Photoinduced toxicity of fluoranthene on primary processes of photosynthesis in lichens

The effect of increasing concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg l(-1))of intact (FLT) and photo-modified (phFLT) fluoranthene and the duration of exposure (1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days) on the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F(0) F(V)/F(M), and Phi(II)) of symbiotic algae in the thalli of two foliose lichens Lasallia pustulata and Umbilicatia hirsuta was investigated. In addition the FLT concentration in thalli of both lichen species was determined and a bioconcentration factor (BCF) was calculated. The results obtained demonstrated that the concentrations of FLT and especially phFLT (1 and 5 mg l(-1)) applied affected primary photochemical processes of photosynthesis in the algae of both lichen species. The F(0) value increased and the F(V)/F(M) and Phi(II) values decreased. The fluoranthene content in the thallus of both lichen species increased with increasing FLT concentration in the environment.