Oxidation of the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin-LR by chlorine dioxide: Influence of natural organic matter

Tomas P.J. Kull*, Olli T. Sjövall, Marko K. Tammenkoski, Peter H. Backlund, Jussi A.O. Meriluoto

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are known producers of cytotoxic, hepatotoxic, and neurotoxic compounds with severe acute and chronic effects on vertebrates. Successful removal of these toxins in drinking water treatment is therefore of importance for public health. In the present work the oxidation of the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) by chlorine dioxide (ClO2) was studied at natural microcystin concentrations (10 μg L-1) and normal ClO2 dosages (1 mg L-1) in the absence and presence of natural organic matter (NOM). ClO2 was found to be rapidly consumed by fulvic and humic acids, leaving less residual ClO 2 to oxidize MC-LR. Predicted decrease rates in MC-LR concentration correlated highly with experimental data both in pure water and in the presence of NOM. Rate constants determined at high ClO2 and MC-LR concentrations in pure water could be used to predict the oxidation of MC-LR at natural concentrations. Toxicity tests with a protein phosphatase inhibition assay on reaction solutions and high-performance liquid chromatography fractions revealed that PP1 enzyme inhibition emerged only from intact MC-LR, while the oxidation products, dihydroxy isomers of MC-LR, were nontoxic even at unnaturally high concentrations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1504-1510
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume40
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Oxidation of the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin-LR by chlorine dioxide: Influence of natural organic matter'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this