Journal of
Public Health and Epidemiology

  • Abbreviation: J. Public Health Epidemiol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2316
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPHE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 655

Full Length Research Paper

Cyanobacteria and absence of cyanotoxins in a public water supply source

Ludmilla Santana Soares e Barros1*, Fagner Correia de Souza2, Lúcia Helena Sipaúba Tavares2 and Luiz Augusto do Amaral3
1Center of Agrarian, Environment and Biological Sciences (CCAAB) of UFRB, Cruz das Almas BA Brazil, 44380-000. 2UNESP Aquaculture Center, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal SP Brazil. 3Preventive Veterinarian Medicine and Animal Reproduction of FCAV/UNESP, 14884-900, Jaboticabal SP Brazil.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 September 2009
  •  Published: 31 October 2009

Abstract

Current analysis, involving measurements of biotic and abiotic factors, determined which factor favored cyanobacteria with subsequent concentrations of microcystins in water collected from a public water supply source during the dry and rainy periods and which received residual water from agricultural production systems. Since no microcystins were detected, waters fitted within the maximum limits of 1 mg.L-1 for MC-LR. Nevertheless, if aquiculture production systems are not properly administered, especially for the diet factor, great risks will exist in the contamination and pollution of fresh water. This fact may cause intoxication to the population that use the water and to the aquatic plants and animals which make it their habitat.

 

Key words: HPLC, nitrogen, organic matter, microcystins, phosphorus.