Use of algal fluorescence for determination of phytotoxicity of heavy metals and pesticides as environmental pollutants

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(88)90056-5· OSTI ID:6170585

Samson, G; Popovic, R

The phytotoxicity of heavy metals and pesticides was studied by using the fluorescence induction from the alga Dunaliella tertiolecta. The complementary area calculated from the variable fluorescence induction was used as a direct parameter to estimate phytotoxicity. The value of this parameter was affected when algae were treated with different concentrations of mercury, copper, atrazine, DCMU, Dutox, and Soilgard. The toxic effect of these pollutants was estimated by monitoring the decrease in the complementary area, which reflects photosystem II photochemistry. Further, the authors have demonstrated the advantage of using the complementary area as a parameter of phytotoxicity over using variable fluorescence yield. The complementary area of algal fluorescence can be used as a simple and sensitive parameter in the estimation of the phytotoxicity of polluted water.

• Research Organization: Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6170585
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States), Vol. 16:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
SENSITIVITY
COPPER
TOXICITY
MERCURY
PESTICIDES
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CHLOROPHYLL
FLUORESCENCE
PHOTOSYNTHETIC REACTION CENTERS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ELEMENTS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LUMINESCENCE
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
PORPHYRINS
PROTEINS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)