Ecotoxicological effects and uptake of metals (Cu+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Mo6+, Ni2+, V5+) in freshwater alga Scenedesmus quadricauda

The ecotoxicological effects of six metals (Cu+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Mo6+, Ni2+, V5+) expressed as growth inhibition: respiratory rate, and total chlorophyll, chlorophyll (a) under bar and (b) under bar contents by alga Scenedesmus quadricauda were determined. Besides these parameters, the uptake of tested metals by alga was determined by using RXFA. On the base of the calculated EC50 values, the following rank orders of inhibition were arranged: for algal growth: Cu2+>Cu+>Ni2+>V(5+)greater than or equal to Mo6+>Mn2+; for total chlorophyll content: Cu2+>Ni2+>Cu+>Mn2+>V(5+)greater than or equal to Mo6+; for chlorophyll (a) under bar content: Cu2+>Ni2+>Cu+>V5(+)>Mn2+>Mo6+; for chlorophyll (b) under bar content: Cu2+=Cu+>Ni2+>Mn2+>Mo6+>V5+. Respiratory rate was measured for metal concentrations corresponding with EC50 values for growth inhibition by oxygen electrode. The most intensive respiration was observed for V5+ and less for Mo6+. When the uptake of metals from the medium was determined, in the highest percentage were uptaken Ni2+ (20 %), Cu2+ (17,6 %) and Mn2+ (15,19 %). Other metals were only uptaken in the amounts lower than 5.5 % from the metal concentration added into the cultivation medium. For uptake determination as well as for respiratory rate measurements, concentrations corresponding with calculated EC50 values for growth inhibition were used. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.