Determination of Microcystin-LR in water from Güija lake

Abstract

Cyanotoxins are produced by cyanobacteria that can be found in continental and marine water. They are important for public health due to their potential hepatotoxicity and impact on aquatic ecosystems; Microcystin-LR is a toxin produced by certain cyanobacteria that may be present in bodies of water, so its monitoring is important. Considering that, due to the effect of climate change, favorable environmental conditions may arise in Güija Lake, this research aimed to detect the presence of microcystin-LR, for which sampling was carried out at ten representative points of the lake, analyzing surface water by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). This was a descriptive type and scope investigation, the sampling was non-probabilistic for convenience and the final sample consisted of ten water samples from georeferenced points in the lake. The results showed that none of the microcystin-LR values exceeded the limit of 1 µg/L established by the WHO at any of the sampled points. These results are similar to other studies carried out in other lakes, suggesting the importance of properly managing nutrients entering the water. Future research should include the identification of cyanobacteria and the quantification of chlorophyll-a, for a holistic evaluation of the phenomenon in that and other bodies of water.