Presence of total microcystins in the littoral of the western coast of the Curonian Lagoon of the Baltic Sea in 2011–2018 by the data of immunochromatographic analysis

Abstract

Using immunochromatographic express analysis, it was shown that hepatotoxic metabolites of cyanobacteria, microcystins, were present in the littoral of the western coast of the Curonian Lagoon in 2011–2018 regularly during the summer and autumn months. More than half of all samples contained microcystins. The proportion of samples containing toxins is higher near large settlements. A high content of microcystins is more often recorded in the southern part of the coast. Water toxicity caused by the presence of microcystins is a characteristic feature of the Curonian Lagoon.