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UV-induced changes in humic acid and its effects on PAH phototoxicity to aquatic macrophytes

Conference ·
OSTI ID:455331
The authors are using both photosynthetic biomarkers and population-level endpoints to examine the extent and mechanisms by which humic acid ameliorates the toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) anthracene to the aquatic macrophyte Lemna gibba. Toxicity bioassays using anthracene were run in the presence of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg{center_dot}L{sup {minus}1} of a commercial humic acid which was pretreated to remove insoluble materials. Because UV light significantly affects both PAH toxicity and, potentially, the protective effects of humic acid, plants were incubated both under visible light and under simulate solar radiation (SSR) which mimics the relative UV levels found in natural sunlight. Population-level responses from static-renewal toxicity bioassays were compared to physiological responses determined using plant chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence induction assays performed at various times throughout the exposure period. Results suggested that humic acid ameliorated the inhibitory effects of anthracene by significantly increasing population growth- and chlorophyll-based EC50 values. This was true both when experiments were performed in visible and SSR, although the inhibitory effects of the PAHs were more pronounced in the presence of UV light. UV also tended to diminish the capability of HA to ameliorate PAH toxicity, presumably owing to photooxidized changes in the ability of HA to control bioavailability.
OSTI ID:
455331
Report Number(s):
CONF-961149--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English