Laboratory analysis of cyanobacterial toxins and bioassays.

Cyanobacterial toxins or cyanotoxins are a diverse group of compounds with differing chemistries; hence, a single analytical method can rarely be used to evaluate all potential compounds. Toxicity bioassays have been adapted to assess the toxicity of cyanobacterial samples. The most common of these assays is the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit using antibodies raised to specific cyanotoxins. Testing with bioassays is expected to show whether the sample contains toxic substances and how toxic these substances may potentially be. Laboratory staff handling samples potentially containing toxic cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial toxins is potentially exposed to health hazards, and appropriate protective measures need to be implemented. Following a sampling trip, the samples arriving in the laboratory need to be processed further for analysis or storage. Three aspects are important for sample handling and storage: safety, sample processing to ensure stability and traceability

Tox-Box: securing drops of life - an enhanced health-related approach for risk assessment of drinking water in Germany Tox-Box: Die Tropfen des Lebens bewahren - Gesundheitsbasierte Risikobewertung für Trinkwasser in Deutschland

This article introduces ‘Tox-Box’, a joint research project designed to develop a holistic approach towards a harmonized testing strategy for exposure- and hazard-based risk management of anthropogenic trace substances in drinking water to secure a long-term drinking water supply. The main task of the Tox-Box consortium is to enhance the existing health-related indicator value concept (German: GOW-Konzept - Gesundheitlicher Orientierungswert) through development and prioritization of additional end point-related testing strategies for genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, germ cell damage, and endocrine effects. In this context, substance-specific modes of action will be identified and characterized. Toxicological data collected by the 12 Tox-Box subprojects will be evaluated and weighted to structure a hierarchical testing strategy for an improved risk assessment. A technical guidance document for exposure and hazard-based risk management of anthropogenic trace substances in drinking water will eventually be prepared