Algal Bioassays for Metal Toxicity Identification

• Published in: Water pollution research journal of Canada 1993, Vol.28 (1), p.129-153
• Main Authors: Peterson, H G, Nyholm, N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Freshwater
• ISSN: 1201-3080; 0197-9140; 2408-9443
• DOI: 10.2166/wqrj.1993.007

There is a need for algal bioassays that reflect the toxicity and bioavailability of metals in aquatic ecosystems. Reliable results can be achieved only when physical, chemical and biological factors are carefully controlled throughout the test period, and when they reflect the environmental conditions to be simulated. These can be either some consensus universal standard conditions or they can be specific environmental scenarios. Tests carried out under different controlled physical-chemical experimental conditions will give us an understanding of metal toxicity as a function of the environmental conditions. Here we address some factors that ought to be considered in the development of sensitive, cost-effective and ecologically realistic algal bioassays. The goal of bioassay protocol development is to produce algal toxicity data that are reproducible and can be used in risk assessments for aquatic ecosystems, and to detect the effects of metal contaminants in these systems.