Revealing the Hidden Potential of Ultraviolet (UV)-C Irradiation for Controlling Aquatic Toxicity Caused by Harmful Algal Blooms

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a significant threat to freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats. HABs have numerous harmful impacts, such as the creation of odorous compounds, disinfection byproducts, and the release of toxic substances. Various physical, biological, and chemical techniques have been attempted to prevent blooms. However, the bulk of HABs management methods currently in use concentrate on emergent removals; as a result, these methods are usually less effective because they are immobile. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has gained lots of attention lately as a possible remedy for lowering HABs. In this review paper, we have combined the recent information about various toxic effects of algal blooms, UV-C irradiation (UV-C irradiation), starting from the other methods used for the removal of HABs, continuing with the UV-C facilities, particularly flow-through reactors, enabling the development of shipborne UV-C facilities, and the practical way through which the UV-C irradiation technique was made in use to remove HABs. Further, including the mechanism, suppression factors, application of the UV-C technique, and algal growth recovery. The effects of UV-induced damage on nucleic acid, the photosynthesis system, settleability, cell integrity, and oxidative pressure were responsible for the suppression effects on algal cell density. The suppression factors to which attention needs to be paid are humic acid, salinity, turbidity, nitrate, and pH.