Estudios de toxicidad celular de contaminantes ambientales

JUÁREZ, A. B.; SCHIARITI, A.; ALDONATTI, C.; RODRÍGUEZ, M. C.; RÍOS DE MOLINA, M. C.

Salud Ambiental y Humana: Una Visión Holística

SETAC Press

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2006; p. 69 - 72

Hexachlorobencene (1 mg/l) and copper (17.4 and 34.8 mg/l) were tested for toxicity on cultures of a strain of Chlorella kessleri isolated from Copahue hotsprings (Argentina). The effect of these pollutants was analysed respect UroD activity (enzyme of the heme and chlorophyll synthesis pathways), pigment composition (carotenes and chlorophylls) and malondialdehyde production (lipid peroxidation indicator). When incubated in presence of the hexachlorobence, the alga showed a significant reduction in UroD activity while chlorophyll content remained unaffected. An initial growth rate reduction was observed, but the cultures recovered after prolonged exposure, achieving higher growth rates than the controls. On the other hand, the heavy metal had a dose-dependent negative effect on chlorophyll content, without affecting growth rate. Even when both pollutants triggered oxidative stress, carotenes did not represent an effective protective mechanism in this strain of Chlorella.