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Assessment of microcystins in lake water and the omnivorous fish (Carassius gibelio, Bloch) in Lake Pamvotis (Greece) containing dense cyanobacterial bloom

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Abstract

Toxin-producing cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs form a threat to humans as well as various forms of aquatic life. This study examined the occurrence and distribution of Microcystins (MCYST) in the shallow eutrophic lake Pamvotis (Greece). MCYST concentrations in the tissues (liver, kidneys, intestine, gonads, brain and muscle) of the fish species Carassius gibelio were also examined. Tests were performed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MCYST concentration in water and in the scum of Lake Pamvotis were highest during the warm period (April—October, 2005). Phytoplankton samples were dominated by the genera Microcystis and Anabaena during the same period. MCYST values were always below the WHO Guide level for recreational waters but much higher than the WHO Guide level for drinking water. It was found that MCYST can accumulate in the fish tissues of C. gibelio. Even though the target organ for MCYST is the liver, in our study MCYST were found also in the rest of C. gibelio tissues in the following order: intestine> kidney> > brain>gonads> muscle. Muscle tissue contained concentrations of microcystins that correspond to 0.096 μg/kg/day well above the recommended limit for human consumption (0.04 μg/Kg/day).

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  1. Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece

    Ifigenia Kagalou, Theodoti Papadimitriou, Vasilios Bacopoulos & Ioannis Leonardos

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  1. Ifigenia Kagalou
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  2. Theodoti Papadimitriou
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  3. Vasilios Bacopoulos
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  4. Ioannis Leonardos
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Correspondence to Ioannis Leonardos.

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Kagalou, I., Papadimitriou, T., Bacopoulos, V. et al. Assessment of microcystins in lake water and the omnivorous fish (Carassius gibelio, Bloch) in Lake Pamvotis (Greece) containing dense cyanobacterial bloom. Environ Monit Assess 137, 185–195 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9739-6

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