Cyanobacterial blooms (often referred to as harmful algal blooms) and cyanotoxins produced from these blooms are an emerging threat to the safety of drinking water in the U.S. While some states have developed advisory levels regarding exposure to cyanotoxins, currently there are no federal or state regulations on cyanotoxins in water. Three cyanotoxins (microcystin-LR [MCLR], anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsin) are on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Contaminant Candidate List 3. The World Health Organization set a provisional guideline for MCLR in drinking water at 1 �g/L. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a reliable liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for cyanotoxins in water, (2) compare LC/MS/MS results with those obtained by the more commonly used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and (3) evaluate a cumulative sampling technique, Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) under controlled conditions.  An LC/MS/MS method was developed that detects five microcystin variants (MCLR, MCLA, MCYR, MCRR, MC-desmethylated-LR), nodularin, and anatoxin-a in water. More microcystin variants are being added that include MCLF, MCLW, and MCLY. Solid phase extraction was used to provide a concentration factor of 500. The minimum report limit for each analyte was 0.01 �g/L. ELISA was carried out using a commercially available microcystin kit, which detected total microcystins at 0.1 �g/L, but did not differentiate individual variants. Cyanotoxins-spiked Colorado River Water and California State Project Water samples were analyzed by both LC/MS/MS and ELISA, and results were compared. Sampling techniques such as SPATT and sample preservation methods were evaluated and quality control protocols were incorporated into the methods. This study provides reliable methodologies for cyanotoxin analysis in water. These methods are needed by drinking water utilities and regulatory agencies to ensure high quality monitoring data and effective cyanotoxin management strategies.

Analysis of cyanotoxins in water by LC/MS/MS and ELISA

248th National Meeting (2014)

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