Methods and Approaches Used for Detection of Cyanotoxins in Environmental Samples: A Review

Abstract

Cyanobacterial toxins are considered as an emerging threat to natural water reservoirs and drinking water supplies. When they are ingested, these toxins are responsible for human and animal poisonings. The main goal of water quality monitoring programs is to predict harmful algal blooms and maintain the water quality of drinking water supplies. The current methods used for routine monitoring are not able to detect all the types and variants of cyanotoxins. The authors review the current state of the knowledge in detecting cyanotoxins in the environmental water samples and provides a comparative evaluation of methods ranging from conventional biological and analytical methods to recently advancing molecular and biosensor approaches in terms of their capabilities. In addition, the recent advances made in the area of cyanotoxins detection by molecular methods and biosensor-based technologies are discussed for their practical applications in terms of their use in a total analysis system.

KEY WORDS:

• biological assays
• biosensor
• cyanobacteria
• cyanotoxins
• detection methods
• HPLC
• microcystins
• PCR
• total analysis system

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank Singapore Delft Water Alliance (SDWA) for their support during the compilation of this review article.