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Public Health
Despite the relatively low frequency of anatoxin-a relative to other cyanotoxins, its high toxicity means that it is still considered a serious threat to terrestrial and aquatic organisms, most significantly to livestock and to humans (Osswald). The threat posed by anatoxin-a and other cyanotoxins is increasing as both fertilizer runoff, leading to eutrophication in lakes and rivers, and higher global temperatures contribute to a greater frequency and prevalence of cyanobacterial blooms.

Detection
There are two categories of anatoxin-a detection methods. Biological methods have involved administration of samples to mice and other organisms more commonly used in ecotoxicological testing, sush as brine shrimp ("Artemia salina"), larvae of the freshwater crustacean Thamnocephalus platyurus, and various insect larvae tests. Problems with this methodology include an inability to determine whether it is anatoxin-a or another neurotoxin that causes the resulting deaths. In addition, large amounts of sample material are need for such testing. In addition to the biological methods, scientists have used chromatography to detect anatoxin-a. This is complicated by the rapid degradation of the toxin and the lack of commercially available standards for anatoxin-a.

Water Treatment
Among methods of reducing the risk for cyanotoxins, including anatoxin-a, scientists look favorably on biological treatment methods because they require low levels of technology, maintenance, and running. Not many biological treatment options have been tested for anatoxin-a specifically, although some bacteria have shown promise in removing the toxin by biodegradation. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters have also been tested as a method of biodegradation, but it is inconclusive that they were not simply absorbing the toxin. Others have called for additional studies to determine more about how to use activated carbon effectively. More common methods of treating water, including UV disinfection and chlorine are not effective for targeting anatoxin-a. Other oxidants such as potassium permanganate, ozone, and the hydroxyl radical have worked in lowering levels of anatoxin-a. Optimizing the treatment process would involve the ability to remove complete cyanobacterial cells, since most of the anatoxin-a is found within the cells when the bloom is growing. More research needs to be done to find more reliable and efficient ways of both detection and treatment processes.