Leveraging UV Light for Effective Algal Toxin Removal in Drinking Water
Algal and Environmental Toxins Research Laboratory — Lawrence, Kansas
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose significant risks to public health and the environment by producing dangerous toxins like microcystin-LR (MC-LR), which can exceed safety limits in drinking water. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey, The Ohio State University, and Boise State University evaluated ultraviolet (UV) light treatments for reducing microcystin levels, comparing traditional UV254 with the newer UV222 method. The study found that UV222 is three times faster and produces fewer harmful byproducts, making it a safer and more efficient option for treating drinking water contaminated with microcystins.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly recognized as a serious environmental and public health concern. Caused by the rapid growth of specific algal species, like cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (cyanoHABs), these blooms result from factors like nutrient pollution, warm temperatures, and changes in water salinity. cyanoHABs produce toxins that can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. When these algae flourish in drinking water sources such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, they can lead to cyanotoxin concentrations that exceed safety limits set by health organizations. This highlights the urgent need for ongoing research into innovative treatment methods to tackle the unique challenges posed by HABs and ensure safe drinking water for everyone.
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a harmful toxin produced by certain cyanobacteria, which can damage the liver by disrupting protein functions in liver cells. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that treated drinking water should have no more than 1 µg/L of MC-LR. Similarly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that adults should not consume water with more than 1.6 µg/L, while the limit is only 0.3 µg/L for infants, pregnant or nursing women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. These guidelines drive research aimed at improving methods to treat and remove these harmful toxins, especially since some source waters can have MC-LR concentrations ranging from hundreds to thousands of µg/L.
One promising approach for reducing algal toxins in drinking water is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for the treatment of drinking water contaminated with algal toxins. UV irradiation is a chemical-free process that harnesses specific wavelengths of light to effectively inactivate microorganisms and degrade various waterborne contaminants, including the dangerous toxins produced by cyanobacteria. Among the commonly used UV methods, one operates at a wavelength of 254 nm (UV254), which is effective in oxidizing contaminants. However, recent research has highlighted the advantages of utilizing UV irradiation at a shorter wavelength of 222 nm (UV222).
Recent research conducted in partnership between The Ohio State University, Boise State University, and USGS evaluated UV254 and UV222 irradiation treatment effectiveness to reduced microcystin-LR in samples with known toxins. The findings showed that UV222 not only worked three times faster but also produced fewer harmful byproducts than UV254. The byproducts created from using UV222 do not retain the toxicity of Microcystin-LR, which means that UV222 effectively neutralizes the toxin's harmful effects.
By producing fewer byproducts that may have their own toxic effects, UV222 provides a safer and more effective method for degrading microcystins like MC-LR. This research underscores the potential of fundamental scientific studies to yield practical solutions in water treatment, thereby enhancing public health in a cost-effective manner.
This study was supported by the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area, through the Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology).
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose significant risks to public health and the environment by producing dangerous toxins like microcystin-LR (MC-LR), which can exceed safety limits in drinking water. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey, The Ohio State University, and Boise State University evaluated ultraviolet (UV) light treatments for reducing microcystin levels, comparing traditional UV254 with the newer UV222 method. The study found that UV222 is three times faster and produces fewer harmful byproducts, making it a safer and more efficient option for treating drinking water contaminated with microcystins.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly recognized as a serious environmental and public health concern. Caused by the rapid growth of specific algal species, like cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (cyanoHABs), these blooms result from factors like nutrient pollution, warm temperatures, and changes in water salinity. cyanoHABs produce toxins that can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. When these algae flourish in drinking water sources such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, they can lead to cyanotoxin concentrations that exceed safety limits set by health organizations. This highlights the urgent need for ongoing research into innovative treatment methods to tackle the unique challenges posed by HABs and ensure safe drinking water for everyone.
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a harmful toxin produced by certain cyanobacteria, which can damage the liver by disrupting protein functions in liver cells. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that treated drinking water should have no more than 1 µg/L of MC-LR. Similarly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that adults should not consume water with more than 1.6 µg/L, while the limit is only 0.3 µg/L for infants, pregnant or nursing women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. These guidelines drive research aimed at improving methods to treat and remove these harmful toxins, especially since some source waters can have MC-LR concentrations ranging from hundreds to thousands of µg/L.
One promising approach for reducing algal toxins in drinking water is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for the treatment of drinking water contaminated with algal toxins. UV irradiation is a chemical-free process that harnesses specific wavelengths of light to effectively inactivate microorganisms and degrade various waterborne contaminants, including the dangerous toxins produced by cyanobacteria. Among the commonly used UV methods, one operates at a wavelength of 254 nm (UV254), which is effective in oxidizing contaminants. However, recent research has highlighted the advantages of utilizing UV irradiation at a shorter wavelength of 222 nm (UV222).
Recent research conducted in partnership between The Ohio State University, Boise State University, and USGS evaluated UV254 and UV222 irradiation treatment effectiveness to reduced microcystin-LR in samples with known toxins. The findings showed that UV222 not only worked three times faster but also produced fewer harmful byproducts than UV254. The byproducts created from using UV222 do not retain the toxicity of Microcystin-LR, which means that UV222 effectively neutralizes the toxin's harmful effects.
By producing fewer byproducts that may have their own toxic effects, UV222 provides a safer and more effective method for degrading microcystins like MC-LR. This research underscores the potential of fundamental scientific studies to yield practical solutions in water treatment, thereby enhancing public health in a cost-effective manner.
This study was supported by the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area, through the Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology).