Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program to Re-Evaluate Microcystin

Minnesota Department of Health

Microcystin being re-evaluated by the Contaminants of Emerging Concern Program. Microcystin is a toxin produced naturally by cyanobacteria, commonly known as "blue-green algae." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released a new evaluation of the health effects of microcystin. The EPA evaluation used a different point of departure (POD) than MDH's current guidance values. MDH has initiated a re-evaluation to determine if the current health-based guidance values for microcystin should be revised.