Biomonitoring capabilities of microorganisms when assessing the degree of toxicity of synthetic surfactants
L. V. Kondakova, L. I. Domracheva, V. S. Simakova
Section: Ecotoxicology
High sensitivity of the two species of cyanobacteria (Nostoc paludosum and Fischerella muscicola) as test-organisms
by means of stating their hydrogenase activity with the tetrazolium-topographical method was proved; presence of
formazan in cyanobacteria living cells served as a marker. It was stated that decrease in specious composition of algae
and cyanobacteria can serve as a bioindication sign of synthetic surface-active substances in the environment. Formazan accumulation decreased considerably under the influence of car wash of three trade-marks. When cyanobacteria cultures
are incubated in solutions of car shampoos with a recommended dose concentration, the number of viable cells drops
sharply. Bioassay with the help of bacilli was carried out by means of bacterial suspension inoculation on nutrient agar
with preliminary added sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). The toxicity criterion consisted in decreasing number of the grown
bacilli colonies in experimental variants. It is shown that the degree of toxicity of SLS can be tested using bacteria of
the genus Bacillus, judging from decrease of the percent of soil-balls encrusting with bacteria of the genus Azotobacter.
The representatives of Xanthophyta and Eustigmatophyta were the most sensitive to soil pollution with SLS. The
number of algae species was the most in the control variant and in the variant with 0.5 recommended dose of SLS. The
results showing negative influence of the tested synthetic surface-active substances on microorganisms with different systematic
characteristics proved the fact that it is necessary to carefully use car wash and to avoid car wash getting into soil.
ISSN 1995-4301
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