A review on cylindrospermopsin: the global occurrence, detection, toxicity and degradation of a potent cyanotoxin

Abstract

Cylindrospermopsin is an important cyanobacterial toxin found in water bodies worldwide. The ever-increasing and global occurrence of massive and prolonged blooms of cylindrospermopsin-producing cyanobacteria poses a potential threat to both human and ecosystem health. Its toxicity is associated with metabolic activation and may involve mechanisms that adversely affect a wide variety of targets in an organism. Cylindrospermopsin has been shown to be cytotoxic, dermatotoxic, genotoxic, hepatotoxic in vivo, developmentally toxic, and may be carcinogenic. Human exposure may occur through drinking water, during recreational activities and by consuming foods in which the toxin may have bioaccumulated. Drinking water shortages of sufficient quality coupled with growing human pressures and climate variability and change necessitate an integrated and sustainable water management program. This review presents an overview of the importance of cylindrospermopsin, its detection, toxicity, worldwide distribution, and lastly, its chemical and biological degradation and removal by natural processes and drinking water treatment processes.

Cyanotoxins in inland lakes of the United States: Occurrence and potential recreational health risks in the EPA National Lakes Assessment 2007

“…(Stü ken et al, 2009;de la Cruz et al, 2013). Cylindrospermopsins are cytotoxic, but have also been indicated as having genotoxic, hepatoxic, and possible carcinogenic effects (de la Cruz et al, 2013).…”

“…Mouse toxicology studies have reported LD 50 's via i.p. injection for cylindrospermopsins as 2100 mg cylindrospermopsin/kg bw for acute toxicity (24 h exposure) and 200 mg cylindrospermopsin/kg bw after 5 days cumulative exposure, respectively (Ohtani et al, 1992) (with further data summarized Chorus and Bartram, 1999;de la Cruz et al, 2013).…”

“…Cyanotoxins occur with varying frequency, environmental persistence, and impact on humans, companion animals, livestock, and ecosystems (Chorus and Bartram, 1999;de la Cruz et al, 2013;Beaver et al, 2014;Hilborn and Beasley, 2015). Most studies have focused on microcystins; however, there are several other classes of cyanotoxins that can have adverse environmental health effects including anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, nodularins, and saxitoxins.…”

“…Microcystins have also been detected in human blood serum after exposure (Soares et al, 2006;Yuan et al, 2006;Chen et al, 2009). Vulnerable populations can be more susceptible to cyanotoxin-associated illnesses, and death may result in extreme cases such as dialysis using improperly treated water (Pouria et al, 1998;Azevedo et al, 2002;de la Cruz et al, 2013;Hilborn et al, 2013Hilborn et al, , 2014.…”

Advanced Oxidation Processes of Problematic Toxin and Water Contaminants: Cylindrospermopsin, Iopamidol, 4-methylcyclohexane Methanol and Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether

“…Seventy percent of HABs can produce potent toxins, which pose a tremendous risk to humans and the environment (de la Cruz et al 2013, Liu et al 2015. Cyanobacteria can produce a range of cyanotoxins, one of the most problematic cyanotoxins in drinking water is cylindrospermopsin (CYN), an alkaloid hepatotoxin with uracil ring, tricyclic guanidine and sulfate group (Fig.…”