%0 Journal Article
%T Quantitative Variations of Intracellular Microcystin-LR, -RR and -YR in Samples Collected from Four Locations in Hartbeespoort Dam in North West Province (South Africa) During the 2010/2011 Summer Season
%A Elbert A. Mbukwa
%A Titus A.M. Msagati
%A Bhekie B. Mamba
%J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
%D 2012
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/ijerph9103484
%X The Hartbeespoort (HBP) Dam is a reservoir used for agricultural, domestic supply of raw potable water and recreational activities in South Africa¡¯s North-West Province. Eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms have long been a cause of water-quality problems in this reservoir. The most prevalent bloom-forming species is Microcystis aeruginosa, often producing the toxin microcystin, a hepatotoxin which can negatively impact aquatic animal and human health, and poses a problem for potable water supply. Algal samples were collected monthly from four pre-determined sites in the dam during the summer months (December 2010¨CMarch 2011). Intracellular microcystins (MCs) were extracted using SPE C 18 cartridges, followed by separation, identification and quantification using LC-ESI-MS techniques. Quantitative variation studies of MCs were conducted with respect to MC congener isolated, sampling site and month. Three main MC congeners (MC-RR, -LR and-YR) were isolated, identified and quantified. In addition, three minor MCs (MC-WR, MC-(H 4)YR and (D-Asp 3, Dha 7)MC-RR were also identified, but were not quantified. The MC dominance followed the order MC-RR>MC-LR>MC-YR across all sites and time. The maximum and minimum concentrations were 268 ¦Ìg/g and 0.14 ¦Ìg/g DW for MC-RR and MC-YR, respectively, of the total MCs quantified from this study. One-way ANOVA showed that there were no significant differences between average MC concentrations recorded across months ( P = 0.62), there was, however, a marginally-significant difference in concentrations among MC congeners ( P = 0.06). ANCOVA revealed a highly significant interaction between sites and MC congeners on MC concentration ( P < 0.001).
%K summer
%K Hartbeespoort Dam
%K dry weight (DW)
%K quantitative LC-ESI-MS
%K intracellular variations
%K microcystin-RR
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/10/3484