Film-based passive sampling for tracking cyanotoxins to be evaluated at L.A.-area lakes

SCCWRP and its partners have identified at least two Los Angeles-area lakes where a class of cyanotoxins known as microcystins appears to be present, paving the way for researchers to evaluate the performance of novel, film-based passive sampling technology for tracking microcystin levels.

Researchers in January obtained the findings by analyzing water and sediment samples via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the screening results also are in the process of being compared to results from liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), which is a more exact but costly method.

In August, passive sampling devices made of hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) polymers will be deployed in the two lakes alongside resin-based passive sampling devices known as Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT).

SPATT devices, which are commonly used for harmful algal blooms (HABs) monitoring, are difficult to calibrate and provide only semi-quantitative estimates of toxin levels in the water column and in sediment. Researchers hope the film-based passive sampling can offer a cheaper, more precise alternative for cyanotoxin monitoring.