Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) in Inland and Inshore Waters: Assessment and Minimisation of Risks to Public Health

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This document, prepared by a Working Group established by the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates, provides guidance to Directors of Public Health, to Heads of Environmental Health in Local Authorities (LAs), and to others in Scotland, on possible risks to public health of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in inland and inshore waters. It updates previous guidance under the same title that was published by the Scottish Government Health Directorate previously in 2002, and revised in 2007.

1.2 The remit of the Working Group was:

i. to review previous guidance in the context of advances in scientific knowledge and, in particular, to consider the implications for the public of exposure during recreation and work and of exposure from food and water;

ii. to review previous guidance on monitoring and risk assessment in the context of recent experience in Scotland and elsewhere; and

iii. to provide further guidance.

1.3 The membership of the Working Group is given in Annex A.

1.4 The guidance takes account of relevant peer reviewed literature, expert group guidance from international bodies (e.g. WHO) and the expert opinions of the Working Group members. It takes account of current World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance summarised in "Toxic cyanobacteria in water. A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management" (eds I Chorus and J Bartram) published in 1999 by E&FN Spon, London, on behalf of the WHO. The guidance given in this report also provides for Scottish compliance with the requirements of Article 8 of the revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:064:0037:0051:EN:PDF

A formal systematic review as such was not conducted however, Working Group members updated relevant sections of the report based on their knowledge of relevant literature and issues.

1.5 This document will be updated every five years. It is accepted, therefore, that while certain details (such as contact details in Annex C) are correct at the time of issue, they are subject to obsolescence during this period.