As part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System the NJWSC is evaluating the use of passive samplers, or Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers, to examine the temporal variability of dissolved cyanotoxin occurrence. These innovative, low-cost, time-integrated passive samplers offer several advantages over current water-column cyanotoxin monitoring techniques. However, more information is needed to evaluate optimal SPATT deployment times and examine the environmental conditions that may affect cyanotoxin accumulation on the passive samplers. This project, initiated in 2020, will help the USGS understand best practices for SPATT sampler use.
Traditionally, monitoring cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) with cyanotoxin monitoring relies on analysis of discrete samples, which provide a “snapshot in time” of the phytoplankton community and cyanotoxin content at a specific location and point in time, such as daily or weekly. With fluctuations in bloom development, composition, and cyanotoxin production, discrete grab-sampling methods may fail to adequately represent the ever-changing CyanoHABs conditions in lacustrine and fluvial environments. Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) technology uses porous synthetic resins capable of passively adsorbing toxins produced by cyanobacteria and dissolved in the water. These innovative, low-cost, time-integrated passive samplers offer several advantages over current water-column cyanotoxin monitoring techniques. The time-integrative nature of SPATTs may capture ephemeral cyanotoxin events missed by traditional discrete sampling approaches. SPATT technology is also better suited for the assessment of spatial and vertical toxin dispersal patterns, the persistence of toxins, and to track the geographical and temporal progression of CyanoHABs due to their continuous absorption capacity. Thus, SPATT results can more accurately depict long-term toxin levels in water as compared to discrete samples and is an innovative tool to assess long-term toxin exposure for aquatic biota.
Despite numerous studies conducted worldwide to assess the applicability of passive monitoring devices to detect cyanotoxins there are significant knowledge gaps, such as the most effective deployment time in fluvial and lacustrine systems and how environmental factors affect toxin-accumulation rates. SPATT technology has been shown to provide reliable, sensitive, and time-integrated sampling of various cyanotoxins and has potential to provide an early warning system for cyanobacteria. In 2019, neurotoxic anatoxin-a, which had never been detected in measurable concentrations in discrete samples in NJ, was detected in SPATTs at a major water supply complex in NJ. These and other data supported the need for further study of cyanotoxin occurrence and persistence utilizing SPATT technology.
As part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System study of the Delaware River Basin, the USGS NJ Water Science Center led an evaluation of SPATT technology in the Salem River (NJ) which had severe cyanobacterial blooms, with cyanotoxin occurrence in 2019 and 2020. Approximately 130 SPATT samplers were deployed for different time intervals, ranging from one day to two weeks, at 11 sites in the Salem River during a 2020 bloom to evaluate optimal deployment time, assess the transport and temporal variability of cyanotoxins, and examine rates of cyanotoxin accumulation. Deployment locations consisted of flowing and impounded reaches along the Salem River. During retrieval, discrete water-column cyanotoxin samples were collected to develop a comparison of results from passive- versus discrete cyanotoxin concentrations. After retrieval, concentrations of four dissolved cyanotoxins (anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsins, Microcystins, and Saxitoxins) were quantified by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with a subset of samples analyzed by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for comparison.
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USGS NJWSC Project Team:
Heather A. Heckathorn
Kaitlin M. Bowen
Jacob T. Gray
Downstream Fate and Transport of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in the Raritan Basin Water Supply Complex, New Jersey
Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)
NWQP Research on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
- Overview
As part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System the NJWSC is evaluating the use of passive samplers, or Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers, to examine the temporal variability of dissolved cyanotoxin occurrence. These innovative, low-cost, time-integrated passive samplers offer several advantages over current water-column cyanotoxin monitoring techniques. However, more information is needed to evaluate optimal SPATT deployment times and examine the environmental conditions that may affect cyanotoxin accumulation on the passive samplers. This project, initiated in 2020, will help the USGS understand best practices for SPATT sampler use.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Scientist Kaitlin Bowen attaching a SPATT sampler to a stable post in the Salem River. Traditionally, monitoring cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) with cyanotoxin monitoring relies on analysis of discrete samples, which provide a “snapshot in time” of the phytoplankton community and cyanotoxin content at a specific location and point in time, such as daily or weekly. With fluctuations in bloom development, composition, and cyanotoxin production, discrete grab-sampling methods may fail to adequately represent the ever-changing CyanoHABs conditions in lacustrine and fluvial environments. Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) technology uses porous synthetic resins capable of passively adsorbing toxins produced by cyanobacteria and dissolved in the water. These innovative, low-cost, time-integrated passive samplers offer several advantages over current water-column cyanotoxin monitoring techniques. The time-integrative nature of SPATTs may capture ephemeral cyanotoxin events missed by traditional discrete sampling approaches. SPATT technology is also better suited for the assessment of spatial and vertical toxin dispersal patterns, the persistence of toxins, and to track the geographical and temporal progression of CyanoHABs due to their continuous absorption capacity. Thus, SPATT results can more accurately depict long-term toxin levels in water as compared to discrete samples and is an innovative tool to assess long-term toxin exposure for aquatic biota.
Despite numerous studies conducted worldwide to assess the applicability of passive monitoring devices to detect cyanotoxins there are significant knowledge gaps, such as the most effective deployment time in fluvial and lacustrine systems and how environmental factors affect toxin-accumulation rates. SPATT technology has been shown to provide reliable, sensitive, and time-integrated sampling of various cyanotoxins and has potential to provide an early warning system for cyanobacteria. In 2019, neurotoxic anatoxin-a, which had never been detected in measurable concentrations in discrete samples in NJ, was detected in SPATTs at a major water supply complex in NJ. These and other data supported the need for further study of cyanotoxin occurrence and persistence utilizing SPATT technology.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Technician Kathryn Cahalane using an analytical balance to measure resin for SPATT production. As part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System study of the Delaware River Basin, the USGS NJ Water Science Center led an evaluation of SPATT technology in the Salem River (NJ) which had severe cyanobacterial blooms, with cyanotoxin occurrence in 2019 and 2020. Approximately 130 SPATT samplers were deployed for different time intervals, ranging from one day to two weeks, at 11 sites in the Salem River during a 2020 bloom to evaluate optimal deployment time, assess the transport and temporal variability of cyanotoxins, and examine rates of cyanotoxin accumulation. Deployment locations consisted of flowing and impounded reaches along the Salem River. During retrieval, discrete water-column cyanotoxin samples were collected to develop a comparison of results from passive- versus discrete cyanotoxin concentrations. After retrieval, concentrations of four dissolved cyanotoxins (anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsins, Microcystins, and Saxitoxins) were quantified by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with a subset of samples analyzed by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for comparison.
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USGS NJWSC Project Team:
Heather A. Heckathorn
Kaitlin M. Bowen
Jacob T. Gray
- Science
Downstream Fate and Transport of Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins in the Raritan Basin Water Supply Complex, New Jersey
Harmful algal blooms with cyanotoxin production (CyanoHABs) have been shown to adversely affect water resources worldwide, however only a handful of studies have examined the occurrence and persistence of CyanoHABs in fluvial systems used for municipal water-supply. Of particular concern in New Jersey is the Raritan Basin Water Supply Complex (RBWSC) as it is the water supply for multiple water...Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)
Substantial advances in water science, together with emerging breakthroughs in technical and computational capabilities, have led the USGS to develop a Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS). The USGS NGWOS will provide real-time data on water quantity and quality in more affordable and rapid ways than previously possible, and in more locations.NWQP Research on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are caused by a complex set of physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions. Many unanswered questions remain about occurrence, environmental triggers for toxicity, and the ability to predict the timing, duration, and toxicity of HABs. - Multimedia