Cyanotoxins: environmental and health effects. Prevention measures

Abstract

RESUMENAntecedentes. Ante los eventos de florecimientos de cianobacterias cada vez más frecuentes a nivel global, cuyos efectos son tóxicos y negativos para la salud humana, las mascotas, los animales del campo, la vida acuática y silvestre, es indispensable hacer pública la información más relevante respecto a este tema, ya que estos eventos tendrán cada vez más una mayor incidencia y frecuencia en un contexto de calentamiento global. Objetivos. Entre los objetivos principales de esta investigación destacan exhibir los impactos ambientales que causan las cianotoxinas, así como sus causas, y reconocer la falta de conocimiento sobre éstas, lo que ha impedido emprender medidas que disminuyan sus efectos negativos. Métodos. Se llevó a cabo una revisión de diversos estudios abarcando aspectos históricos e incorporando los primeros estudios hasta el contexto actual, con el fin de mostrar una breve descripción de las cianotoxinas más importantes y frecuentes en las aguas continentales. Resultados. Fue posible evidenciar los principales daños que causan en vertebrados y las consecuencias que provocan en los ecosistemas acuáticos, así como los niveles de referencia para evitar intoxicaciones por ingestión o contacto; también averiguar los métodos que se emplearon para su detección. Conclusiones. Es necesario hacer hincapié en la urgencia de atender integralmente los florecimientos algales y su monitoreo sistemático.Palabras clave: Ambientes de agua dulce, cianotoxinas, hepatotoxinas, monitoreo, neurotoxinas, prevención. ABSTRACTBackground. Before the events of cyanobacteria toxic blooms are widespread and are increasing in frequency globally, with negative effects on human health, pets, cattle, and wildlife, we integrated the information on the subject for general knowledge, as these events will increasingly have a greater incidence and frequency in a context of global warming. Goals. To reveal the environmental impacts of cyanotoxins, their causes, and acknowledge the need for knowledge about them in order to implement measures that will reduce their negative effects. Methods. We present a review of several studies encompassing historical aspects and incorporating the first studies into the current context, in order to enumerate the most frequent cyanotoxins in inland water. Results. We discuss the symptoms that cyanotoxins cause in vertebrates, as well as reference levels to avoid intoxication by ingestion or contact; the methods used for detection, and the effects on aquatic ecosystems. Conclusions. We draw attention to the need for integral management of algal blooms and systematic monitoring.

Cyanotoxins bioaccumulation in freshwater ecosystems in Latin America: a review

“…When studies reported several species Distribution, water bodies and cyanotoxin types. Despite the global distribution of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins (Mowe et al, 2015, Flores et al, 2018, Svirčev et al, 2019 and the known potential risk for species that are exposed to cyanotoxins, including humans (Codd et al, 2005, Burrati et al, 2017, Cantoral Uriza et al, 2017, Pham & Utsumi 2018, Banerjee et al, 2021, cyanotoxins accumulation in freshwater organisms in Latin America has been evaluated only in four countries. Brazil is the country having more field studies of cyanotoxins bioaccumulation (13 studies), followed by México (4), Argentina (3) and, finally, Uruguay with only one study.…”

“…To what extent the aquaculture constitutes an important route of transfer of cyanotoxins to humans is still unknown, and it should be determined in future studies. Also, as noted by Cantoral Uriza et al, (2017), it is important to investigate unknown cyanobacteria species from tropical areas in Latin America to access their potential toxicity.…”

“…The toxigenic and adverse effects of cyanotoxins in several groups of organisms have been recognized in field and laboratory settings including bacteria, microalgae, zooplankton, fishes, amphibians, birds, mammals and agricultural plants (Apeldoorn et al, 2007, Valdor & Aboal 2007, Tillmanns et al, 2008, Chen et al, 2016, Banerjee et al, 2021, Zhang et al, 2021. This has led to a growing global consensus of the harmful effects for aquatic organisms and human health due to cyanotoxin exposure (Drobac et al, 2013, Wood 2016, Cantoral Uriza et al, 2017, Scarlett et al, 2020. Specifically for humans, there are well documented events of poisoning that indicate that cyanotoxins were the cause of the symptoms (Humpage and Cunliffe, 2021), however, literature related to human intoxication by cyanotoxins exposure must be taken with caution since, usually, other potential causing agents (e.g., other bacteria and pollutants) have not been simultaneously evaluated (Testai et al, 2016;Humpage and Cunliffe, 2021).…”