Strategies to manage toxic cyanobacetrial blooms in lakes: remote sensing, modelling and cost benefit analysis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Biological and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) commonly produce mass populations in UK still- and slow-moving freshwaters. They may generate toxins which present health risks to humans and animals via ingestion and skin contact. Not all cyanobacterial blooms produce toxins, and the presence of toxins can only be confirmed by collecting samples and taking them to the laboratory. From a public health perspective monitoring has been largely reactionary and not proactive and little early warning capability exists However, recent developments in remote sensing techniques have shown promise in the rapid (and reliable) detection of blooms. This proposal is designed to develop and evaluate an approach based on remote sensing (RS) to providing early warning of toxic cyanobacterial development to protect health within a risk assessment framework. Calibration of the (RS) procedure would be carried out using actual cyanotoxin analysis at 2 high-resource UK freshwaters with a history of annual bloom production. The proposal builds on existing modelling work to develop a hazard assessment tool to identify likely water bodies that may pose a hazard from the production toxic cyanobacteria and model the influence of climate change on potentially toxic cyanobacteria production in lakes. A critical question relates to understanding the environmental factors leading to cyanotoxin production and this is addressed within the proposal. The human health risk from direct and indirect exposure to the toxins is addressed along with cost-benefit analysis of monitoring for toxic blooms.
Publications

ALEX ELLIOTT J
(2007)
The sensitivity of phytoplankton in Loch Leven (U.K.) to changes in nutrient load and water temperature
in Freshwater Biology

ELLIOTT J
(2010)
The seasonal sensitivity of Cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton to changes in flushing rate and water temperature
in Global Change Biology

Hunter P
(2010)
Hyperspectral remote sensing of cyanobacterial pigments as indicators for cell populations and toxins in eutrophic lakes
in Remote Sensing of Environment

Hunter PD
(2012)
The effect of risk perception on public preferences and willingness to pay for reductions in the health risks posed by toxic cyanobacterial blooms.
in The Science of the total environment

Hunter PD
(2009)
Using remote sensing to aid the assessment of human health risks from blooms of potentially toxic cyanobacteria.
in Environmental science & technology

Tyler AN
(2009)
Strategies for monitoring and managing mass populations of toxic cyanobacteria in recreational waters: a multi-interdisciplinary approach.
in Environmental health : a global access science source