What is a Microcystis bloom?

Microcystis aeruginosa is a bloom-forming cyanobacterium found in eutrophic water bodies worldwide. M. aeruginosa blooms usually occur in freshwater; however, they have also been reported to occur in brackish water.

What causes Microcystis?

What causes Microcystis blooms? microcystin is drinking water, followed by recreational exposures and food supplements. Typical water treatment processes do not fully remove microcystin that might be present in drinking water supplies stored in reservoirs.

What causes cyanobacterial blooms?

Cyanobacteria blooms form when cyanobacteria, which are normally found in the water, start to multiply very quickly. Blooms can form in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients from sources such as fertilizer runoff or septic tank overflows. Cyanobacteria blooms need nutrients to survive.

Is Microcystis aeruginosa harmful?

Aside from being a nuisance and a danger to fish and wildlife, a bloom of Microcystis aeruginosa may be harmful to humans during recreational water use, either through body contact, inadvertent ingestion, or inhalation of water droplets.

How do you remove Microcystis?

In this study, UV/chlorine process was used to inactivate Microcystis aeruginosa and enhance the removal efficiency during subsequent coagulation-sedimentation process. Certain conclusions can be obtained from this work which may be of importance in practical work.

How do you control Microcystis?

There are many ways to control Microcystis blooms, including the use of chemical, physical, and biological controls. Chemical controls, or algicides, nutrient reduction, physical controls, such as aerators, and biological controls, such as zooplankton and small fish, are typically used in pond aquaculture.

How do you get rid of cyanobacteria blooms?

Chemical treatment is the most common treatment method, and also the most damaging to the environment. It involves using copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide, which cause sudden death or lysis of cyanobacterial cells.

What causes Microcystis aeruginosa?

Causes. Microcystis spp. most commonly are called blue-green algae, and some species of that genus produce a potent hepatotoxin known as microcystin. Toxic algal blooms occur on nitrogen- and phosphorus-enriched lakes and ponds during hot summers and/or at low water levels.

What is the treatment for cyanobacteria?

There are no specific antidotes for cyanotoxins or specific treatments for illnesses caused by cyanobacteria and their toxins in humans. For ingestion of contaminated water or food: Stop the exposure by avoiding contaminated food or water. If needed, replenish fluids and electrolytes.