Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa.
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, University Road, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa.
Toxicon. 2023 Apr;226:107077. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107077. Epub 2023 Mar 7.
Groundwater is a significant source of water across the world and constitutes about 30% of the earth's freshwater. This water source is likely to be contaminated by cyanobacteria that produce secondary metabolites called cyanotoxins. Studies on contamination of groundwater by cyanobacteria have been sketchy with limited information. There is a need for better evidence regarding groundwater contamination by cyanobacteria as their presence in surface water bodies could cause contamination of groundwater via infiltration and percolation during rainfall events or during groundwater-surface water interaction, bank infiltration or water quality exchange. Therefore, this review is aimed at exploring the occurrences and potential sources of cyanotoxins in groundwater. This was achieved by summarising the existing data on the occurrence of cyanobacteria in groundwater and their potential sources across the world. Groundwater cyanobacteria contamination can possibly pose threat to water quality because many of the cyanotoxins produced by cyanobacteria pose a severe threat to human health, animals and the environment. Concentrations of microcystins (MCs) in groundwater have been recorded in China (Chaohu), Saudi Arabia, and China (Huai River Basin), with concentrations of 1.446 μg/L, 1.8 μg/L and 1.07 μg/L, respectively. In humans, exposure to these cyanotoxins can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation, to mention a few. This work highlights the importance of providing information or knowledge regarding public health implications of exposure to groundwater contaminated with cyanotoxins and the need to undertake risk management actions through national and international regulation. This review also points out current knowledge gaps, which could lead to future research.
地下水是全球重要的水源之一，约占地球淡水的 30%。这种水源很可能受到产生称为蓝藻毒素的次生代谢物的蓝藻的污染。关于蓝藻对地下水污染的研究一直很粗略，信息有限。需要更好的证据来证明蓝藻对地下水的污染，因为它们在地表水体内的存在可能会通过降雨事件期间的渗透和下渗，或在地下水-地表水相互作用、岸坡渗透或水质交换期间，导致地下水的污染。因此，本综述旨在探讨地下水蓝藻毒素的发生和潜在来源。这是通过总结全球范围内地下水蓝藻存在及其潜在来源的现有数据来实现的。地下水蓝藻污染可能对水质构成威胁，因为蓝藻产生的许多蓝藻毒素对人类健康、动物和环境构成严重威胁。中国（巢湖）、沙特阿拉伯和中国（淮河流域）的地下水中已记录到微囊藻毒素 (MCs) 的浓度，分别为 1.446μg/L、1.8μg/L 和 1.07μg/L。在人类中，暴露于这些蓝藻毒素会导致呕吐、腹泻和皮肤刺激等症状。这项工作强调了提供有关暴露于受蓝藻毒素污染的地下水对公共健康影响的信息或知识的重要性，以及需要通过国家和国际法规采取风险管理行动。本综述还指出了当前的知识差距，这可能会导致未来的研究。
