Water Toxicity Monitoring using Optical Oxygen Sensing and Respirometry

Abstract

We describe the application of optical O microrespirometry to the assessment of toxicity of chem. and environmental samples, using V. fischeri (prokaryote), D. magna (invertebrate), and Danio rerio (vertebrate) as test organisms. Representative toxicants were heavy metals, org. solvents, marine toxins microcystins (MCs) and WWS. The marine toxin microcystin-LR relates to a group of cyclic heptapeptides produced by cyanobacterial species such as Microcystis neuruginosa. MCs are assocd. with poisoning of animals and humans during cyanobacterial and algal blooms. Due to their widespread distribution, high toxicity and threat to public health, MC levels have become an important parameter in water quality control, environmental monitoring and toxicol. A deeper understanding of the toxic action of MC on cells and higher organisms and development of techniques for their detection in environmental samples are important for ecotoxicol. We describe new methods of anal. of environmental samples for MC-LR type of toxicity using optical O microrespirometry and Danio rerio as test organisms. These tests were subsequently validated with a panel of contaminated water samples. The toxicants were examd. for their dose-, time- and organism-dependent patterns of response emanating from such respirometric expts. performed in a simple and convenient 96 WP format. This was aimed to achieve a more detailed toxicol. assessment and profiling have a deeper insight into the modes of toxicity. [on SciFinder(R)]