Title: Characterisation of a bioassay using the marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta associated with spectroscopic (visible and infrared) detection

Authors: Mauro Mecozzi, Fulvio Onorati, Federico Oteri, Angela Sarni

Addresses: Central Institute for Marine Research (ICRAM), via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy. ' Central Institute for Marine Research (ICRAM), via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy. ' Central Institute for Marine Research (ICRAM), via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy. ' Central Institute for Marine Research (ICRAM), via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy

Abstract: This paper describes an ecotoxicological test using the alga Dunaliella tertiolecta associated with visible (VIS) and infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic detection. The estimation of toxicity is performed by measuring the cell density at 432 nm instead of 665 nm the results are comparable with those obtained by conventional visual or automatic estimation of celle density. FTIR spectroscopy gives an insight to molecular modifications in cell of Dunaliella tertiolecta caused by pollutants. A relevant result obtained by FTIR is the high similarity observed between the molecular modifications caused by toxic effect and the molecular modifications caused by samples with a stimulation (i.e., hormetic) effect.

Keywords: ecotoxicological tests; Dunaliella tertiolecta; toxicity; hormesis; visible spectroscopy; infrared spectroscopy; multivariate analysis; marine algae; bioassay characterisation; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2008.016902

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2008 Vol.32 No.1, pp.104 - 120

Published online: 28 Jan 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article