 1–2 days. Exposure can cause conjunctivitis, rhinitis, earache, sore throat, and swollen lips.
What are the symptoms of blue-green algae in dogs?
Signs of blue-green algae toxicity include:
- Seizures.
- Panting.
- Excessive drooling.
- Respiratory failure.
- Diarrhea.
- Disorientation.
- Vomiting.
- Liver failure.
How do you treat cyanobacteria?
Chemical treatment is the most common treatment method, and also the most damaging to the environment. It involves using copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide, which cause sudden death or lysis of cyanobacterial cells. Massive amounts of cyanotoxins are being released back into the water.
How is cyanobacteria removed?
Conventional water treatment (consisting of coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination) can generally remove intact cyanobacterial cells and low levels of cyanotoxins from source waters.
Does spirulina have microcystins?
A study on Spirulina products sold in China found a large number of them contaminated by microcystins [4].
What is the treatment for cyanobacteria?
There are no specific antidotes for cyanotoxins or specific treatments for illnesses caused by cyanobacteria and their toxins in humans. For ingestion of contaminated water or food: Stop the exposure by avoiding contaminated food or water. If needed, replenish fluids and electrolytes.
How does cyanobacteria make you sick?
Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) can produce toxins (poisons) that can make people and animals sick.
What disease does cyanobacteria cause?
Exposure to cyanobacteria can result in gastro-intestinal and hayfever symptoms or pruritic skin rashes. Exposure to the cyanobacteria neurotoxin BMAA may be an environmental cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
How quickly does blue-green algae affect dogs?
Sadly, exposure to toxic blue-green algae is often fatal, and can also cause long term health problems in dogs that survive after drinking or swimming in algae-contaminated water. Some types of blue-green algae can kill a dog just 15 minutes to an hour after drinking contaminated water.
How quickly does toxic algae affect dogs?
Symptoms, which usually arise anywhere from 15 minutes to several days after exposure may include: Diarrhea or vomiting. Drooling.
What are the symptoms of cyanobacteria?
Symptoms of exposure to cyanobacteria vary, depending on the route of exposure. Symptoms include skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, blisters of the mouth and liver damage.
What is microcystin toxin?
Microcystin is a potent liver toxin and possible human carcinogen. Cyanotoxins can also kill livestock and pets that drink affected waters. Fish and bird mortalities have also been reported in water bodies with persistent cyanobacteria blooms.
How does microcystin toxin adversely affect the body?
The blue-green algae Microcystis aeruginosa can produce a family of toxins known as microcystins. They can cause liver damage that can lead to death in dogs and livestock. No known deaths have been reported in humans from the ingestion of microcystins. Fish and birds are also at risk for microcystin toxicity.
Is spirulina a neurotoxin?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae. While health claims for spirulina supplements abound, there is cause for concern. These supplements were found to contain liver toxins and neurotoxins. In fact, in 2009, a potent neurotoxin was found in spirulina.