Skip to main content
Log in

Identification of microcystins contamination in surface water samples from the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Physicochemical and biological parameters related to water quality and microcystins (MCs) contamination in aquatic environment of the Three Gorges Reservoir were investigated in August 2004 and January 2005. A solid-phase extraction method and an HPLC equipped with photodiode array were used for MC-LR detection. A quantitative analysis showed the total MC-LR concentrations of water samples ranged from non-detectable to 0.57 \(\upmu \)g L − 1 among the seven sampling sites. The highest MC-LR concentration was found at sampling site G (Wushan), which was followed by F (Kaixian), E (Wanzhou), D (Fuling), C (Cuntan), and A (Daxigou). The correlation analysis showed the MC-LR concentration was positively correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration. This result suggests that MC concentration in water can be indirectly estimated by analyzing the chlorophyll-a concentration. Overall, the results of this study suggest that more importance should be placed on monitoring of MC contamination and water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir to ensure drinking water safety and reduce the potential exposure of people to these health hazards.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carmichael, W. W., Azevedo, S. M. F. O., An, J. S., & Molica, R. J. R. (2001). Human fatalities from cyanobacteria: Chemical and biological evidence for cyanotoxins. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109, 663–668.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. A., Luo, J., Qiu, Z., Xu, C., Huang, Y., Jin, Y. H., et al. (2008). PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs in water samples from the Three Gorge Reservoir. Chemosphere, 70, 1545–1551.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. W., Qin, B. Q., & Gao, X. Y. (2001). Prediction of blue-green algae bloom using stepwise multiple regression between algae and related environmental factors in Meiliang Bay, Lake Taihu. Journal of Lake Sciences, 13, 63–71.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. W., Qin, B. Q., Teubner, K., & Dokulil, M. T. (2003). Long-term dynamics of phytoplankton assembles: Microcystis-domination in Lake Taihu, a large shallow lake in China. Journal of Plankton Research, 25, 445–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chorus, I. (2001). Cyanotoxin occurrence in freshwaters—A summary of survey results from different countries. In I. Chorus (Ed.), Cyanotoxins: Occurrence, causes, consequences (pp. 75–78). Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chorus, I., & Bartram, J. (1999). Toxic cyanobacteria in water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management (pp. 41–111). London: Spoon.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson, J. E., Toivola, D., Meriluoto, J. A., Karaki, H., Han, Y. G., & Hartshorne, D. (1990). Hepatocyte deformation induced by cyanobacterial toxins reflects inhibition of protein phosphatases. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 173, 1347–1353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, I., Bartram, J., Chorus, I., Kuiper-Goodman, T., Utkilen, H., & Burch, M. (1999). Safe levels and safe practices. In I. Chorus, & J. Bartram (Eds.), Toxic cyanobacteria in water: A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management (pp. 41–111). London: E & FN Spon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, I. R. (2005). Is there a human health hazard from microcystins in the drinking water supply? Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica, 33, 64–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, I. R., Smith, J. V., Jackson, A. R. B., Jones, A., & Runnegar, M. T. C. (1988). Oral toxicity of abloom of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa administered to mice over periods up to 1 year. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 24, 291–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gurbuz, F., Metcalf, J. S., Karahan, A. G., & Codd, G. A. (2009). Analysis of dissolved microcystins in surface water samples from Kovada Lake, Turkey. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 4038–4046.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harada, K. I., Matsuura, K., Suzuki, M., Oka, H., Watanabe, M. F., Oishi, S., et al. (1988). Analysis and purification of toxic peptides from cyanobacteria by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Journal of Chromatography, 448, 275–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, X. F. (2000). Survey, observation and analysis of lake ecology. Beijing: China Standard Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin, X. C. (2003). Analysis of eutrophication state and trend for lakes in China. Papers from Bolsena conference (2002). Residence time in lakes: Science, management, education. Journal of Limnology, 62, 60–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotut, K., Ballot, A., & Krienitz, L. (2006). Toxic cyanobacteria and their toxins in standing waters of Kenya: Implications for water resource use. Journal of Water and Health, 4, 233–245.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, L. A., & Robertson, P. K. J. (1999). Physico-chemical treatment methods for the removal of microcystins (cyanobacterial hepatotoxins) from potable waters. Chemical Society Reviews, 28, 217–224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meriluoto, J., & Codd, G. A. (2005). Toxic cyanobacterial monitoring and cyanotoxin analysis (p. 150). Finland: Abo Akademi University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishiwaki-Matsushima, R., Ohta, T., Nishiwaki, S., Suganuma, M., Kohyama, K., Ishikawa, T., et al. (1992). Liver tumor promotion by the cyanobacterial cyclic peptide toxin microcystin-LR. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 118, 420–424.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (1982). Eutrophication of waters: Monitoring, assessment and control. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivonen, K., & Jones, G. (1999). Cyanobacterial toxins. In I. Chorus, & J. Bartram (Eds.), Toxic cyanobacteria in water. A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management (pp. 41–111). WHO Ed. E & FN Spon.

  • Smith, V. H., Tilman, G. D., & Nekola, J. C. (1999). Eutrophication: Impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. Environmental Pollution, 100, 179–196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, X., Kong, F. X., Zeng, Q. F., Cao, H. S., Qian, S. Q., & Zhang, M. (2009). Seasonal variation of Microcystis in Lake Taihu and its relationships with environmental factors. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 21, 892–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuji, K., Naito, S., Kondo, F., Watanabe, M. F., Suzuki, S., Nakazawa, H., et al. (1994). A clean-up method for analysis of trace amounts of microcystins in lake water. Toxicon, 32, 1251–1259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1998). Cyanobacterial toxins: Microcystin-LR. In Guidelines for drinking-water quality (Addendum to Vol. 2, pp. 95–110). Geneva: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2004). Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Recommendations. Chemical fact sheets (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 407–408). Geneva: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S. K., Xie, P., Wang, S. B., & Zhou, Q. (2006). Changes in the patterns of inorganic nitrogen and TN/TP ratio and the associated mechanism of biological regulation in the shallow lakes of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Science in China (Seri. D), 49, 126–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, C., Shu, W. Q., & Cao, J. (2007). Microcystin contamination in aquatic environment and health hazard study in China. Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis and Mutagenesis (in Chinese), 19, 202–205.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zohary, T., & Robarts, R. D. (1990). Hyperscums and the population dynamics of Microcystis aeruginosa. Journal of Plankton Research, 12, 423–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-qun Shu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, C., Chen, Ja., Huang, Yj. et al. Identification of microcystins contamination in surface water samples from the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Environ Monit Assess 180, 77–86 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1773-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1773-0

Keywords

Navigation