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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/E009255/1

Strategies to manage toxic cyanobacetrial blooms in lakes: remote sensing, modelling and cost benefit analysis

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor AN Tyler, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Plant Soil Interface
Co-Investigator:
Professor D Hopkins, SRUC, Unlisted - Edinburgh Campus
Science Area:
Marine
Freshwater
Overall Classification:
Freshwater
ENRIs:
Pollution and Waste
Natural Resource Management
Global Change
Environmental Risks and Hazards
Biodiversity
Science Topics:
Environmental Microbiology
Water Quality
Environment & Health
Survey & Monitoring
Abstract:
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) commonly produce mass populations in UK still- and slow-moving freshwaters. They may generate toxins which present health risks to humans and animals via ingestion and skin contact. Not all cyanobacterial blooms produce toxins, and the presence of toxins can only be confirmed by collecting samples and taking them to the laboratory. From a public health perspective monitoring has been largely reactionary and not proactive and little early warning capability exists However, recent developments in remote sensing techniques have shown promise in the rapid (and reliable) detection of blooms. This proposal is designed to develop and evaluate an approach based on remote sensing (RS) to providing early warning of toxic cyanobacterial development to protect health within a risk assessment framework. Calibration of the (RS) procedure would be carried out using actual cyanotoxin analysis at 2 high-resource UK freshwaters with a history of annual bloom production. The proposal builds on existing modelling work to develop a hazard assessment tool to identify likely water bodies that may pose a hazard from the production toxic cyanobacteria and model the influence of climate change on potentially toxic cyanobacteria production in lakes. A critical question relates to understanding the environmental factors leading to cyanotoxin production and this is addressed within the proposal. The human health risk from direct and indirect exposure to the toxins is addressed along with cost-benefit analysis of monitoring for toxic blooms.
Period of Award:
1 Oct 2007 - 31 Jan 2009
Value:
£2,530 Split Award
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/E009255/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Directed (Research Programmes)
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
EHH

This grant award has a total value of £2,530  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

DI - Other CostsIndirect - Indirect CostsDA - InvestigatorsDA - Estate CostsDI - StaffDI - T&S
£164£296£624£74£1,291£82

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