As of now, there is no official guideline level for anatoxin-a,[12] although scientists estimate that a level of 1 μg L−1 would be sufficiently low, the safety for drinking water being approximately 3 orders of magnitude.[13] Likewise, there are no official guidelines regarding testing for anatoxin-a. Among methods of reducing the risk for cyanotoxins, including anatoxin-a, scientists look favorably on biological treatment methods because they do not require complicated technology, are low maintenance, and have low running costs. Few biological treatment options have been tested for anatoxin-a specifically, although a species of Pseudomonas, capable of biodegrading anatoxin-a at a rate of 2–10 μg mL−1 d−1, has been identified. 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.[12] Others have called for additional studies to determine more about how to use activated carbon effectively.[14]
More common methods of treating water, including photocatalysis UV disinfection[14] and chlorination[15] 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. Additional research needs to be done to find more reliable and efficient methods of both detection and treatment.[14]