Matthew Salter, Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University
Matthew Salter, Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University

How would you describe your project in a few sentences?

We are interested in determining whether β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a toxic metabolite of cyanobacteria, becomes aerosolised when bubbles burst at the seawater-atmosphere interface. If it does, then there is the potential for it to be inhaled by humans living near water bodies with cyanobacteria blooms, such as the Baltic Sea. This would be a presently unassessed route of human exposure to the toxin.

What are your most important results, and for whom are they particularly useful?

To date, we have studied the aerosolisation of Nodularia spumigena, a cyanobacterium known to produce BMAA, under controlled conditions, in a sea spray simulation chamber. Using this approach, we have shown that this cyanobacterium and its toxins are aerosolised in significant quantities during bubble bursting experiments in our sea spray chamber. We have also collected field samples of sea spray that will be analysed for the presence of cyanobacteria in the Baltic aerosols. The results are potentially important for our understanding of the exposure of coastal populations to aerosolised BMAA during cyanobacteria blooms.

How can it assist an ecosystem-based management of the marine environment?

Improved understanding of the transfer of cyanobacteria and their toxins between the Baltic Sea and the atmosphere is highly relevant since it will both improve our scientific understanding of the Baltic Sea environment and lead to strategic advice to practitioners and policy makers. The potential risks of inhaling sea spray aerosol containing BMAA and other cyanotoxins is of direct relevance to risk assessment models and policy makers in the Baltic region.