Assessment of Blue-Green Algal Toxins in Raw and Finished Drinking Water

208 Pages·2000·1.3 MB·English

by  Wayne W. Carmichael

Assessment of
Blue-Green Algal
Toxins in Raw
and Finished
Drinking Water
Subject Area:
Monitoring
and Analysis

Assessment of
Blue-Green Algal
Toxins in Raw
and Finished
Drinking Water
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
The mission of the AWWA Research Foundation (AWWARF) is to advance the science of
water to improve the quality of life. Funded primarily through annual subscription
payments from over 1,000 utilities, consulting firms, and manufacturers in North America
and abroad, AWWARF sponsors research on all aspects of drinking water, including
supply and resources, treatment, monitoring and analysis, distribution, management, and
health effects.
From its headquarters in Denver, Colorado, the AWWARF staff directs and supports the
efforts of over 500 volunteers, who are the heart of the research program. These
volunteers, serving on various boards and committees, use their expertise to select and
monitor research studies to benefit the entire drinking water community.
Research findings are disseminated through a number of technology transfer activities,
including research reports, conferences, videotape summaries, and periodicals.
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
Assessment of
Blue-Green Algal
Toxins in Raw
and Finished
Drinking Water
Prepared by:
Wayne W. Carmichael
Department of Biological Sciences
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435
Sponsored by:
AWWA Research Foundation
6666 W. Quincy Avenue
Denver, CO 80235-3098
Published by the
AWWA Research Foundation and
American Water Works Association
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER
This study was funded by the AWWA Research Foundation (AWWARF). The comments and views detailed herein
may not necessarily reflect the views of the AWWA Research Foundation, its officers, directors, affiliates, or agents.
AWWARF assumes no responsibility for the content of the research study reported in this publication or for the
opinions or statements of fact expressed in the report. The mention of trade names for commercial products
does not represent or imply the approval or endorsement of AWWARF. This report is presented solely
for informational purposes.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Carmichael, Wayne W.
Assessment of blue-green algal toxins in raw and finished drinking water / prepared by
Wayne W. Carmichael.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-58321-076-8
1. Cyanobacterial toxins. 2. Drinking water--Microbiology. I. Title.
QP632.C87 C374 2000
’
628.161--dc21 00-046901
Copyright © 2000
by
AWWA Research Foundation
and
American Water Works Association
Printed in the U.S.A.
ISBN 1-58321-076-8 Printed on recycled paper.
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... xi
FOREWORD............................................................................................................................. xiii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................... xv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................... xvii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 1
Types of Toxic Cyanobacteria........................................................................................... 1
General Diagnosis of a Toxic Cyanobacteria Episode...................................................... 2
Structure and Activity of Cyanotoxins.............................................................................. 3
Microcystins and Nodularins—The Hepatotoxins................................................ 3
Anatoxins and Paralytic Shellfish Poisons—The Neurotoxins............................. 5
Detection of Cyanotoxins.................................................................................................. 6
Acute and Lethal Exposures to Cyanotoxins..................................................................... 8
Case Report of Human Deaths From Intravenous Exposure to Microcystins..... 10
Chronic Studies of Cyanotoxins: Implications for Humans............................................ 12
Risk Assessment.............................................................................................................. 13
Risk Associated With Drinking Water................................................................ 14
Calculation of Risk for Microcystins in Drinking Water Supplies...................... 15
Summary.......................................................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER 2: METHODS AND MATERIALS......................................................................... 23
Project Schedule .............................................................................................................. 23
Expected Outcome of the Study...................................................................................... 23
Project Team Members.................................................................................................... 23
Utility Participants........................................................................................................... 24
Procedure for Utility Code Names and Anonymity............................................. 24
Listing of Utilities................................................................................................ 24
Core Utility Participants (December 1996 to December 1997)........................... 24
v
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
Guidance Documents for Utilities................................................................................... 25
Background Information...................................................................................... 25
Memorandum of Understanding.......................................................................... 25
Fact Sheet............................................................................................................. 25
Procedure for Sample Collection and Processing............................................................ 25
Preproject Information From Utilities................................................................. 25
Collection and Shipment of Samples by the Utilities.......................................... 26
Sample Handling Procedure for Wright State University ................................... 33
Utility Sampling Report Forms........................................................................................ 33
Report Form for Wright State University............................................................ 33
Report Form for University of Wisconsin........................................................... 33
Report Form for Metropolitan Water District of Southern California................. 34
AWWARF Algal Toxins Project Address List.................................................... 34
Procedure for ELISA and PPIA Analysis........................................................................ 34
Principles of Direct Competitive ELISA............................................................. 34
Procedure for Direct Competitive ELISA ........................................................... 35
ELISA of Utility Water Samples......................................................................... 36
Protein Phosphatase Inhibition Assay.................................................................. 36
Procedure for Taste and Odor Testing............................................................................. 38
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................................................................... 43
Utility Participation.......................................................................................................... 43
Preliminary Data for Microcystin Analyses.................................................................... 44
Quality Assurance Points................................................................................................. 44
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Results.............................................................. 45
Generation of Standard Curve............................................................................. 46
Calculation of Microcystin in Water Samples..................................................... 46
Protein Phosphatase Inhibition Assay Results................................................................. 46
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analyses.................................................... 47
Taste and Odor Results for Utilities................................................................................ 48
Water Treatment Type and Removal of Toxin/Taste and Odor...................................... 48
vi
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER 4: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS................................................................. 103
CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS TO UTILITIES......................................................... 107
APPENDIX A: LISTING OF UTILITIES................................................................................ 109
APPENDIX B: GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS FOR UTILITIES.............................................. 121
APPENDIX C: PREPROJECT INFORMATION FROM UTILITIES.................................... 125
APPENDIX D: AWWARF ALGAL TOXINS PROJECT ADDRESS LIST........................... 129
APPENDIX E: MONTHLY LISTING OF MICROCYSTIN BY ELISA
PLUS T&O RESULTS........................................................................................................ 133
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................... 171
ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................................... 177
vii
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.
© 2000 AwwaRF and AWWA. All rights reserved.