title: Bioaccumulation of Microcystins in Lettuce.
abstract: The contamination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by water-borne crude extracts of the cyanobacterium microcystin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing was investigated. The aim of the study was to determine whether bioaccumulation of microcystins occurs in lettuce foliar tissue when sprayed with solutions containing microcystins at concentrations observed in aquatic systems (0.62 to 12.5 μg · L(-1) ). Microcystins were found in lettuce foliar tissues (8.31 to 177.8 μg per Kg of fresh weight) at all concentrations of crude extracts. Spraying with water containing microcystins and cyanobacteria may contaminate lettuce at levels higher than the daily intake of microcystins recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring the need to monitor such food exposure pathways by public authorities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil.|Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talita Caroline
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hereman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil.|Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Bittencourt-Oliveira
keywords: Microcystis aeruginosa; alimentary security; cyanobacteria; food contamination; irrigation; vegetables