USGS Study Identifies Factors Related to Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms
An algal bloom on a Lake Erie beach located in Maumee Bay State Park
A map of Ohio showing the locations of recreational areas sampled
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists identified water-quality and environmental factors related to cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms at beaches in Ohio. This information was collected as part of a long-term plan to develop site-specific predictive models for microcystin concentrations.
Harmful cyanobacterial "algal" blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are water quality issues for Lake Erie and inland lakes in Ohio. Prediction of algal toxin levels resulting from cyanoHABs in recreational waters is important to advise swimmers and boaters about potentially dangerous conditions. Although, models have been used successfully at Lake Erie beaches for predicting E. coli concentrations as part of the Ohio Nowcast, there are no nowcasts (estimates of current conditions) for predicting cyanoHAB toxin levels.
Scientists identified the most relevant chemical and environmental factors that were related to microcystin concentrations. Water-quality and environmental factors were measured at seven recreational areas in Ohio during 2013‒2014. Water samples were collected weekly to monthly and analyzed for microcystin, nutrients, cyanobacterial genes, and phytoplankton community structure.
Factors were identified that best explained microsystin concentrations in two types of models:
- Models that include easily or continuously measured factors and available environmental data that require no sample collection (real-time based models), and
- models that that include sample collection and analyses along with real-time measurements (comprehensive models).
Measurements of phycocyanin (a pigment produced by cyanobacteria), water clarity, pH of the water, streamflow from a nearby river, and lake level changes over 24 hours were among the factors for real-time models that best explained observed variations in microcystin concentrations. For comprehensive models, dissolved and total nitrogen or phosphorus, cyanobacterial genes (by molecular methods), and measures of the cyanobacterial community were among the best factors to estimate microcystin concentrations.
Environmental Health Considerations
Predicting when and where a cyanoHAB may occur is important to protect the public that uses and consumes a water resource. The significant factors identified in this study and ongoing studies are part of a long-term strategy to understand the factors related to cyanoHABs. The information and models generated as part of this long-term approach can provide real-time warning of cyanoHAB events needed for management of recreational use and drinking water quality.
The study was funded in part by the USGS Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology) of the Ecosystems Mission Area in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority, University of Toledo, Clermont County Soil and Water Conservation District, Erie County Health Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
More Information
- National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee
- Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water—A Guide to Their Public Health Consequences, Monitoring and Management: World Health Organization
- National Plan for Algal Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms—HARRNESS: Harmful Algal Research and Response National Environmental Science Strategy 2005–2015.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Science Team
New Guide to Help Identify Harmful Algal Blooms
U.S. Geological Survey Scientists Complete First Systematic Regional Survey of Algal Toxins in Streams of the Southeastern United States
Algal Blooms Consistently Produce Complex Mixtures of Cyanotoxins and Co-Occur with Taste-and-Odor Causing Compounds in 23 Midwestern Lakes
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists identified water-quality and environmental factors related to cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms at beaches in Ohio. This information was collected as part of a long-term plan to develop site-specific predictive models for microcystin concentrations.
Harmful cyanobacterial "algal" blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are water quality issues for Lake Erie and inland lakes in Ohio. Prediction of algal toxin levels resulting from cyanoHABs in recreational waters is important to advise swimmers and boaters about potentially dangerous conditions. Although, models have been used successfully at Lake Erie beaches for predicting E. coli concentrations as part of the Ohio Nowcast, there are no nowcasts (estimates of current conditions) for predicting cyanoHAB toxin levels.
Scientists identified the most relevant chemical and environmental factors that were related to microcystin concentrations. Water-quality and environmental factors were measured at seven recreational areas in Ohio during 2013‒2014. Water samples were collected weekly to monthly and analyzed for microcystin, nutrients, cyanobacterial genes, and phytoplankton community structure.
Factors were identified that best explained microsystin concentrations in two types of models:
- Models that include easily or continuously measured factors and available environmental data that require no sample collection (real-time based models), and
- models that that include sample collection and analyses along with real-time measurements (comprehensive models).
Measurements of phycocyanin (a pigment produced by cyanobacteria), water clarity, pH of the water, streamflow from a nearby river, and lake level changes over 24 hours were among the factors for real-time models that best explained observed variations in microcystin concentrations. For comprehensive models, dissolved and total nitrogen or phosphorus, cyanobacterial genes (by molecular methods), and measures of the cyanobacterial community were among the best factors to estimate microcystin concentrations.
Environmental Health Considerations
Predicting when and where a cyanoHAB may occur is important to protect the public that uses and consumes a water resource. The significant factors identified in this study and ongoing studies are part of a long-term strategy to understand the factors related to cyanoHABs. The information and models generated as part of this long-term approach can provide real-time warning of cyanoHAB events needed for management of recreational use and drinking water quality.
The study was funded in part by the USGS Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology) of the Ecosystems Mission Area in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority, University of Toledo, Clermont County Soil and Water Conservation District, Erie County Health Department, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
More Information
- National Harmful Algal Bloom Committee
- Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water—A Guide to Their Public Health Consequences, Monitoring and Management: World Health Organization
- National Plan for Algal Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms—HARRNESS: Harmful Algal Research and Response National Environmental Science Strategy 2005–2015.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.