60 Agricultural Products Near Nakdong River Tested... No Green Algae Toxins Detected

No green algae toxins were detected in agricultural products near the Nakdong River.

On March 12, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that a survey of 60 agricultural products—including rice, radish, and napa cabbage—collected from cultivation sites near the Nakdong River found that none contained green algae toxins.

On the 9th, amid continued heatwaves, green algae was observed in the Han River near Seongsan Bridge in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

This survey was conducted to alleviate public concerns about agricultural products from areas near the Nakdong River, where green algae blooms frequently occur. The survey sites included cultivation areas in Goryeong-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, and Changwon, Changnyeong-gun, Hapcheon-gun, Yangsan, and Uiryeong-gun in South Gyeongsang Province. The government commissioned the survey to the Kyungpook National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, which has conducted green algae toxin research together with civic groups.

The survey was carried out from October 2025 to February 2026. Taking into account production volumes and harvest periods, 40 samples of rice, 10 of radish, and 10 of napa cabbage—a total of 60 samples—were tested using standardized methods for three types of green algae toxins. The analysis focused on three microcystin variants (MC-LR, MC-YR, MC-RR), which are microcystin-family toxins known to be highly toxic or frequently occurring, produced by harmful cyanobacteria.

The surveyed areas were selected from regions with frequent algae alerts, based on feedback from civic groups. The survey was conducted jointly by Kyungpook National University, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, with cooperation from local farmers to collect agricultural products directly from the fields.

The sample analysis was conducted by Kyungpook National University, which handled the pretreatment and analysis, while KOTITI Testing & Research Institute, a private inspection agency, performed a separate analysis. The government explained that experts in food and agrochemistry compared and validated the results from both institutions, ensuring transparency and objectivity in the survey process.

The government stated that, in cooperation with relevant ministries, it will review the timing, crop types, and number of samples for additional surveys based on these results, and will continue to strengthen the management of green algae toxins.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.