Article

Strategies for monitoring and managing mass populations of toxic cyanobacteria in recreational waters: a multi-interdisciplinary approach

Details

Citation

Tyler A, Hunter P, Carvalho L, Codd G, Elliott JA, Ferguson CA, Hanley N, Hopkins D, Maberly SC, Mearns KJ & Scott EM (2009) Strategies for monitoring and managing mass populations of toxic cyanobacteria in recreational waters: a multi-interdisciplinary approach. Environmental Health, 8 (Suppl 1), p. S11. http://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/S1/S11; https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-8-S1-S11

Abstract
Mass populations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria commonly develop in fresh-, brackish- and marine waters and effective strategies for monitoring and managing cyanobacterial health risks are required to safeguard animal and human health. A multi-interdisciplinary study, including two UK freshwaters with a history of toxic cyanobacterial blooms, was undertaken to explore different approaches for the identification, monitoring and management of potentially-toxic cyanobacteria and their associated risks. The results demonstrate that (i) cyanobacterial bloom occurrence can be predicted at a local- and national-scale using process-based and statistical models; (ii) cyanobacterial concentration and distribution in waterbodies can be monitored using remote sensing, but minimum detection limits need to be evaluated; (iii) cyanotoxins may be transferred to spray-irrigated root crops; and (iv) attitudes and perceptions towards risks influence the public's preferences and willingness-to-pay for cyanobacterial health risk reductions in recreational waters.

Journal
Environmental Health: Volume 8, Issue Suppl 1

StatusPublished
Publication date31/12/2009
Publication date online21/12/2009
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/2466
PublisherBioMed Central
Publisher URLhttp://www.ehjournal.net/content/8/S1/S11

People (2)

People

Dr Peter Hunter

Dr Peter Hunter

SIEC/Forth-ERA Science Director, Scotland's International Environment Centre

Professor Andrew Tyler

Professor Andrew Tyler

Scotland Hydro Nation Chair, Biological and Environmental Sciences