Are laboratory‐derived toxicity data for freshwater algae worth the effort?

Abstract

Algal toxicity test results are increasingly being considered in the evaluation of the environmental safety of chemicals and effluents. The ability of the current standard toxicity test methods to provide data useful in the safety assessment process was reviewed. It was concluded that there are too few data supporting the environmental relevance of those results derived using the standard methods in their present format. The current algal toxicity data base shows that interspecific variation in response to chemicals is significant and that field-validation of most laboratory-derived results is lacking. Therefore, multiple test species should be used in algal toxicity tests and the biological significance of the recommended end points, including stimulation, needs definition before the results can be expanded to natural algal communities and be useful in predicting environmental impact.

Algal Toxicity Tests for Environmental Risk Assessments of Metals

“…Increasing concern has been expressed, by researchers and regulators alike, about the reliance on Selanastrum capricornutum as the "almost exclusive" test species representative of all microalgal species and communities (Blanck et al 1984;Klaine and Lewis 1994;Lewis 1990;Nyholm and Kallqvist 1989;Wangberg and Blanck 1988). From the point of view of ecological relevance, important for certain uses of algal toxicity data, S. capricornutum is not as widely References: APHA 1985;ASTM 1993;ISO 1987;OECD 1984;USEPA 1985. distributed in the environment as perceived.…”

“…The aim of this method was to determine the algal growth potential and algal productivity of natural waters and effluents: these tests were not specifically designed for monitoring the toxic effects of chemicals. Eventually, the AAP test, mostly using Selenastrum capricornutum (currently renamed Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata ;Hindak 1990), although other species of green algae and diatoms were also recommended, was adapted for widespread use in toxicity tests and has served as a template for most standard procedures for assessing the potential toxicity of substances and wastes (Lewis 1990;Miller et al 1978;Parrish 1985). As a result, most current regulatory methods, including the selection of test species, culture, and test methods, rely heavily on this origi-nal test procedure.…”

“…As a result, most current regulatory methods, including the selection of test species, culture, and test methods, rely heavily on this origi-nal test procedure. For example, most algal bioassays in recent years have been performed predominantly with S. capricornutum (Benenati 1990;Chiaudani and Vighi 1978;Lewis 1990), leading to justified concerns about the sensitivity of this species and its relevance for other algal taxa (Lewis 1990;Nyholm and Källqvist 1989;Wangberg and Blanck 1988).…”

Induced Metal Tolerance in Microbenthic Communities from Three Lowland Rivers with Different Metal Loads

“…However, many of these tests are performed with single species in the laboratory under ecologically unrealistic circumstances (Lewis 1990). Furthermore, the tested species is often not a representative of the field communities of concern.…”

Efeitos do agrotóxico Vertimec no fitoplâncton: um estudo laboratorial e "in situ"

“…A abamectina é atualmente utilizada no mundo inteiro como um agente antiparasitário em animais de criação e de estimação, além do uso agrícola como ingrediente de inseticidas e nematicidas (KOLAR et al, 2008). Devido à sua utilização generalizada, é importante estabelecer os efeitos ambientais e de destino de abamectina tanto sob condições de laboratório quanto ao ar livre (HALLEY et al, 1989 De acordo com Lewis (1990), algas e macrófitas são mais sensíveis que invertebrados e peixes para vários tipos de detergentes surfactantes, efluentes têxteis, tintas, combustíveis sintéticos, herbicidas e uma variedade de compostos fitotóxicos. Outros estudos indicam ainda que as algas têm se mostrado sensíveis para um amplo espectro de contaminantes incluindo metais (BARTLETT et al, 1974;GREENE et al, 1988;HICKEY et al, 1991), inseticidas organoclorados e compostos orgânicos industriais (KLAINE et al, 2003;LEWIS, 1995).…”