TuP-21


A RAPID METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF TOXICITY IN CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS

Sean Salisbury*, Peter Cullis*, Gretel Lamont*, Jim Baccher#

*Department of Applied Chemistry, Royal Melboume Institute of Technology, La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
#aquaTOX Services Pty Ltd, 5 Henry Smith Place, Croyden Hills, VIC 3136


Cyanobacterial blooms are a common occurrence in most countries around the world. It is, therefore, increasingly important to monitor water bodies for the presence of cyanobacteria, and to assess the toxicity of blooms when required. The mouse bioassay has been the most extensively used method for determining the toxicity of cyanobacterial blooms, but in-vivo methods are expensive, non specific and often considered unethical. Microtox bioluminescence inhibition assays are rapid and inexpensive but also non specific. A high performance separation technique such as Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) coupled with Mass Spectrometric (MS) Detection provides a powerful tool for separating and identifying components from complex mixtures such as cyanobacterial samples.

The cyanobacterial toxins include peptide hepatotoxins and alkaloid neurotoxins. Since not all blooms are toxic, it is essential that the presence and concentration of toxins be quickly ascertained. A rapid test for identification and quantitation of specific toxins using Capillary Electrophoresis and Mass Spectrometry has been developed. Advantages of Capillary Electrophoresis include small sample requirements, rapid and efficient separation of constituents and the ability to interface with a Mass Spectrometer for the identification and elucidation of the structures of these toxins. In combination with in vitro methods for detection of general toxicity a scheme for short term monitoring of cyanobacterial toxicity has been developed.

  1. Codd G.A., Lawton L.A., Beattie K.A., Hawser S.P. and Campbell D.L., 1994, Evaluation of assay methods for the determination of cyanobacterial hepatotoxictiy. Detection Methods for Cyanobacterial Toxins, Codd G.A., Jefferies T.M., eds., The Royal Society of Chemistry. pp 111-117.
  2. Smith R.D., Olivares J.A., Nguyen N.T. and Udseth H.R., 1988, Capillary Zone Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry using an Electrospray Ionisation Interface. Analytical Chemistry. V60. pp 436-441.
  3. Neissen W.M., Tadjen U.R. and Greef J.V.D., 1993, Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography. V636. pp 3-19.