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Toxicities of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) to the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum Printz were determined over 72 h in defined synthetic media buffered by citrate (FRAQ ; [citrate] = 100 μM or 5 μM) or nitrilotriacetate (FRAQ ; [NTA] = 5 μM). Algal sensitivity to free Cd + or free Zn + in FRAQ was much higher than in FRAQ . In parallel experiments, short-term intracellular uptake of radiolabeled Cd was measured as a function of time (0-30 min) in FRAQ and FRAQ ; for a given free Cd + concentration (8, 250, or 610 nM), intracellular accumulation of Cd was consistently higher in FRAQ than in FRAQ . Under the same conditions, the alga accumulated C-labeled citrate almost linearly over a 2-h period. Loss of Cd from algal cells that had been prelabeled with the radionuclide occurred slowly, and the loss rate was insensitive to the presence or absence of citrate, indicating that the overall permeability of the algal membrane to Cd was unaffected by citrate. The enhanced bioavailability of Cd in the presence of citrate could be explained by membrane transport of a charged Cd-citrate complex, presumably by accidental transport.

Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability (2001), 13(1) ABSTRACTThe bioavailability and toxicity of a dissolved metal are closely linked to the metal's chemical speciation in solution. A variety of inorganic and organic ligands are often used in laboratory toxicity tests to control the concentration of labile trace metal in solution. Computerised chemical speciation models based on thermodynamic principles can be used to estimate metal speciation under such experimental conditions. However, these models are sensitive to the quality of their thermodynamic databases. Detailed protocols for the incorporation of reliable equilibrium formation constants into widely available computer chemical speciation programs (e.g., MINEQL+ and MINTEQ) are provided. The examples demonstrate both the benefits and the potential pitfalls involved in the use of chemical speciation models. The application of chemical speciation modelling to metal toxicity studies is discussed and guidelines are proposed for its proper use. Both defined media and chemical speciation programs have co-existed for two decades but the combined use of these techniques has been reserved for those possessing in-depth knowledge of both chemistry and biology. The techniques presented should enable an investigator with basic biological, chemical and computing skills to design an aqueous medium and incorporate correct thermodynamic constants into a computer chemical speciation program, starting from a standardised database, thereby providing a sound framework for critically assessing the biological response of a particular test organism to a given metal.

The debutylation of tributyltin chloride by several strains of fungi, yeasts and bacteria is described. Under standard conditions and with low initial concentration of substrate, significant biotic degradation of tributyltin (6–32%) was detected after five days at 28°C. Dibutyltin and monobutyltin were formed in all cases, with higher yields of the latter. Two microorganisms catalysed the transformation of monobutyltin to dimethyltin and trimethytin whereas all microorganisms were able to methylate inorganic tin(IV) to trimethyltin. Our results suggest that tributyltin biodegradation by microorganisms is generally possible, provided sufficiently low concentrations of substrate are used.