Projects / Programmes
Ecotoxinology and Ecotoxicology
January 1, 1999
- April 30, 2002
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
|
| 1.05.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biochemistry and molecular biology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B260 |
Biomedical sciences |
Hydrobiology, marine biology, aquatic ecology, limnology |
| B230 |
Biomedical sciences |
Microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology |
| P310 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Proteins, enzymology |
| B700 |
Biomedical sciences |
Environmental health |
| B680 |
Biomedical sciences |
Public health, epidemiology |
| B270 |
Biomedical sciences |
Plant ecology |
Researchers (8)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0105 |
National Institute of Biology |
Ljubljana |
5055784 |
13,256 |
Abstract
Clean and safe water supplies are an essential component of environmental quality and human health. Water quality in reservoirs and other surface water bodies, especially in the north-eastern regions of Slovenia, is unacceptable, because cyanobacterial blooms occur periodically during summer and autumn. The growth of cyanobacteria is a result of elevated nutrient concentration. Nutrients, particularly phosphorous and nitrogen salts, originate from several sources such as run-off of fertilizer, livestock or human wastes. Alternatively, they can be released from bottom sediments, as in the lake Bled.
Cyanobacteria produce a broad range of biologically active substances. In addition to relatively harmless contact irritants and endotoxins, they are able to synthesize lethal neurotoxins and hepatotoxins. Microcystins, the most frequent cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, are known to be tumour promoting, tumour inducing and DNA damaging substances. Potentially toxic cyanobacteria have been found in the majority of our water bodies, with the exception of alpine lakes. The inspected blooms have been toxic in over 75% of cases, with a maximum value of 6 mg total microcystins per g of lyophilized cyanobacteria. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of toxins, have shown the presence of microcystins RR, -YR and -LR. Cyanobacterial blooms also contribute large amounts of organic material to the water. These substances may lead to the formation of tri-halo-methanes after chlorination. Recent findings have demonstrated that microcystins are able to penetrate the waterworks system.
Hazard characterization and risk assessment of these toxins in relation to human health requires the identification of possible exposure routes. These include the oral route, respiratory and skin passage exposure, and the circulatory system during haemodialysis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced for in vivo evaluation of changes in the liver due to exposure to hepatotoxins.
