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- Microbial Sand Dynamics Influencing FIB Levels at Beaches and Potential Climate Change InfluencesPublication . Solo-Gabriele, Helena; Brandão, João; Whitman, RichardIntroductory presentation to a scientific discussion on the influence of climatic elements on microbial sand contaminants.
- Risk levels of toxic cyanobacteria in portuguese recreational freshwatersPublication . Menezes, Carina; Churro, Catarina; Brandão, João; Dias, ElsaPortuguese surface freshwaters are widely used as a source of drinking water as well as bathing water. Cyanobacterial blooming in these water resources are common and are often associated with cyanotoxin production. The Portuguese legislation for drinking water (Decreto-Lei nº306/2007) establishes the regulatory level of 1 μg/L for total microcystins in treated water. This parameter is determined when eutrophication of water is suspected and when the number of potentially toxic cyanobacteria exceeds 2000 cells/mL. Conversely, the Portuguese legislation concerning the quality of bathing water (Decreto-Lei nº 135/2009), that was transposed form the European Directive nº2006/7/CE, do not include any guideline for cyanobacterial cells nor microcystins concentrations. It only recommends that when the bathing water profile indicates a potential for cyanobacterial proliferation, appropriate monitoring shall be carried out to enable timely identification of health risks. When cyanobacterial proliferation is detected visually, it is the responsibility of the local health delegate to evaluate the associated risk. If any risk has been identified or presumed, health and environmental authorities should implement the adequate management measures to prevent exposure, including information to the public. According to national specificities, some European countries complemented the European Directive nº2006/7/CE and implemented their own guidance or regulations, based on cyanobacterial cell numbers, biovolumes, pigments and/or cyanotoxin concentrations (Ibelings et al., 2015; Chorus, 2012). Prior to establishing regulatory or guideline values, it will be fundamental to characterize Portuguese inland bathing waters concerning the frequency, density, specie composition and toxicity of cyanobacterial blooms. These data are available but not systematized at a national scale. In this work we present the results of the monitoring of cyanobacteria and microcystins in 8 freshwater reservoirs located in the centre of Portugal largely used for bathing and recreational activities. These results will contribute to identify the cyanobacterial blooms profile and to assess the risk level of toxic cyanobacteria in Portuguese recreational freshwaters.