Protecting drinking water: The use of phytoplankton as a biosensor

ENVR 159

Jamie L. Pinto, jamie.pinto@umit.maine.edu, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Maine, 5706 Aubert Hall, Orono, ME 04469, Howard H. Patterson, howardp@maine.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Maine, 5706 Aubert Hall, Orono, ME 04469, and John M. Peckenham, jpeck@maine.edu, Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, University of Maine, 5710 Norman Smith Hall, Orono, ME 04469.
This research determines the effects of toxic chemicals on phytoplankton fluorescence and provides a practical solution for monitoring and protecting public water supplies. Monitoring substances entering drinking water sources with phytoplankton fluorescence is critical because drinking water supplies are susceptible to a variety of contaminants. Introduction of toxic chemicals to a water supply will kill or harm phytoplankton, causing changes in chlorophyll chemistry resulting in variations of in vivo fluorescence intensity. Cultured samples of Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Chlorophyceae) were used to determine if additions of copper sulfate and carbaryl caused immediate changes in phytoplankton chlorophyll chemistry. Results indicate that the fluorescence intensity for A. falcatus significantly decreased in the presence of copper sulfate (LC50 = 0.2ppm) at all concentrations except 0.15ppm. This data shows that the fluorescence intensity of A. falcatus varies with additions of these toxic chemicals and indicates a potential biosensor for drinking water protection.
 

General Papers
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007