Dr. Damjana Drobac Backović

Nada Tokodi

Jelica Simeunović

Vladimir Baltić

Dina Stanić

Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in fishponds and their effects on fish tissue

Cyanotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by cyanobacteria. They pose a threat to human health and the environment. This review summarises the existing data on human exposure to cyanotoxins through drinking water, recreational activities (e.g., swimming, canoeing or bathing), the aquatic food web, terrestrial plants, food supplements, and haemodialysis. Furthermore, it discusses the tolerable daily intake and guideline values for cyanotoxins (especially microcystins) as well as the need to implement risk management measures via national and international legislation.

1 May 2016 in Harmful Algae

Journal Article

Jelena Lujić

Zoran Marinovic

Gordana Subakov Simić

Microcystin accumulation and potential effects on antioxidant capacity of leaves and fruits ofCapsicum annuum

31 January 2017 in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

Journal Article

Biljana Kiprovski

Djordje Malenčić

Tamara Važić

Cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems in Serbia: effects on water quality, human health and biodiversity

Surface water, often used for irrigation purposes, may sometimes be contaminated with blooming cyanobacteria and thereby may contain their potent and harmful toxins. Cyanotoxins adversely affect many terrestrial plants, and accumulate in plant tissues that are subsequently ingested by humans. Studies were undertaken to (1) examine the bioaccumulation of microcystins (MCs) in leaves and fruits of pepper Capsicum annuum and (2) examine the potential effects of MCs on antioxidant capacity of these organs. Plants were irrigated with water containing MCs for a period of 3 mo. Data showed that MCs did not accumulate in leaves; however, in fruits the presence of the MC-LR (0.118 ng/mg dry weight) and dmMC-LR (0.077 ng/mg dry weight) was detected. The concentrations of MC-LR in fruit approached the acceptable guideline values and tolerable daily intake for this toxin. Lipid peroxidation levels and flavonoids content were significantly enhanced in both organs of treated plants, while total phenolic concentrations were not markedly variable between control and treated plants. Significant decrease in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity was noted for both organs. The levels of superoxide anion in fruits and hydroxyl radical in leaves were markedly reduced. Data suggest that exposure to MCs significantly reduced antioxidant capacity of experimental plants, indicating that MCs affected antioxidant systems in C. annuum.

10 June 2014 in Systematics and Biodiversity

Journal Article

Massive fish mortality and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii bloom in Aleksandrovac Lake

Geoffrey A. Codd

Cyanobacterial blooms and toxins (cyanotoxins) in both natural and controlled waterbodies are of worldwide concern. This paper presents a review of 130 years of research on the biodiversity, occurrence and toxicity of cyanobacteria in waterbodies throughout Serbia, as well as their effects on water quality and human health. Data on the occurrence of particular cyanotoxins over more recent years are also collated. Data from over 70 sources, including research articles, project reports, conference abstracts, dissertations, books, annual and news reports are summarized. This survey provides a valuable resource for current and future assessments of cyanobacterial and cyanotoxin occurrence and abundance in Serbian waterbodies, and for management solutions where ecosystems and human health are jeopardized.

28 June 2016 in Ecotoxicology

Journal Article

The Effect of a Combined Hydrogen Peroxide-MlrA Treatment on the Phytoplankton Community and Microcystin Concentrations in a Mesocosm Experiment in Lake Ludoš

Vesna Obradović

Geoffrey A. Codd

Prvoslav Marjanović

Lisa Spoof

Jussi Meriluoto

11 December 2019 in Toxins

Journal Article

Dariusz Dziga