β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a new kind of cyanobacterial neurotoxin, which is widely present in water sources contaminated by algae and may threaten human health through drinking water. The ozone process is an advanced water treatment process widely used in drinking water treatment plants. In this work, the effectiveness of ozone oxidative degradation of BMAA was systematically explored, and the effect of operating parameters on the effectiveness of ozone oxidative degradation of BMAA was investigated, and the degradation mechanism of ozone oxidative degradation of BMAA was speculated.The results showed that BMAA could be quickly eliminated by ozone, and the removal rates of BMAA were nearly 100% in pure water, but the removal rates were reduced in actual water. BMAA was primarily degraded by direct oxidation of ozone molecules in acidic and near-neutral conditions, and indirect oxidation of •OH accounted for the main part under strong alkaline conditions. The pH value had a signi cant effect on the decomposition of BMAA, and the degradation rate of BMAA was fastest at near neutral pH value. The degradation rates of TOC were signi cantly lower than that of BMAA, indicating that by-products were generated during the degradation process. Three by-products ([M-H] + = 105, 90 and 88) were identi ed by UPLC-MS/MS and the degradation pathways of BMAA were proposed. The production of by-products was attributed to the fracture of the C-N bonds. This work is helpful for the indepth understanding on the mechanism and demonstration of the feasibility of the oxidation of BMAA by the ozone process.