Evaluating Silicone Wristbands for Personal Passive Sampling of Cyanobacteria Toxins: Evidence from the Diversity and Innovation in Screening and Prevention of Exposure over the Long-term (DISPEL) to Harmful Algal Blooms Study

RAQUEL CHENAIL, James Christie, Cassandra Gaston, Alberto Caban-Martinez, Kimberly Popendorf, University of Miami

     Abstract Number: 190
     Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols

Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABS) are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change and land use changes. HABS are known to produce toxins that can negatively impact human health through ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Many Florida communities are at risk of HAB exposure including fishermen, researchers, and lakeside residents as they interact with HAB laden water and aerosols. One of the most impactful toxins in freshwater HABs, microcystin, can lead to health impacts such as dermal and respiratory irritation. While current methods exist to monitor these algal blooms, they often require sampling devices that are not user friendly, preventing mass deployment of monitoring devices. To create a more user friendly and equitable monitoring device, we tested silicone wristbands for the first time to determine their ability to capture aerosolized microcystin. We tested this by generating microcystin aerosols using a bubbler apparatus to simulate lake spray, where the silicone wristbands and subsequent filters were exposed to determine if silicone wristbands could capture microcystin aerosols. Alongside testing wristbands with different concentrations of HAB filled waters, we also tested a sample which was immersed in water containing microcystin to determine if non-aerosolized microcystin could stick to the wristbands. To determine the concentration of microcystin on each wristband, as well as the filters, we analyzed the extract using a high-pressure liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS). By comparing our wristband and filter extracts to a procedural blank, we were able to determine the concentration of the nine known congeners of microcystin deposited on our wristbands and compare them to the concentrations of microcystin deposited on the filters. From this work, we are able to provide a cost-effective and user-friendly aerosolized HAB monitoring device, which can be further developed to determine HAB exposure levels for residents, scientists, and fishermen.