Overview of contemporary toxicity testing

Blaise, C.; Férard, Jean-François

doi:10.1007/1-4020-3553-5_1

Cited by 19 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 561 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The worldwide industrialization occurred in 19th and 20th century. As a consequence, ecological problems increased and triggered the development of acute and chronic laboratory toxicity tests [23]. The green alga P. subcapitata has been widely used to assess the toxicity of substances and wastes due to its availability, ease of culture, ecological relevance and sensitivity to toxicants [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to long-term exposure to metal stress

Machado

Lopes

Soares

2015

Journal of Hazardous Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata has been widely used in ecological risk assessment, usually based on the impact of the toxicants in the alga growth. However, the physiological causes that lead algal growth inhibition are not completely understood. This work aimed to evaluate the biochemical and structural modifications in P. subcapitata after exposure, for 72 h, to three nominal concentrations of Cd(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Zn(II), corresponding approximately to 72 h-EC10 and 72 h-EC50 values and a high concentration (above 72 h-EC90 values). The incubation of algal cells with the highest concentration of Cd(II), Cr(VI) or Cu(II) resulted in a loss of membrane integrity of ~16, 38 and 55%, respectively. For all metals tested, an inhibition of esterase activity, in a dose-dependent manner, was observed. Reduction of chlorophyll a content, decrease of maximum quantum yield of photosystem II and modification of mitochondrial membrane potential was also verified. In conclusion, the exposure of P. subcapitata to metals resulted in a perturbation of the cell physiological status. Principal component analysis revealed that the impairment of esterase activity combined with the reduction of chlorophyll a content were related with the inhibition of growth caused by a prolonged exposure to the heavy metals.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to long-term exposure to metal stress

Machado

Lopes

Soares

2015

Journal of Hazardous Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Short-term toxicity assays using microorganisms have gained a paramount importance in toxicity studies due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness and reproducibility (Blaise and Férard, 2005;Wadhia and Thompson, 2007). Among the different microorganisms, microalgae are usually included in hazard assessment as representative of the aquatic community, and considered an important tool in the evaluation of physiological changes induced by metals (Torres et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modification of cell volume and proliferative capacity of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata cells exposed to metal stress

Machado

Soares

2014

Aquatic Toxicology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The impact of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) on growth, cell volume and cell division of the freshwater alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata exposed over a period of 72 h was investigated. The algal cells were exposed to three nominal concentrations of each metal: low (closed to 72 h-EC10 values), intermediate (closed to 72 h-EC50 values) and high (upper than 72 h-EC90 values). The exposure to low metal concentrations resulted in a decrease of cell volume. On the contrary, for the highest metal concentrations an increase of cell volume was observed; this effect was particularly notorious for Cd and less pronounced for Zn. Two behaviours were found when algal cells were exposed to intermediate concentrations of metals: Cu(II) and Cr(VI) induced a reduction of cell volume, while Cd(II) and Zn(II) provoked an opposite effect. The simultaneous nucleus staining and cell image analysis, allowed distinguishing three phases in P. subcapitata cell cycle: growth of mother cell; cell division, which includes two divisions of the nucleus; and, release of four autospores. The exposure of P. subcapitata cells to the highest metal concentrations resulted in the arrest of cell growth before the first nucleus division [for Cr(VI) and Cu(II)] or after the second nucleus division but before the cytokinesis (release of autospores) when exposed to Cd(II). The different impact of metals on algal cell volume and cell-cycle progression, suggests that different toxicity mechanisms underlie the action of different metals studied. The simultaneous nucleus staining and cell image analysis, used in the present work, can be a useful tool in the analysis of the toxicity of the pollutants, in P. subcapitata, and help in the elucidation of their different modes of action.

show abstract

“…In surveying several databases, we have recently reviewed a substantial number of articles describing numerous bioanalytical endeavours undertaken to comprehend toxic effects associated with the discharge of xenobiotics to aquatic environments [10]. This search enabled us to uncover the various ways in which laboratory toxicity tests have been applied, many of which are small-scale in nature.…”

Section: Richness Of Toxicity Testing Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liquid media assessment Algae: Flask growth inhibition assay [11]; Microplate growth inhibition assay [12]; Flow cytometric techniques [13] Aquatic macrophytes: Lemna minor chronic assay [14] Bacteria: Microtox acute assay [15]; SOS Chromotest [7]; MetPlate [16] Fish cells: Trout primary hepatocyte cytotoxicity assay [17]; Trout gill cell line cytotoxicity assay [18] Micro-invertebrates: T. platyurus acute assay (http://www.microbiotests.be); Hydra population reproduction assay [19]; D. magna acute/chronic assays [20] Protozoa: S. ambiguum acute assay [21]; T. thermophila chronic assay (http://www.microbiotests.be) Solid media assessment Algae: Algal solid phase assay [22]; LuminoTox solid phase assay [23] Bacteria: Microtox acute solid phase assay [24]; SOS Chromotest solid phase assay [25] Micro-invertebrates: C. riparius survival and growth assay [26] H. azteca survival and growth assay [27] [10]. L (liquid media); S (solid media); CRB (critical body residues); HAS (hazard assessment schemes).…”

Section: Richness Of Toxicity Testing Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiotests in aquatic toxicology: the way forward

Blaise¹,

Férard²

2006

WIT Transactions on Biomedicine and Health, Vol 10

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The industrial revolution has driven the need for ecotoxicology and shaped its evolution. Indeed, the increased use and transformation of (non)renewable resources for over a century to benefit mankind have had a downside and created a plethora of contaminants harmful to the receiving environments. With time, we have gone from an age of darkness in the 1950s (i.e., diagnostic ignorance in terms of recognizing and dealing with contamination) to one of enlightenment as the 21 st century unfolds (i.e., use of tools and strategies to identify and correct environmental pollutions). Effects measurements, reflected by toxicity testing conducted at different levels of biological organization, have proven especially useful to achieve proper hazard/risk assessments of contaminants. Knowing why toxicity testing has been conducted over the past decades to protect and conserve freshwater environments is also essential to grasp the importance and breadth of this field. For this purpose, we have recently reviewed a substantial number of articles describing numerous bioanalytical endeavours undertaken to comprehend toxic effects associated with the discharge of xenobiotics to aquatic environments. Scrutiny of publications identified in our literature search has enabled us to uncover the various ways in which laboratory toxicity tests have been applied, many of which are small-scale in nature. In essence, freshwater toxicity testing has significantly focussed on liquid (complex environmental samples, chemical and biological contaminants) and solid media (sediments) assessment. For both media, miscellaneous studies/initiatives linked to toxicity testing applications have again promoted the development, validation, refinement and use of toxicity testing procedures. Bioassays are clearly an essential component of environmental management programs and several small-scale tests (microbiotests) can be employed to generate cost-effective toxicity data that assist decision-making.

show abstract

Overview of contemporary toxicity testing

Cited by 19 publications

References 561 publications

Responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to long-term exposure to metal stress

Responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to long-term exposure to metal stress

Modification of cell volume and proliferative capacity of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata cells exposed to metal stress

Microbiotests in aquatic toxicology: the way forward

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About