Evaluating Cyanotoxins in Surface Water and Aerosols Near Utah Lake

Utah Lake is a freshwater lake in Utah County near Provo, Utah. It is the third- largest lake in Utah and is important for recreation and local businesses. However, from June to October, the lake often has cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cHABs), which contain a toxin called cyanotoxin. These toxins can be dangerous to people who come into contact with the water. Government agencies regularly check for cHABs and warn people when the water is unsafe for activities like swimming. Collecting water samples to test for cHABs can be risky because it can possibly result in direct contact with the contaminated water. In addition, it is possible for the cyanotoxins to become airborne and spread through the air, which could be harmful if people breathe them in. However, monitoring the air for cyanobacteria is not currently done at Utah Lake. This study aimed to discover if cyanotoxins in Utah Lake could become airborne and if using a remote- controlled boat could collect water samples similar to a human. Researchers collected water and air samples at two locations—Lincoln Marina and Utah State Lake Park— during the summer of 2024. Water samples were taken daily around noon using both traditional methods and a robotic boat with a water sampler. Air samples were collected onto air filters using vacuum-based air samplers that ran for 8–12 hours each day. The collected samples were analyzed using a method approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results confirmed that the robotic boat was effective at collecting water samples. More importantly, researchers found that cyanotoxins were present in the air near the lake at levels similar to other studies. The study also showed that wind speed, wind direction, and water movement played a big role in spreading the bacteria into the air. These findings highlight the need for more research and monitoring of airborne cyanotoxins to better understand the potential health risks for people near Utah Lake.