I-Hotel- Lincoln Room
CyHA Workshop Summary
May 1st, 2015
Funding: U of I Focal Point Grant
Organizers
Gay Miller, Jeff Levengood, Ian Sprandel, & Nathan Wells
Speakers
Summary of Workshop
Thirty-one educators, specialists, researchers, and students attended the all
day CyHab Workshop on May 1st, 2015, on site and another people attended
remotely via web interface. The event took place at the I-Hotel Conference
center from 8:00am to 4:15pm. Four keynote speakers addressed important
current issues on algal blooms and their impacts on human, animal, and
environmental health. Round table discussions fleshed out key research needs.
Tim Davis
U.S. Geological
Survey
CHABs &
climate change
Val Beasley
Penn State
University
Algae toxins &
microcystins
Wilson
Rumbeiha
Iowa State
University
Biomarkers &
microcystins
Research Needed Identified
Wanda Haschek
What are the drivers of toxic algal blooms?
University of Illinois
What are the impacts of nutrients on toxic algal blooms?
Cylindrospermopsin
What are the acute and chronic effects of toxin exposure?
Can the use of buffer zones be effective in controlling algal blooms?
How can we create better analytical methods for sampling and testing for
toxic algal blooms?
CyHA Workshop Summary
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Abstract
Emerging Issues and Research on Harmful Cyanobacterial Algal Blooms
Impact on Populations, Ecosystems, and Water
Gay Y. Miller, Jeffrey Levengood, Sarah Steinmann, and Ian Sprandel
Toxin-producing cyanobacteria are an increasing problem in bodies of water
used by humans and animals. Nutrient-enrichment of water bodies and
climate change are driving population explosions, or blooms of these
organisms. Consumption or lysing of cyanobacteria can impose substantial
health risks on human, domestic animal, wildlife, and aquatic animal health.
These harmful algal blooms (HABs) kill fish by depleting oxygen, and also
produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that, when consumed, can cause illness and/or
death in a variety of species including humans. In humans, symptoms and
lesions associated with cyanotoxin intoxication include diarrhea, skin
irritation, liver damage, cancers, and rapid death by respiratory failure. The
surface scums and mats that form on rivers, lakes, and ponds are visual
indicators of HABs and the possibility of intoxication with water ingestion,
dermal absorption, or inhalation of aerosolized toxins which can occur, e.g.
during recreational water use. Also, there are substantial economic costs
associated with HABs including bloom management, veterinary and medical
costs, time off work, and loss of recreation revenue.
Understanding of the synthesis and modes of actions of cyanotoxins has
increased in recent decades. However, not every bloom produces toxins, and
the environmental triggers of toxin production are not well understood. New
analytical methods have been developed for the detection and quantification
of cyanobacterial toxins in water and for removing these toxins from water
destined for drinking. Still many knowledge gaps remain and much research
needs to be done in the area of cyanotoxin removal from drinking water.
Our team of faculty and graduate students has identified scientists with
expertise and interest in various aspects of HABs to participate in our focal
point workshop. Our objective with this focal point project is to create an
interdisciplinary community of STEM-focused scholars (including faculty
and graduate students) from several University of Illinois departments and
associated facilities on Campus, and also scholars from other institutions who
will: interact regularly in a seminar centered on presentations that focus on
HABs; develop increased research capacity and human capital on
cyanotoxin impacts on animal and ecosystem health, and on water quality
and toxins at the University of Illinois; foster long-term institutional
engagement on HABs and human, animal, and ecosystem health. Our
interdisciplinary group of scientists, came together over the past academic
year (2014-2015) regularly to share and discuss animal health and water
quality topics related to algal blooms. We improved our ability to understand
and link health of a variety of species, water quality, water and land
management practices, climate change, and the associated linkages to toxin
production.
Special Thanks to Everyone Involved for Making this Workshop a Great
Success!
CyHA Workshop Summary
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CyHA Workshop Summary
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