Taylor Moss, “Analysis of Algal Toxins in the Winnebago-to-Green-Bay Waterway”
Mentor: Todd Miller, Public Health
Poster #132

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms produce toxins that are dangerous for human, animal, and environmental health. Lake Michigan at Green Bay Wisconsin frequently experiences cyanoHABs, however few studies have tracked how toxins have changed over long time periods in this water body. Water samples collected from Green Bay over the last seven years were analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry targeting microcystins, cyanopeptolins, and anabaenopeptins. Our data shows a shift in the dominant toxins in Green Bay from microcystins in the first five years to anabaenopeptins in the last two years of the study. The EPA recommended recreational limit for microcystins is 8 µg/L, which was exceeded in less than 10% of samples suggesting Green Bay is safe for in-water activities. However, a few scum samples collected during the study contained extremely high concentrations of microcystin at greater than 1,000 µg/L. This suggests highly dynamic concentrations of microcystin over space and time.