Rapid Phycocyanin Fluorometry Predicts Elevated Microcystin Levels in Eutrophic Ohio Lakes

摘要

Current approaches for assessing human health risks associated with cyanotoxins often rely on the quantification of microcystin. Significant limitations of current approaches are cost and time to obtain a result. To address these challenges, a numerical index for screening microcystin risks above the World Health Organization's (WHO) low-risk threshold for microcystin was developed for eutrophic Midwestern U.S. lakes based on water quality results from 182 beach water samples collected from seven Ohio lakes. In 48 (26.4%) samples we observed microcystin concentrations as measured by ELISA that exceeded the 4 μg/L microcystin threshold. A multivariable logistic regression model using practical real-time measures of in vivo phycocyanin (by fluorometry) and secchi depth was constructed to estimate the probability of a beach sample exceeding 4 μg/L microcystin. The final model achieved statistical significance (p = 0.030) as well as good calibration and discrimination. These results demonstrate two rapid and practical measures of recreational water quality are effective in identifying "at risk" lake conditions warranting additional management (e.g., advisory and/or advanced testing).