Monitoring of freshwater toxins in European environmental waters by using novel multi-detection methods

Monitoring the quality of freshwater is an important issue for public health. In the context of the European Project µAqua (FP7-KBBE-2010-4, 265409) a total of 150 samples were collected from several waters in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Turkey over two years. These samples were analyzed using two multi-toxin detection methods previously developed: (i) a microsphere-based method coupled to flow-cytometry and (ii) an Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. The presence of microcystins (MCs), nodularin (NOD), domoic acid (DA), cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and several analogues of anatoxin-a (ATX-a) was monitored. No traces of CYN or DA were found in any of the environmental samples. MC-LR and MC-RR were detected in two samples from Turkey and Germany. In the case of ATX-a derivatives, 75% of samples contained mainly H2-ATX-a and small amounts of H2-homo-ATX-a, whereas ATX-a and homo-ATX-a were found only in one sample. From these results the presence and wide distribution of dihydro derivatives of ATX-a toxins in European freshwaters is confirmed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved