# Cyanobacteria – interesting facts (2015) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_clusi%3A6c60f69d28f6095c ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text Water 101 Cyanobacteria – interesting facts • • • • • Prehistoric: Oldest life form (3½ billion yrs)/reported since 12th century 7,500 species: 1 of largest most important groups of bacteria Photosynthetic – created earth’s O2 atmosphere Naturally occurring in water (suspended) Can be blue-green, pink, red, brown – Red sea named for Oscillatoria blooms – White flamingos turn pink eating Spirulina • Some species can fix nitrogen • All need a source of phosphorous – Can store P for use when levels limited – Slight Δ in water pH can > solubility of P and other nutrients – gives cyanos upper hand • Regulate buoyancy - optimal light/nutrients Major genus of cyanobacteria in Oregon Diverse group of aquatic, photosynthetic bacteria (not algae!) Microcystis: Very hardy Produces micocystin and anatoxin-a Dolichospermum: Not as hardy Produces Microcystin, anatoxin-a + 2 others Aphanizomenon flos aquae: Non-toxin producer in Oregon Gleotrichia: Not as hardy Produces microcystin Water monitoring Recreational • Non regulatory • Recommended when heavily used or for source water • Few lakes monitored • River systems not usually monitored • Monitoring strategies in flux – Resource limitations pushing less testing – Opting for other ways to reduce exposures/liability o More education/outreach o More signage at monitored & unmonitored lakes Cyanobacterial blooms in Oregon Willow Creek Odell Lake from space Willow Creek 2009-2015: Cell count data 70 4 toxins Number of times identified 60 50 40 2 toxins 30 No toxins-Yet 20 2 toxins 10 0 Aphanizomenon Dolichospermum Gloeotrichia Microcystis Number of times genera of cyanobacteria identified over cell count guideline values (GV) during advisories in monitored waterbodies. 2009-2015: Toxin data 2009-2015: Toxin data 20 Dog threshold Number of times identified Human threshold 16 12 8 Anatoxin: Rapidly degrades in sun/toxins prevalent within first 2 weeks of cell growth, Then drastically reduce Microcystin Extremely stable & persistent/resist common chemical breakdown-prevalent worldwide Cylindrospermopsin Produces toxin continuously, unlike native cyanobacteria that produce sporadically 4 0 Anatoxin Cylindrospermopsin Microcystin Number of times cyanotoxins identified over recreational GVs during advisories in monitored waterbodies - GVs dependent upon genera Toxins, target organs & symptoms Genetic and environmental factors can cause toxin production – research is ongoing Toxins Produced Type of Toxin Anatoxin-a Target Organ Nervous System (20 ppb/ dogs 0.4 ppb) Neurotoxins Saxotoxin Labored breathing, convulsions, numbness, paralysis and death Dog deaths caused by Anatoxin-a Genus of Algae Dolichospermum Planktothrix Oscillatoria (10 ppb/dogs 0.02 ppb) Liver Microcystin (10 ppb/dogs 0.2 ppb) Hepatotoxin Cylindrospermopsin (20 ppb/dogs 0.4 ppb) GI symptoms (food poisoning), elevated liver enzymes in blood, destruction of cells/blood vessels Liver and Kidneys Hepatotoxin Symptoms like food poisoning/Pos. kidney failure Dolichospermum Microcystis Gloeotrichia Cylindrospermopsis Dolichospermum Planktothrix Oscillatoria All species produce Lipopolysaccharides that can cause skin irritation Things I need to know • Ingestion is major route of exposure • Current research says toxins are not absorbed through skin - Contact w/cells can cause sensitivity: > exposure = more prone to rash - Direct ‘contact’ can cause itchy eyes, sore throat and congestion • No known antidotes – Cannot remove by boiling filtering or treating with camping style filters • Wash skin & clothes thoroughly with clean water (soap if available) • Prevent pets from licking fur and rinse with clean water – Symptoms develop within 1 hr. of exposure - seek veterinary help • Children, people w/health conditions & pets at greatest risk – Symptoms develop within 24 hrs. – If they persist seek medical help Much remains unknown, but… Recent studies have shown: • Small % of toxins ingested w/food in blood/organs in RT • Barriers to Microcystin (MC) uptake at various levels 1 – Can bioaccumulate in invertabrates but reduced up food web – if taken up, aquatic organisms can detoxify & fish can rapidly excrete – Biodilution occurs in food web: toxins degraded/excreted at every level2 • MC: liver/viscera/intestine/dig. gland/liquid fat/kidneys/gonads • Fillets/meat: slight to no accumulation of MC or other toxins – People can safely consume two 8-oz fillets/wk from water bodies (WB) with blooms producing MC3 – Clean and discard everything but muscle tissue 1 Rohrlack et al. 2005; Tencalla and Dietrich 1997, 2 Ibelings and Havens, 2008, 3 F. Joan Hardy et. al., 2015, Poste et. al, 2012 Much remains unknown, but… • Daphnia spp. vary in sensitivity to blooms – all suffer reduced fitness in response to microcystis blooms • MCs stress juvenile crayfish & freshwater mussels • Some extracts can disrupt fish endocrine4 • Anatoxin-a can cause motor impairment in rainbow trout5 • MC can impair plant physiology & metabolism • Cylindrospermopsin can inhibit plant pollen germination • No chronic studies have been performed • MC concen. > in WBs where MC concen. in water high • MC highest in carnivorous fish 4 Marie, et al. 2012, 5 Oswald et al., 2013 Cyanobacteria outcompete for survival • Long evolution produced diverse/highly effective adaptations to ensure survival • Can grow in depleted dissolved O2 environments detrimental or fatal to fish • Thrive anywhere & well adapted to environmental stress – Live in hot springs, under ice packs & rocks in deserts, > pH conditions – First organisms to colonize bare rock/soil after long periods of drought – Photosynthesis increases pH – gives cyanos an edge – kills fish – Exposure to UV, high solar radiation and extreme temps not a problem – Deal with scarce or abundant resources – When everything else is gone, they will survive • Highly toxic strains outcompete toxic/non-toxic strains • Competitive advantage increases likelihood of HAB events Cyanobacteria outcompete for survival Factors promoting survivability/dominance of cyanos1 Increased water & air temperature  Water warms & mixing stops: restricts O2/nutrients to surface  Cyanos move through water column for best food/conditions-others can’t  Increased water temp - good for cyanos, bad for fish Decreased water flows - increased salinity  Cyanos quite salt tolerant  Creates favorable conditions for invasion of marine HABs Increases in CO2  Cyanos pull N & CO2 from air/H2O: > access = > bloom growth and occurrence  Competition & shading kills other biota Extreme weather events  Increased transport of nutrients from land to water via runoff  Drought increases length of time water can retain nutrients  > nutrients & longer retention time = > food longer = > & denser blooms 1 Office of Water EPA 820-S-13-001 MC 4304T Fact Sheet, May 2013 Health advisory notification and outreach • E-mail alerts/Gov-Delivery messages sent DMAs/local HDs/DEQ/stakeholders/public • News release issued Posted on PHD/OHA websites • Social media tools (e.g.- Twitter) • Toll-free information line updated 877-290-6767 • Program website/map updated http://www.healthoregon.org/hab • Advisory signs posted • Calls from public and media addressed Additional information • www.healthoregon.org/hab • Rebecca Hillwig – rebecca.hillwig@state.or.us • David Farrer – david.g.farrer@state.or.us --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aconfederated_clusi%3A6c60f69d28f6095c. Public record. Not legal advice.