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Associations among Human-Associated Fecal Contamination, Microcystis aeruginosa , and Microcystin at Lake Erie Beaches

Author

Listed:
  • Cheonghoon Lee

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Jason W. Marion

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Melissa Cheung

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Chang Soo Lee

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Jiyoung Lee

    (Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
    Department of Food Sciences & Technology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

Abstract

Lake Erie beaches exhibit impaired water quality due to fecal contamination and cyanobacterial blooms, though few studies address potential relationships between these two public health hazards. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Microcystis aeruginosa was monitored in conjunction with a human-associated fecal marker ( Bacteroides fragilis group; g-Bfra), microcystin, and water quality parameters at two beaches to evaluate their potential associations. During the summer of 2010, water samples were collected 32 times from both Euclid and Villa Angela beaches. The phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and the microcystin-producing (mcyA) gene in M. aeruginosa were quantified with qPCR. PC-IGS and mcyA were detected in 50.0% and 39.1% of samples, respectively, and showed increased occurrences after mid-August. Correlation and regression analyses showed that water temperature was negatively correlated with M. aeruginosa markers and microcystin. The densities of mcyA and the g-Bfra were predicted by nitrate, implicating fecal contamination as contributing to the growth of M. aeruginosa by nitrate loading. Microcystin was correlated with mcyA ( r = 0.413, p < 0.01), suggesting toxin-producing M. aeruginosa populations may significantly contribute to microcystin production. Additionally, microcystin was correlated with total phosphorus ( r = 0.628, p < 0.001), which was higher at Euclid ( p < 0.05), possibly contributing to higher microcystin concentrations at Euclid.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheonghoon Lee & Jason W. Marion & Melissa Cheung & Chang Soo Lee & Jiyoung Lee, 2015. "Associations among Human-Associated Fecal Contamination, Microcystis aeruginosa , and Microcystin at Lake Erie Beaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:9:p:11466-11485:d:55600
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    Cited by:

    1. Samuel Dorevitch, 2015. "Health Effects of Waterborne Contaminants: A Focus on Emerging Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-3, October.

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