환경단체 “녹조 독소, 수도권 주민 소변에서도 검출”

Environmental group Environment Union has revealed that microcystin, a toxic substance from harmful algal blooms, was detected in the urine of residents living near the Nakdong River and water reservoirs in the metropolitan area. The group conducted a study from August 2025 to February 2026, testing 93 urine samples from residents living near the Nakdong River and 150 samples from residents near three water reservoirs in the metropolitan area.

The results showed that 31.2% of the urine samples and 22.7% of the samples contained microcystin. The most common type of microcystin detected was MC-LR, which is classified as a potentially carcinogenic substance by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. The group emphasized that the detection of microcystin in urine samples indicates a health risk to residents and called for proactive measures to protect the health of the public.

The group also highlighted that the risk of exposure to microcystin is not limited to the most heavily affected Nakdong River basin, as the same levels of contamination were found in other water bodies in the metropolitan area.