Chlorophyll A and pheopigment analysis in water
Phytocontrol, an expert in water and environmental health safety, has developed chlorophyll A and pheopigment analysis in freshwater.
Lakes and rivers are exposed to contamination risks mostly due to human activity (intensive farming and livestock rearing, chemical fertilisers, wastewater discharges, deforestation, fires, etc.). These activities affecting environments and their biodiversity lead to environmental imbalances that can result in eutrophication.
Eutrophication refers to a process of nutrient accumulation that leads to a gradual change in the biological balance of an ecosystem. This nutrient surplus degrades water quality and promotes the proliferation of microalgae and aquatic plants, including toxin-producing cyanobacteria. Four families of cyanotoxins are regulated due to their toxicity: microcystins, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin and anatoxin.
Phytoplanktonic eutrophication can be assessed by measuring chlorophyll A and phaeopigments.
The analytical solution from Phytocontrol laboratory
Regulations set a threshold value of 10 µg/L for chlorophyll-A in recreational water. Above this value, ANSES requires identification and enumeration of cyanobacteria. If toxin-producing strains are identified, quantification of cyanotoxins (microcystins, nodularin, anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin) then becomes necessary.
Phytocontrol can offer chlorophyll A and phaeopigment analysis by UV-visible spectrometry according to standard NF T 90-117.
Our limit of quantification complies with the regulatory limit for surface waters. If the chlorophyll-A threshold set by ANSES is exceeded, Phytocontrol will also be able to identify and enumerate the cyanobacteria present in the sample, and can offer microcystin quantification.
Monitoring and anticipating cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater
In partnership with Microbia Environnement, an innovative company and leader in environmental biotechnology, Phytocontrol supports you with analysis programmes using genetic biosensors capable of detecting living and active micro-organisms in a given ecosystem in a targeted and highly sensitive way. With an appropriate analysis frequency, it is possible to track the dynamics of microbial population changes and identify the onset or decline of a bloom, similar to a “weather forecast” for water quality.
