Cyanobacteria-/cyanotoxin-contaminations and eutrophication status beforeWuxi Drinking Water Crisis in Lake Taihu, China
Yongmei Liu , Wei Chen , Dunhai Li , Zebo Huang , Yinwu Shen , Yongding Liu
DOI:
Received May 06, 2010,Revised September 10, 2010, Accepted , Available online
Volume 23,2011,Pages 575-581
- Summary
- References
- Related Articles
After the appalling “Wuxi DrinkingWater Crisis”, increasing investigations concerning the contaminations of cyanobacterial blooms
and their toxins in Lake Taihu have been performed and reported in the last two years. However, information regarding these issues
before the crisis in 2007 remained insu cient. To provide some background data for further comparisons, the present study reported
our investigations conducted in 2004, associated with the cyanotoxin contaminations as well as the eutrophication status in Lake
Taihu. Results from the one-year-study near a drinking water resource for Wuxi City indicated that, unlike the status in recent two
years, cyanobacteria and chlorophyta are the co-dominance species throughout the year. The highest toxin concentration (34.2 ng/mL)
in water columns occurred in August. In bloom biomass, the peak value of intracellular toxin (0.59 g/mg DW) was determined in
October, which was lag behind that in water column. In addition, MC-RR was the major toxin variant throughout the year. During the
study period, nutrients levels of total nitrogen and phosphorus were also recorded monthly. Results from the present study will lead to
a better understanding of the eutrophication status and the potential risks before “Wuxi Drinking Water Crisis”.
