Microcystins as environmental and human health hazards

Abstract The incidence of cyanobacterial blooms is increasing due to numerous factors, especially anthropogenic influences such as eutrophication and global warming. As cyanobacteria produce toxins that are hazardous to several organisms, the ecosystem, and also humans, there is a need to accrue and evaluate the current data to assess the risk posed to us and our environment. By understanding how and why these toxins are produced, we can attempt to eliminate the threat by either managing toxin production or to eradicate these hazards from surface waters and thus limiting exposure. This chapter specifically addresses the most commonly occurring group of cyanobacterial toxins, the microcystins. We discuss the adverse implication for the environment and the human exposure risk. We conclude the chapter by discussing possible countermeasures, focusing on the phytoremediation method called the Green Liver System.