Toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium in Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Journal Article · Wed Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1977 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(77)90048-2· OSTI ID:5133891

Hart, B A; Scaife, B D

Chlorella pyrenoidosa cultures grown at pH 7 in the presence of 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mg of Cd/liter had doubling times of 11, 21, 22, and 35 hours, respectively, whereas similarly exposed cultures grown at pH 8 had doubling times of 11, 16, 17, and 25 hours, respectively. C. pyrenoidosa is capable of concentrating cadmium, and the amount accumulated is directly proportional to the concentration of metal present initially and is dependent upon the pH of the medium. No accumulation occurs in the dark, at 4/sup 0/C, or in dead cells. Cadmium accumulation is not affected by the concentration of calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, copper, zinc, or cobalt in the growth medium, whereas a level of manganese equal to 0.20 mg/liter completely blocks cadmium accumulation; iron may also play a role in regulating cadmium accumulation. Cells which had accumulated cadmium could still fix atmospheric CO/sub 2/, albeit at reduced rates; O/sub 2/ evolution was also inhibited, but to a lesser extent. The ability of C. pyrenoidosa to accumulate large concentrations of cadmium before showing adverse effects may be related to the presence of cadmium-sequestering agent(s) within the cell. The concentration of cadmium by C. pyrenoidosa could pose a hazard to the freshwater food chain.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Vermont Coll. of Medicine, Burlington
• OSTI ID: 5133891
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 14:3; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550700 -- Microbiology
560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOMASS
CADMIUM
CALCIUM
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CELL CULTURES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORELLA
COBALT
COPPER
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
GROWTH
IRON
MAGNESIUM
MANGANESE
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MOLYBDENUM
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
REFRACTORY METALS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UNICELLULAR ALGAE
ZINC