Co-occurrence of the Cyanotoxins BMAA, DABA and Anatoxin-a in Nebraska Reservoirs, Fish, and Aquatic Plants

Toxins

Maitham Ahmed Al-Sammak¹  Kyle D. Hoagland³  David Cassada² 

[1] Environmental Health, Occupational Health, & Toxicology, Tropical Biological Researches Unit, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10071, Iraq; E-Mail:;Nebraska Water Center and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; E-Mail:;School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: BMAA;    DABA;    anatoxin-a;    cyanobacteria;    cyanotoxins;    fish;    plants;    fresh water;   

DOI  :  10.3390/toxins6020488

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Several groups of microorganisms are capable of producing toxins in aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria are prevalent blue green algae in freshwater systems, and many species produce cyanotoxins which include a variety of chemical irritants, hepatotoxins and neurotoxins. Production and occurrence of potent neurotoxic cyanotoxins β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid dihydrochloride (DABA), and anatoxin-a are especially critical with environmental implications to public and animal health. Biomagnification, though not well understood in aquatic systems, is potentially relevant to both human and animal health effects. Because little is known regarding their presence in fresh water, we investigated the occurrence and potential for bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins in several Nebraska reservoirs. Collection and analysis of 387 environmental and biological samples (water, fish, and aquatic plant) provided a snapshot of their occurrence. A sensitive detection method was developed using solid phase extraction (SPE) in combination with high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC/FD) with confirmation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). HPLC/FD detection limits ranged from 5 to 7 µg/L and LC/MS/MS detection limits were <0.5 µg/L, while detection limits for biological samples were in the range of 0.8–3.2 ng/g depending on the matrix. Based on these methods, measurable levels of these neurotoxic compounds were detected in approximately 25% of the samples, with detections of BMAA in about 18.1%, DABA in 17.1%, and anatoxin-a in 11.9%.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.