Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in nature and can often dominate other phytoplankton due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, control their exposure to light through the use of gas vacuoles and their enhanced nutrient uptake mechanisms. Cyanobacterial blooms can be associated with extreme discoloration of the water, surface scums, taste and odor problems as well as the production of toxic compounds, historically known as slow death, fast death and very fast death factors. The occurrence of these toxins in drinking water has resulted in numerous human fatalities and an increased incidence of hepatic cancer. The major cyanobacterial toxins are microcystin, the anatoxin family, paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPs), cylindrospermopsin and nodularin.