Grantee Research Project Results
Building Capacity for Cyanotoxin Analysis at the Native Village of Kotzebue
EPA Grant Number: EM840666Title: Building Capacity for Cyanotoxin Analysis at the Native Village of Kotzebue
Investigators: Whiting, Alex
Institution: Native Village of Kotzebue
EPA Project Officer: Cunniff, Sydney
Project Period: October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026
Project Amount: $140,000
RFA: Congressionally Directed Spending (2023)
Research Category: Harmful Algal Blooms , Water
Description:
Toxic cyanobacteria blooms are becoming increasingly common in coastal waters around Kotzebue, Alaska. They were first noted by the Environmental Director of the Native Village of Kotzebue (NVOK), Alex Whiting, in 2008 and subsequent research by collaborators at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Columbia University, and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have documented the cyanobacteria species and the levels of cyanotoxins present in the water and in fish that is an important source of food for the local community.
Objective:
The goal of the project is to obtain a mobile lab for the Tribe that will fulfill the necessary requirements to process water and other media samples, in regards to running Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and similar analysis for the purpose of understanding cyanotoxin levels and other byproducts and impacts of the Harmful Algae Blooms occurring in waters near Kotzebue. In addition to having the lab equipped and set up properly, the project will also have Tribal employees being trained in running these analyses by Astrid Schnetzer of NCSU, including developing protocols and Quality Assurance Plan(s) template. To be clear, the goal of this particular effort is not to undertake a sampling effort for the purpose of determining cyanotoxin levels and reporting them to the public, it is only to be properly equipped to do so for future efforts funded under other funding mechanisms/opportunities.
Approach:
Identify mobile lab manufacturer and shipper of mobile lab from manufacturer site to site in Kotzebue, Alaska. Astrid Schnetzer will assist with properly equipping the lab with the tools and supplies needed to process samples and run cyanotoxin analyses. She will also provide the necessary knowledge for the development of sample processing and ELISA protocols that can serve the local needs in Kotzebue. The areas of focus for protocol development would include in situ toxin tracking devices as a potential monitoring tool, and processing of water and fish and wildlife samples for toxin analysis. The goal would be to determine the most effective methods based on the local conditions and resources (capacity).
Expected Results:
The proposed project will increase the capacity of the NVOK to participate in collecting and analyzing water and other media samples for the presence and levels of cyanotoxins.
Supplemental Keywords:
Dolichospermum, Alaskan Arctic, Aphanizomenon, Kotzebue Sound, Chukchi Sea, EPA Region 10, phytoplanktonThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.