OCEANUS SEMINAR SERIES | Brahim Oudra | 06 DEC | 11:30

 

Title: Toxic CyanoHAB events and Health risk assessment in microcystins-contaminated vegetal crops.

 

Public health concerns are raised with worldwide increases of   CyanoHAB events followed by a various cyanotoxins production. Less is known about the prevalence of microcystins (MCs) and their related health risk in field vegetal crops being irrigated with MCs-containing water. Therefore, we report a study of assessment of the health biohazard related to the accumulation of environmentally realistic concentrations of MCs in raw water and edible fruits for both humans and farm animals. Raw water and fruit samples were collected around the agricultural area of the Takerkoust lake-reservoir (Morocco) and total MCs concentration was monitored and the Risk health was assessed. This field study highlights the hidden health risk linked a significant accumulation of MCs in edible fruit and plant organs, which raise concerns related to food safety. Thus, there is an urgent need for guidelines regarding water use and management in MCs-contaminated areas, besides the setup of nature-based tools for toxin removal from raw water used in farming practices.

 

Name: Brahim Oudra

 

Professor Brahim OUDRA (PhD in Ecotoxicology of toxic  CyanoHAB), Full-Professor and researcher at the Univ. Cadi Ayyad, Semalia Faculty of Sciences Semlalia in Marrakech since 2005.  Currently,  is a Head of department of Biology, and Vice-Director of the laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change. His teaching areas involve Phycology and Micro-algae and Cyanobacteria Eco-physiology, Ecotoxicology, and Plants biochemistry. Areas of research and expertise are: Ecotoxicological diagnosis and health risks associated with cyanotoxins and their behavior in the aquatic food chain; Contamination of irrigation water with cyanobacteria toxins: allelopathic and phytotoxicity interactions: Cyanotoxins -plants- bacterial soil complex; Investigator on innovative green biological process applied for toxic cyanobacteria growth control and cyanotoxins removal; Screening of bio-actives substances against cyanobacteria from Moroccan plants, seaweeds and Lichens; Screening of Bacterial consortium for cyanotoxins ( Microcytins) biodegradation. Over the years, he has supervised and co-supervised more than 25 PhD dissertations and more than 60 master degrees. He is also author of 94 scientific publications and counts with more than 150 communications in scientific meetings and congresses.

 

The seminar will take place at CIIMAR headquarters (Boca da Baleia Auditorium).

 

External members of CIIMAR should send an email to divulgacao@ciimar.up.pt, requesting authorization to enter the Leixões Terminal area

 

If you are a CIIMAR member you can also access last seminars recordings through the LINK.