This book discusses toxic Microcystis and the toxins from various viewpoints such as classification, cultivation, occurrences in lakes, and relations to zooplankton. The text presents new information on the chemistry, analytical chemistry, toxicology, molecular modeling, and liver tumor promotion of the toxins. Microcystis species are described in relation to morphological features, allozyme genotype, and toxin content. Seasonal changes of Microcystis population are described with special references to toxic species and composition of the toxins. Chemical characteristics of microcystins are reviewed and the process for identification of microcystins is described.

This outstanding volume provides an up-to-date overview of the advances in our knowledge of harmful cyanobacteria. An essential reference for all scientists and environmental professionals interested in cyanobacterial ecology and water management.

This outstanding volume provides an up-to-date overview of the advances in our knowledge of harmful cyanobacteria. An essential reference for all scientists and environmental professionals interested in cyanobacterial ecology and water management.

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.

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.

This volume focuses on the pharmacology, physiology, toxicology, chemistry, ecology and economics of seafood and freshwater toxins. It covers the biological aspects of the bloom, the effects and actions of each toxin with emphasis on human aspects, and the analytical and preparative options for neurotoxic, diarrhetic shellfish toxins, and hepatotoxic or neurotoxic freshwater cyanobacteria toxins.

The increasingly widespread production of toxins by marine and freshwater microalgae raises serious concerns regarding seafood and drinking water safety. This book compiles studies on the influence of climate change on the spreading of toxin-producing species in aquatic systems. The chemistry and biology of toxin production is revised and an outlook on control and prevention of the toxins' impact on human and animal health is given.

This project addressed a need for a sensitive, accurate and reliable testing method to aid assessment of the toxicity of algal blooms and assist water management. Increasingly, diagnostic dilemmas are resolved through the use of DNA-based technologies which often provide high sensitivity and specificity and are efficient both in terms of costs and time. However to date, no such test was available to the Victorian water industries. This project sought to bridge this gap by developing an automated DNA-based diagnostic assay for cyanobacterial bloom assessment blooms in Victorian waters. The assay exceeds expectation in its ability to accurately quantify levels of toxigenic cyanobacteria in bloom samples, retains exceptionally high specificity and sensitivity and each assay out-performs common conventional PCR approaches established in the literature. Four toxigen assays (microcystin, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin) were designed, tested and optimised. This book is co-published with Water Research Australia Authors: Aaron Jex, Louise Baker and Raechel Littman, University of Melbourne

Considers the features common to bacteria that need light to grow, focusing on those features important in nature and useful in industrial applications. Because the species are scattered across the taxonomic chart, they have little in common except the physiology of photosynthesis and ecological dis

This is the first book on toxic chemicals that puts a special focus on chemical weapons and bioterrorism. Leading experts provide up-to-date pharmacological and toxicological information on chemical warfare agents, industrial chemicals, environmental toxins, metalloid and an array of miscellaneous agents including their mechanism of toxicity. Also discussed are a number of antidotes, which are being used, or currently being investigated, for the treatments of the common toxicants.