Are harmful algal blooms becoming the greatest inland water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems?

Abstract

Abstract-In this Focus article, the authors ask a seemingly simple question: Are harmful algal blooms (HABs) becoming the greatest inland water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems? When HAB events require restrictions on fisheries, recreation, and drinking water uses of inland water bodies significant economic consequences result. Unfortunately, the magnitude, frequency, and duration of HABs in inland waters are poorly understood across spatiotemporal scales and differentially engaged among states, tribes, and territories. Harmful algal bloom impacts are not as predictable as those from conventional chemical contaminants, for which water quality assessment and management programs were primarily developed, because interactions among multiple natural and anthropogenic factors determine the likelihood and severity to which a HAB will occur in a specific water body. These forcing factors can also affect toxin production. Beyond site-specific water quality degradation caused directly by HABs, the presence of HAB toxins can negatively influence routine surface water quality monitoring, assessment, and management practices. Harmful algal blooms present significant challenges for achieving water quality protection and restoration goals when these toxins confound interpretation of monitoring results and environmental quality standards implementation efforts for other chemicals and stressors. Whether HABs presently represent the greatest threat to inland water quality is debatable, though in inland waters of developed countries they typically cause more severe acute impacts to environmental quality than conventional chemical contamination events. The authors identify several timely research needs. Environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, and risk-assessment expertise must interface with ecologists, engineers, and public health practitioners to engage the complexities of HAB assessment and management, to address the forcing factors for HAB formation, and to reduce the threats posed to inland surface water quality. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:6-13. # 2015 SETAC

Cyanobacterial carbon concentrating mechanisms facilitate sustained CO<sub>2</sub> depletion in eutrophic lakes

“…Cyanobacteria blooms resulting from anthropogenic eutrophication are among the greatest current threats to inland water ecosystems, altering carbon cycling and ecosystem function, impairing water quality, and endangering human health (Brooks et al, 2016;Paerl et al, 2011;Visser et al, 2016). Forecasting models and macrosystem-scale analyses suggest that the occurrence of blooms is driven by the interactive effects of land use, nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus), climate, weather, and in-lake processes (Anneville et al, 2015;Michalak et al, 2013;Persaud et al, 2015;Rigosi et al, 2014).…”

“…Forecasting models and macrosystem-scale analyses suggest that the occurrence of blooms is driven by the interactive effects of land use, nutrient inputs (nitrogen and phosphorus), climate, weather, and in-lake processes (Anneville et al, 2015;Michalak et al, 2013;Persaud et al, 2015;Rigosi et al, 2014). Mechanisms determining variability in the timing and duration of these events in lakes, however, remain poorly understood (Brooks et al, 2016)…”

Monitoring Biological and Chemical Trends in Temperate Still Waters Using Citizen Science

“…Eutrophic conditions, a precursor to algal blooms are distinguishing component of the urban stream (urban stream syndrome) [58,59]. This study indicates that it is a characteristic of urban ponds, contributing to the global issue, often associated to lakes [60,61].…”

Asociación de floraciones de algas nocivas y Vibrio spp. en áreas de pesca y acuicultura de bivalvos de moluscos en las bahías de Sechura y Pisco, Perú

“…Se han señalado las interacciones como la combinación de vientos, surgencias, frentes de densidad, concentraciones de nutrientes o alteraciones antropogénicas (Alonso & Ochoa 2004, Buschmann 2005, Pitcher et al 1998, Ryan et al 2009, Kudela et al 2005. La intensidad y distribución geográfica de las floraciones algales causadas por dinoflagelados y diatomeas han aumentado en las últimas décadas, asociadas a cambios climáticos locales o globales (Wells et al 2015, Klais et al 2011, Hinder et al 2012, Edwards et al 2006, Reguera 2002, Hallegraeff 1993; así como también el incremento de los reportes de casos de intoxicación humana y graves pérdidas económicas en la industria pesquera (Brooks et al 2016, Sanseverino et al 2016, Berdalet et al 2015, Ferrante et al 2013, Anderson et al 2002, Anderson et al 2000. Además, el estrés antropogénico produce cambios que aumentan la diversidad de comunidades bacterianas marinas y la variabilidad temporal (Davidson et al 2014, Anderson et al 2008, Nogales et al 2011).…”