The effect of creosote on growth and membrane integrity of the aquatic macrophyte, Myriophyllum sp.

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:460478

McCann, J; Day, K; Solomon, K ^[1]; Greenberg, B ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Guelph, Ontario (Canada)
2. Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

Creosote is a coal-tar distillate used as a wood preservative on railway ties and dock pilings. Its use in aquatic systems indicates a possible risk to the aquatic community through leaching of creosote components into the water column or sediment. A study has been initiated at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) to determine bioindicators of exposure and effects of creosote on freshwater systems. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of creosote exposure on the rooted, aquatic macrophyte Myriophyllum sp. Using an aseptic culture of Myriophyllum and 3 cm buds grown from single nodes, a growth assay was conducted during which Myriophyllum were exposed for 14 days to concentrations ranging from 0.16 mg/L to 200 mg/L creosote. Growth measurements included: shoot length; number of nodes, buds and roots; total shoot and root length; and growth curves over the exposure period. From the information gathered from the growth assay, 5 creosote concentrations were chosen and used for membrane integrity studies. Myriophyllum were exposed to creosote for either 4 or 12 day periods, after which membrane fluidity was determined by fluorescence depolarization, and electrolyte and K+ leakage were determined by conductivity and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. The results of both the growth and membrane assays will be discussed.

• OSTI ID: 460478
• Report Number(s): CONF-961149--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CREOSOTE
PLANTS
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION