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Management of toxic cyanobacteria for drinking water production of Ain Zada Dam

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Abstract

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria in Algerian reservoirs represent a potential health problem, mainly from drinking water that supplies the local population of Ain Zada (Bordj Bou Arreridj). The objective of this study is to monitor, detect, and identify the existence of cyanobacteria and microcystins during blooming times. Samples were taken in 2013 from eight stations. The results show that three potentially toxic cyanobacterial genera with the species Planktothrix agardhii were dominant. Cyanobacterial biomass, phycocyanin (PC) concentrations, and microcystin (MC) concentrations were high in the surface layer and at 14 m depth; these values were also high in the treated water. On 11 May 2013, MC concentrations were 6.3 μg/L in MC-LR equivalent in the drinking water. This study shows for the first time the presence of cyanotoxins in raw and treated waters, highlighting that regular monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins must be undertaken to avoid potential health problems.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mrs. Chorin Marion for her help in the analyses of microcystins by HPLC and ELISA and cylindrospermopsin by ELISA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, Ecobiology Laboratory for Marine Environments and Coastal Areas, BP 12 El-Hadjar, University of Badji Mokhtar, 23000, Annaba, Algeria

    Amel Saoudi & Mourad Bensouilah

  2. UMR/CNRS Ecobio 6553, University of Rennes I, Rennes, 35 042, France

    Luc Brient & Myriam Bormans

  3. Department of Biology and Plant Ecology, University Ferhat Abbas Sétif 1, Sétif, Algeria

    Sabrine Boucetta

  4. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of natural and life sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, Box. P.0.73, 36000, El Tarf, Algeria

    Rachid Ouzrout

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  1. Amel Saoudi
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  2. Luc Brient
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  3. Sabrine Boucetta
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  4. Rachid Ouzrout
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  6. Mourad Bensouilah
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Correspondence to Amel Saoudi.

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Saoudi, A., Brient, L., Boucetta, S. et al. Management of toxic cyanobacteria for drinking water production of Ain Zada Dam. Environ Monit Assess 189, 361 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6058-4

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