PARENT SESSION
Aquatic Toxicology Poster Session.
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
1:20 PM to 5:20 PM
CC West/Center Exhibit Hall
(PTP138) Cellular level effects of the AGZI test for hydrophobic components in sewage treatment plant effluent using chlorophyll fluorometric parameters.
Kim, S-G1, Matsui, S.2, Park, H.3, 1 2 3
ABSTRACT- Photosynthetic activity has been a common effect parameter monitored in toxicity tests with cultured algae. In chloroplast of algae, absorbed light energy is captured and transferred via chlorophyll reaction center as an electron donor, to NADP reduction as an electron acceptor. Some part of absorbed light energy, not used in the photochemistry process, dissipates via fluorescence or heat. Therefore, if photosynthesis or related biochemical and physiological processes are inhibited (or stimulated), the yield of dissipated fluorescence is significantly changed. The effluent of sewage treatment plant (STP) has been studied as a point source of pollutant in global scales. The STP effluent contains complex mixtures of toxicants, however, the collective effects are difficult to assess using individual chemical analysis. In non-concentrated STP effluent, AGZI (Alga Growth and Zygospore Inhibition) test indicated non-lethal effects but the growth and zygospore both decreased steeply. No research has reported on the use of fluorescence parameters to investigate of organism damages of this alga in cellular level. The author aims to study cellular level effects of the AGZI test for hydrophobic components in STP effluent using chlorophyll fluorometric parameters. The author assessed ecotoxicity of photosynthesis processes in asexual reproduction for hydrophobic components from STP effluent using chlorophyll fluorimeter in view of toxicodynamic approach. The photochemical processes of photosynthetic function of Closterium ehrenbergii in GI test was not affected. On the contrary, the hydrophobic component of STP effluent has toxicity to nonphotochemical process of photosynthetic function of Closterium ehrenbergii in GI test. These findings are the first to be reported on the relationship between nonphotochemical inhibition and cell division of Closterium ehrenbergii in GI test.
Key words: AGZI (Alga Growth and Zygospore Inhibition) test, sewage treatment plant effluent, chlorophyll fluorometric parameters