A new study from UBC香蕉视频直播檚 Okanagan campus has found that a toxin linked to several neurodegenerative diseases is present in high concentrations during cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Winnipeg.

香蕉视频直播淐yanobacteria blooms have become increasingly common in Lake Winnipeg since the 1990s,香蕉视频直播� said Susan Murch, associate professor of chemistry and study lead author.

香蕉视频直播淭hese bacteria have also been known to produce BMAA under the right conditions and we wanted to establish whether this could be happening in one of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 largest and most important freshwater lakes.香蕉视频直播�

Study authors say BMAA has been associated with everything from Alzheimer香蕉视频直播檚 to ALS and can have serious public health implications if it permeates food and water supplies.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very difficult to detect BMAA directly in water samples using current methods,香蕉视频直播� said Stephanie Bishop, a graduate student in chemistry at UBC Okanagan and study co-author.

Murch and Bishop analyzed samples collected in July and September of 2016 and found that BMAA was present in highest concentrations in the areas of the bloom that are impacted by pollution and farming.

香蕉视频直播淎gricultural and human activities along with factors like climate change are very likely behind the increased size and frequency of blooms,香蕉视频直播� said Murch.

香蕉视频直播淲e now know that with these blooms comes the very real risk of increased exposure to BMAA and the public health impacts that follow.香蕉视频直播�

She warns that cyanobacterial blooms are not isolated to Lake Winnipeg and that she would expect to see similar results in other fresh water lakes.

香蕉视频直播淲e hope that an increased awareness of risks of BMAA along with a better understanding of the human impacts on algal blooms will help us better manage the potential consequences to public health,香蕉视频直播� she said.