Cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins) were measured weekly from Joliet Park and Bay Beach, two shoreline locations in the large, shallow, and eutrophic embayment of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in Green Bay are fueled by persistent nutrient pollution from point and nonpoint sources including wastewater effluent and agriculture. Cyanotoxins were compared to chemical, physical, and biological parameters to capture the spatial and temporal variability of cyanotoxins in the Bay, with a focus at a proposed recreational beach site at the Bay Beach Amusement Park. Raw water samples were preserved and filtered on site. Cyanotoxins were detected from lyophilized water samples using LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization. Seventeen different cyanotoxins were targeted, including five microcystins (MCLR, MCYR, MCRR, MCLA, and dmMCLR), nodularin, anabaenopeptins (A, B, F), cyanopeptolins (1007, 1041, 1020), and microginin-690, along with the neurotoxins anatoxin-A, homo-anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsin. Nutrient concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, along with chlorophyll-a, and phycocyanin were measured using spectrophotometry. Over the duration of all sampling episodes, the concentration of MCLR exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional drinking water guideline of 1.0 µg/L by 44% at Bay Beach (BB) and 50% at Joliet Park (JP). The average total of all microcystin congeners was 2.36 µg/L (BB) and 2.32 µg/L (JP). The average total of bioactive peptides was 2.54 µg/L (BB) and 3.46 µg/L (JP). Neurotoxins were not detected in either locations. The average total of particulate phosphorus was 0.106 mg/L (BB) and 0.900 mg/L (JP), while no nitrite was detected at either site. The average concentrations of chlorophyll were 47.0 µg/L (BB) and 56.6 µg/L (JP). Phycocyanin concentrations were determined to be 43.6 µg/L (BB) and 104 µg/L (JP). Environmental and nutrient parameters were correlated with toxin concentrations to indicate if a recreational beach would be advisable at the Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin.<br/>

Algal toxin dynamics and environmental indicators in Green Bay, Wisconsin

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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