Harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by cyanobacteria are increasingly common and pose serious threats to public health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies. Microcystins (MCs), with hepatotoxicity , are the most prevalent cyanotoxins produced by filamentous cyanobacteria during HABs. Recent studies have documented occurrences of MCs in freshwater fish, including those collected in New York State waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, representing a potential exposure route for humans. Although standard methods exist for detecting MCs in water, no widely adopted protocol currently exists for analyzing MCs in fish tissues, hindering effective risk assessment and advisory development.
Hyde Lake, part of the Indian River Lakes system in northern NY, has experienced worsening HABs, with chlorophyll-a levels measured in 2022 exceeding state guidelines by over 1,700 times. Fishing remains popular, yet no data exist on MC contamination or toxicological effects in fish from this lake, despite potential health concerns for the local communities, especially those who rely on fish from the lake as their food source.
Building on the ongoing HAB research and comprehensive water monitoring underway at Hyde Lake, this project aims to close critical data and method gaps through three key objectives: 1) Develop and validate a standardized protocol for MC analysis in fish tissues, 2) Quantify MC concentrations in fish species from different trophic levels in Hyde Lake, and 3) Evaluate toxicological effects using gene expression analysis and assess human exposure risk.
