The occurrence and potential health risk of microcystins in drinking water of rural areas in China.

Weiwei Zheng
,
Lan Yang
,
Wuren Ma
,
Yu Huang
,
James Crabbe
,
Weidong Qu

Fudan University
,
University of Oxford

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 3 Good Health and Well
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action

Abstract

Large-scale use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in agricultural production, environmental pollution and climate warming cause frequent algal blooms and the generation of algal toxins in water bodies in China. Algal pollution is increasing and microcystins (MCs) are detectable in both surface and ground water in China at sub- μg/L and μg/L levels. Toxicological studies show that microcystins have hepatic and renal toxicity, genotoxicity, tumor-promoting effects, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity. Epidemiological evidence from China further reveals that chronic exposure to MCs through drinking water and liver cancer are positively correlated and demonstrate that MCs in drinking water are a main risk factor in liver cancer. Effectively controlled water pollution, reduced sewage discharge, and enhanced wastewater treatments are pivotal measures to control algal pollution and toxins in the drinking water of rural China.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Original language

English

Publication milestones

Published - 26/12/2018

Publication status

Published - 26/12/2018

Publisher

Elsevier B.V., India, Australia, Germany, United States, China, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Taiwan, Province of China, Brazil, France, Singapore