biostudies-literatureAlnahas MNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council328https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11360697biostudies-literatureUnknown16(8)Peracetic acid (PAA) shows potential for use in drinking water treatment as an alternative to prechlorination, such as for mussel control and disinfection by-product precursor destruction, though its impact as a preoxidant during cyanobacterial blooms remains underexplored. Here, <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> inactivation and microcystin-LR and -RR release and degradation using PAA were explored. The toxin degradation rates were found to be higher in alkaline conditions than in neutral and acidic conditions. However, all rates were significantly smaller than comparable rates when using free chlorine. The inactivation of <i>M. aeruginosa</i> cells using PAA was faster at acidic pH, showing immediate cell damage and subsequent cell death after 15-60 min of exposure to 10 mg/L PAA. In neutralToxinsOxidation of <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> and Microcystins with Peracetic Acid.PMC11360697428979-16Alnahas MAlmuhtaram HHofmann RfalseOxidation of <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> and Microcystins with Peracetic Acid.Peracetic acid (PAA) shows potential for use in drinking water treatment as an alternative to prechlorination, such as for mussel control and disinfection by-product precursor destruction, though its impact as a preoxidant during cyanobacterial blooms remains underexplored. Here, <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> inactivation and microcystin-LR and -RR release and degradation using PAA were explored. The toxin degradation rates were found to be higher in alkaline conditions than in neutral and acidic conditions. However, all rates were significantly smaller than comparable rates when using free chlorine. The inactivation of <i>M. aeruginosa</i> cells using PAA was faster at acidic pH, showing immediate cell damage and subsequent cell death after 15-60 min of exposure to 10 mg/L PAA. In neutral2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2025-04-26T14:29:07.423Z2025-04-06T14:31:18.65ZS-EPMC113606973919573810.3390/toxins16080328