Cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms in the UK: a review of the current situation and potential management options

Abstract

The present work investigates the effect of plasticizers on the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin. After the curing behavior analysis, several compositions based on UP resin and different amounts of plasticizers are studied. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, elongation at break, impact strength, critical stress intensity factor, hardness as well as glass transition temperature are evaluated as functions of plasticizer content. The results obtained reveal that the impact resistance is maximally improved by approximately 65 and 55%, when 5 and 15 phr dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and tricresyl phosphate (TCP), respectively, are added. The enhancement is more pronounced for the critical stress intensity factor. However, a decrease in hardness and glass transition temperature, but an increase in elongation at break are noticed as expected. In general, TCP compositions exhibit better mechanical properties when compared to that containing DOP.

Analysis of Microcystins in Cyanobacterial Blooms from Freshwater Bodies in England

“…In relation to potential health effects, 29% and 13% of water samples were found to exceed the low and medium probability health alert thresholds for recreational water (2.0 and 20 μg/L), respectively. The results therefore demonstrate a significant risk to humans and animals accessing recreational waters, which could potentially increase in the future with predicted changes to climatic change, in particular, temperature and rainfall patterns [ 2 , 8 , 13 , 20 ].…”

“…Within this broad classification of organisms there exists a range of species which can cause problems for humans, via mechanical clogging of filter equipment [ 3 ], creation of hypoxic water bodies leading to death of aquatic organisms [ 2 ], reduction in recreation and tourism [ 4 ] and via the production of toxins capable of affecting humans directly [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Factors influencing cyanobacteria growth include light intensity, water temperature and nutrient (phosphate and nitrate) availability [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], with the latter typically resulting from increased levels of precipitation linked to agricultural and industrial nutrient run-off promoting eutrophication [ 12 ]. Of those genera of cyanobacteria containing species known to produce toxins, Microcystis occurs commonly around the globe with issues caused by toxic Microcystis having been reported from Australia, Brazil, China, Portugal, Sweden and the USA [ 4 , 5 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] amongst others.…”

“…Of those genera of cyanobacteria containing species known to produce toxins, Microcystis occurs commonly around the globe with issues caused by toxic Microcystis having been reported from Australia, Brazil, China, Portugal, Sweden and the USA [ 4 , 5 , 11 , 12 , 13 ] amongst others. In the UK, in addition to Microcystis spp., other cyanobacteria genera were reported, including Oscillatoria , Plantothrix , Anabaeana , Pseudoanabaena , Aphanizomenon , Snowella and Gomphospaeria [ 8 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Climate Change Impact on Water Quality: Model Results from Southern Sweden

“…Also, they forecast that the late summer period dominated by cyanobacteria, heterotrophic production, and smaller zooplankton will be extended and more important for the pelagic food web. Increased cyanobacteria production is considered to be a threat to water quality and may limit future water use (40). In BIOLA, the higher temperature increases the growth rate for both phytoplankton and cyanobacteria in the model.…”

Cyanobacterial Abundance and Microcystin Profiles in Two Southern British Lakes: The Importance of Abiotic and Biotic Interactions

“…At lake 2, on the 3 occasions where the UK threshold action limits were exceeded, less than 8.5% of the estimated cyanobacterial populations comprised Microcystis cells. In a review of cyanobacterial bloom taxa in the UK, Howard et al [ 33 ] recorded that the dominant species in addition to Microcystis spp., were Oscillatoria, Planktothrix, Anabaena, Pseudanabaena, and Gomphosphaeria. The dominance of these species amongst phytoplankton communities in samples from natural lakes and reservoirs has been subsequently confirmed in England and Wales [ 10 , 34 ] and Scotland [ 17 ].…”