New Records of Microcystins in Some Bulgarian Water Bodies of Health and Conservational Importance

Vera Pavlova,Lisa Spoof,Desislav Donchev,Vesela Georgieva,Jussi Meriluoto,Zlatka Bratanova,Maya Stoyneva,Irina Karadjova

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2014.65044

Abstract

Microcystins cause acute hepatotoxicity and chronic liver tumor promotion. This study presents the results of HPLC DAD analyses and their LC-MS confirmation of samples from five Bulgarian water bodies (reservoirs Stoudena, Pchelina, Bistritsa and lakes Dourankoulak, Vaya). The total concentration of microcystins in water samples ranged from 0.1 to 26.5 μg/l. The amount of microcystins in the biomasses ranged from 11.4 to 49.6 μg/g (d.w.). The high percent of positive samples in which the most toxic microcystin-LR is recorded, can serve as a strong alarm for the necessity of a serious study and relevant discussion of the problem with responsible authorities at national level.

Highlights

Cyanoprokaryotic/cyanobacterial blooms in surface waters resulting generally from anthropogenic pollution with nitrogen and phosphorous are a well-known worldwide problem
The deepening of the problem itself and its higher admission are proved by the interesting fact that the first series of MC-investigations in Bulgaria, which started in 2004 and were carried out by our research group [8] [11] [12], were more recently followed by studies of another group [13]-[15]
The five studied water bodies are included with the following identification numbers: Stoudena-IBW1060, Pchelina-IBW 1039, Bistritsa-IBW 1067, Dourankoulak-IBW8825, Vaya-IBW0191 in the Bulgarian Wetlands Inventory [16], where more details on them can be seen

Summary

Introduction

Cyanoprokaryotic/cyanobacterial blooms in surface waters resulting generally from anthropogenic pollution with nitrogen and phosphorous are a well-known worldwide problem. In spite of the recognition of the problem of blooms and related potential presence of microcystins in Bulgarian waters [4]-[7], relevant studies on the topic are extremely scarce, as summarized in recent general papers on the biodiversity of Bulgarian wetlands [8]-[10]. All the surveys on the presence of MC in Bulgaria are concerning only particular water bodies and based generally on singular samplings. The aim of the present paper is to promote additional knowledge on the topic, which concerns the health of the population, and the so-called ecosystem health, and to outline the first incontestable checking for the nodularin in Bulgaria (despite its negative result)

Objectives

Methods

Results