Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water

Martin Welker started his career as a plankton ecologist at the Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Berlin. His PhD thesis focused on cyanobacteria and their toxins, with a particular emphasis on the release and degradation of microcystins by biotic and abiotic processes. As a post-doc at the Technical University of Berlin and Institute Pasteur, Paris, he explored the diversity of cyanobacterial metabolites and their biosynthesis. In 2006, Martin joined AnagnosTec, contributing to the development of microbial identification systems for clinical diagnostics. In 2010, Martin joined bioMérieux as senior scientist where he works on clinical microbiological diagnostics and research. Ingrid Chorus completed her PhD at the Technical University, Berlin, supporting a collaborative ecosystem study of a highly eutrophic urban lake, and in the 1980’s, she studied the restoration of lakes to from heavy eutrophication. In 1991, Ingrid became head of the German Federal Environment Agency’s unit on drinking-water resources and began her focus on cyanotoxin research and management. From 2007 until 2018, she led the agency’s Department for Drinking-Water and Swimming-Pool Hygiene. A key focus of her work was developing and implementing the WHO Water Safety Plan approach, particularly towards catchment and waterbody management.

1 Introduction 2 Cyanobacterial toxins 3 Introduction to cyanobacteria 4 Understanding the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins 5 Exposure to cyanotoxins: Understanding it and short-term interventions to prevent it 6 Assessing and managing cyanobacterial risks in water-use systems 7 Assessing and controlling the risk of cyanobacterial blooms: Nutrient loads from the catchment 8 Assessing and controlling the risk of cyanobacterial blooms: Waterbody conditions 9 Managing cyanotoxin risks at the drinking-water offtake 10 Controlling cyanotoxin occurrence: Drinking-water treatment 11 Planning monitoring programmes for cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins 12 Fieldwork: Site inspection and sampling 13 Laboratory analyses of cyanobacteria and water chemistry 14 Laboratory analysis of cyanobacterial toxins and bioassays 15 Public health surveillance, public communication and participation