Abstract

ALAYO, Marianella; IANNACONE, José  and  ARRASCUE, Anita. Sensibility to chromium: microbioassay with marine diatom Isochrysis galbana Parke and Chaetoceros gracilis Schütt. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2004, vol.3, n.1-2, pp.154-161. ISSN 1726-2216.

In Peru, marine microalgaes Isochrysis galbana Parke and Chaetoceros gracilis Schütt, are employed as food source for many zoological species of the marine trophic chain. During culture conditions they prevent the use of yeasts, diminishing the acidification of culture media and in that way, avoiding injuries to the marine aquaculture. Chromium is a pollutant of anthropogenic importance in the aquatic ecosystem. In this research, the effect of Cr+6 in form of K2Cr2O7 was analyzed in ecotoxicity inhibition microbioassays with marine microalgae, I. galbana and C. gracilis using an estimator of specific population growth to quantify ecotoxicity responses. Bioassays were performed providing results related to the sensibility to K2Cr2O7 analysis, productivity, cost-efficiency and their potential application as tools for routine environmental monitoring. The values of medial Concentration of Inhibition (IC50) from 24 h to 120 h for I. galbana were: 11.55 mg L-1 (8.15 - 16.38) (24 h); 14.14 mg L-1 (11.60 - 17.24) (48 h); 4.47 mg L-1 (3.24 - 6.15) (72 h); 11.94 mg L-1(8.14- 17.49) (96 h) and 19.20 mg L-1 (13.64- 27.26) (120 h). Conversely the values of IC50 from 24 h to 120 h for C. gracilis were: 9.21 mg L-1 (7.46 - 11.08) (24 h); 8.13 mg L-1 (2.09 - 15.24) (48 h); 12.51 mg L-1 (6.80 - 20.04) (72 h); 12.17 mg L-1(2.23- 34.32) (96 h) and 13.34 mg L-1 (1.19- 77.61) (120 h). Temperature and pH values were evaluated in all bioassays. The toxicity of chromium was compared with other aquatic microbioassays. Finally, perspectives of employing these ecotoxicological tools to evaluate environmental risk assessment of chromium in Peru are analyzed.

Keywords : bioassays; chromium; ecotoxicology; marine microalgae.

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