Related Experiment Videos
A solvent-free method for spiking terrestrial algae (Desmococcus spp.) with pyrene for use in bioassays
Mike Howsam1, Rudo A Verweij, Nico M van Straalen
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. mhoqam@iiqab.csic.es
Chemosphere
|August 16, 2003
Summary
A new solvent-free method for spiking algae with pyrene (Partition Driven Administration) preserves algal integrity and improves bioassay results compared to traditional acetone methods. This technique enhances food quality for invertebrates in ecotoxicological studies.
Area of Science:
- Ecotoxicology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Terrestrial algae are crucial in bioassays for assessing contaminant effects on invertebrates.
- Traditional spiking methods using organic solvents can degrade sample quality and affect results.
- A need exists for improved methods to introduce persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into biological samples for accurate toxicity testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare a novel solvent-free Partition Driven Administration (PDA) method with a traditional acetone-based method for spiking algae with pyrene.
- To evaluate the impact of each spiking method on algal integrity and subsequent bioassay outcomes.
- To assess the suitability of the PDA method for introducing POPs into various sample matrices.
Main Methods:
- Developed and tested a solvent-free PDA method using a C18 disk as a pyrene source in an aqueous algal suspension.
- Utilized a traditional method involving pyrene dissolved in acetone for comparison.
- Conducted bioassays with Collembola (Orchesella cincta) using algae spiked by both methods.
Main Results:
- The PDA method achieved a reproducible pyrene concentration (18.4 ± 0.7 μg/g dry weight) in algae while maintaining cell integrity and pigment content for up to 120 hours.
- Acetone-spiked algae exhibited significant loss of cell integrity and pigment.
- Collembola fed PDA-spiked algae showed better growth rates and lower pyrene metabolite concentrations compared to those fed acetone-spiked algae.
Conclusions:
- The PDA method offers a superior, non-destructive approach for spiking algae with pyrene, preserving food quality for bioassays.
- This method minimizes solvent-induced artifacts, leading to more reliable ecotoxicological data.
- The PDA technique is adaptable for introducing various POPs into diverse sample types, advancing environmental risk assessment.