| Title |
The Effects of UV-C Irradiation on Cell Death and Growth Suppression of Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) |
| Authors |
최하성(Choi Ha-Seong) ; 이정호(Lee Jung-Ho) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2025.41.6.532 |
| Keywords |
Cell death ratio; Harmful algal bloom; Long-term growth suppression; Microcystis aeruginosa; UV-C irradiation |
| Abstract |
Microcystis aeruginosa, a cyanobacterium, creates harmful algal blooms in lakes and rivers during periods of high water temperatures and produces microcystin, a hepatotoxin that poses risks to human health. While UV irradiation has been proposed as a potential method for mitigating algal growth, its specific effects on the suppression of growth and reduction of biomass in cyanobacteria remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess the direct lethal effects and long-term growth suppression of UV-C irradiation on M. aeruginosa. Exposure to UV-C for 2 minutes resulted in a cell death ratio of 3.5%, while extending the exposure to 5 minutes increased the death ratio to 58.8%, with complete cell mortality achieved after 9 minutes. Regarding growth suppression, cultures exposed to UV-C for 2 minutes maintained a cell density below 500,000 cells mL?1 from days 5 to 19. In contrast, cultures exposed for 5 minutes sustained a density below 100,000 cells mL?1 from days 2 to 19, indicating a prolonged inhibitory effect. These results suggest that while 2 minutes of low-dose UV-C irradiation is insufficient for immediate cell death, it effectively induces long-term growth suppression. This mechanism underscores the potential of UV-C as a strategy for controlling harmful algal blooms and provides valuable insights for its practical application in water treatment and management of these blooms. |