No Cyanobacteria in Ulsan Rivers... Algal Toxin Substance Survey Shows 'Safe'

Accumulation of Data on Toxicity Risk Assessment of Agricultural Crops Using River Water

Rivers in Ulsan city have been found to maintain water quality safe from 'algal toxins.'

The Ulsan City Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 8th that a survey on the risk of algal toxin substances derived from cyanobacteria in major rivers in the city confirmed the water to be safe.

The survey was conducted over the course of last year to assess the risk of algal toxin substances in crops irrigated with water from the Taehwa River, Dongcheon, and Hoeya River.

Microcystin, an algal toxin substance, is a representative toxic compound produced by cyanobacteria, a type of phytoplankton that causes green algae blooms mainly in stagnant water areas.

The survey method involved selecting eight agricultural sites using river water for irrigation, with cooperation from the Korea Rural Community Corporation, and focusing on cyanobacteria producing microcystin in the river water at each site.

The results showed that cyanobacteria were not detected at any site, indicating that major rivers in Ulsan, including the Taehwa River, Dongcheon, and Hoeya River, pose no risk of algal toxin substances from cyanobacteria.

The Health and Environment Research Institute decided to extend monitoring of cyanobacteria populations in the surveyed river waters for two more years until 2024 to accumulate more data.

Ulsan Institute of Health and Environment Research.

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