Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful technique for analyzing biotoxins1 because of its high selectivity, its high dynamic linear range and its ability to quantify many potent hepatotoxins—including microcystins and nodularins in natural blooms, cyanobacterial strains, fish and other biological samples—in a single analysis run.2-3
A phenomenon called eutrophication promotes the natural occurrence of harmful cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater and marine ecosystems.4 These blooms produce toxic metabolites that have diverse structural and physicochemical properties. Frequently detected cyanotoxins include microcystins, nodularins, cylindrospermopsin and neurotoxins, which increasingly threaten the ecosystem and human health.5 While these blooms of toxic cyanobacteria species are present in various surface water sources, the primary route of exposure for most people is through drinking water, which can result in consumption advisories from regulatory authorities.6-8
For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guideline for microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a limit of 1 μg/L.9 The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 10-day drinking water health advisory for MC-LR is a limit of 0.3 μg/L for infants and children up to 6 years old, and 1.6 μg/L for adults.10 In Canada, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) of MC-LR is 1.5 μg/L.11
Traditionally, surface waters have been analyzed for these toxins using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultra-violet (UV) detection or other methodologies such as gas chromatography (GC). However, these approaches have limitations, especially when it comes to potential cross-contamination, which could lead to a high risk of false positives.
A shift to mass spectrometry for detecting biotoxins
With the diversity in chemical structures of natural toxins in the environment, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is an ideal tool for the comprehensive analysis of a wide scope of toxins, including microcystins, in a single analysis.
Using LC-MS/MS enables:
To learn more about SCIEX solutions for mycotoxin and natural toxin detection in food and feed, click here.
Detection of microcystin and nodularin toxins with specificity and mass accuracy
This easy-to-use accurate mass spectrometer system analyzes data faster using the power of SWATH® Acquisition.
This all-in-one software lets you acquire, process and analyze data, and even generate reports.
Use the MRM sensitivity of a triple quadrupole system to get even better identification and quantification.
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High resolution quantitation of microcystins and nodularin on SCIEX X500R QTOF System | Download |
Quantitation of microcystins and nodularins in water samples using LC-MS/MS | Download |
Analysis of selected microcystins in drinking and surface water using a highly sensitive direct injection technique | Download |
Simultaneous determination of 14 paralytic shellfish toxins using LC-MS/MS on the SCIEX QTRAP® 6500+ System | Download |
Chemical labeling strategy and LC-MS/MS analysis of amine-containing neurotoxin in sharks’ fins | Download |