Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Dazaifu, Japan
Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Dazaifu, Japan
Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Dazaifu, Japan
Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Dazaifu, Japan
Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
2022 Volume 20 Issue 6 Pages 261-272
Cyanotoxins produced by blue-green algae in lakes are among the most serious threats to water quality worldwide. As global warming rapidly extends the locations and timing of blue-green algae blooms, a simple and accessible method for the detection and quantification of cyanotoxins in fresh water is increasingly necessary. Here, a quick, simple and accessible simultaneous analytical method for five cyanotoxins (cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, microcystin-RR, YR and LR) is reported. This method has three advantages. First, it does not require complicated operations, such as a concentration operation. Second, it employs an HPLC column without high pressure. Third, the use of stable isotope-labeled surrogates enables correct identification and precise quantification of cyanotoxins. The method was applied to the lakes of Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan, and four of the five above-named cyanotoxins (i.e., all but cylindrospermopsin) were detected. The limits of quantification were 20–43 ng/L, which were considerably lower than the WHO guideline values. The recovery levels were 97–104%. Microbial flora analysis revealed that the sources of anatoxin-a were Pseudanabaena limnetica and Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi, and the source of microcystins was the group A1 of Microcystis aeruginosa. This study provides a quick, easy and accessible method for the worldwide monitoring of cyanotoxin levels.