Harmful algal bloom and associated health risks among users of Lake Victoria freshwater: Ukerewe Island, Tanzania

There is a global concern regarding the occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their effects on human health. Lake Victoria (LV) has been reported to face eutrophication challenges, resulting in an increase of bloom-forming cyanobacteria. This study is aimed at understanding the association...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water and health 2019-10, Vol.17 (5), p.826-836
Main Authors: Mchau, Geofrey J, Makule, Edna, Machunda, Revocatus, Gong, Yun Yun, Kimanya, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Algal blooms
Anabaena
Aquatic ecosystems
Cells
Chronic illnesses
Cross-Sectional Studies
Cyanobacteria
Diarrhea
Drinking water
Epidemiology
Eutrophication
Freshwater
Freshwater lakes
Harmful Algal Bloom
Headaches
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Humans
Inland water environment
Irritation
Lakes
Lakes - microbiology
Microcystis
Pipes
Plankton
Public health
Recreation
Risk
Sanitation
Shores
Skin
Species identification
Tanzania
Toxins
Vomiting
Water analysis
Water consumption
Water quality
Water sampling
Water use
Water users
Water wells
Well water
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Summary:There is a global concern regarding the occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their effects on human health. Lake Victoria (LV) has been reported to face eutrophication challenges, resulting in an increase of bloom-forming cyanobacteria. This study is aimed at understanding the association of HABs and health risks at Ukerewe Island. A cross-sectional study conducted on 432 study subjects and water samples for cyanobacteria species identification were collected at LV shores. The results reveal that concentrations of cyanobacteria cells are beyond (WHO) acceptable limits; species of Microcystis aeruginosa range from 90,361.63 to 3,032.031.65 cells/mL and Anabaena spp. range from 13,310.00 to 4,814,702 cells/mL. Water usage indicates that 31% use lake water, 53% well water and 16% treated supplied pipe water. Vomiting and throat irritation was highly reported by lake water users as compared to wells and pipe water (P < 0.001). Gastrointestinal illness (GI) was significantly elevated among lake water users as compared to pipe and well water users (P < 0.001). Visible blooms in lake water were associated with GI, skin irritation and vomiting as compared to water without visible blooms (P < 0.001). The concentration of cyanobacteria blooms poses greater risks when water is used without treatment.
ISSN:1477-8920
1996-7829
DOI:10.2166/wh.2019.083