Dissertation
Detection of the Cyanotoxin, Microcystin, in Seafood: Puget Sound, Washington
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/118465
Abstract
Harmful algae blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria (or blue green algae) constitute a persistent worldwide water quality problem. Cultural eutrophication creates conditions that favor HABs in aquatic systems. Cyanobacteria-derived toxins (cyanotoxins) can kill or sicken people, livestock, and wildlife, disrupt aquatic food webs, reduce fishery productivity, and cause severe aesthetic impacts. Climatic changes are expected to exacerbate HAB growth, while expanding human populations will exert greater demands for water resources. Yet, only minimal research is extant, even for the most dangerous HAB toxins, such as microcystins (MCs), a group of potent liver toxins. There is growing evidence that bioaccumulation of MC in seafood and resulting food borne contamination poses a significant health risk. Recent work has shown freshwater MCs are entering marine environments constituting a potentially major pathway for human exposure. In regions such as Puget Sound, Washington, there is concern that MCs are accumulating in marine bivalves exposed to the toxin from freshwater sources. There is currently no standard, rapid or reliable method for detecting MCs in seafood, so the exposure pathway and corresponding risk to human health is poorly understood. I compared several extraction methods and two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to develop a consistent and reliable method for detecting MC in seafood. This method combined with LC-MS/MS was used to determine Puget Sound Mussels are exposed to MC from freshwater sources. Presence of MCs in Puget Sound mussels suggests other seafood is also likely exposed to MCs and human exposure to the toxin is likely. This work highlights the connectivity between freshwater and marine ecosystems and reinforces the importance of lake nutrient reduction and management efforts. Future work must focus on the role of MC in food webs and the resulting foodborne contamination.
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Details
- Title
- Detection of the Cyanotoxin, Microcystin, in Seafood: Puget Sound, Washington
- Creators
- Ellen P Preece
- Contributors
- Barry C Moore (Advisor)Marc Beutel (Committee Member)Gary Thorgaard (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 108
- Identifiers
- 99900581528001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation