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Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
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Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

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Interactions between Microcystis aeruginosa and coexisting amoxicillin contaminant at different phosphorus levels

Ying Liu1, Shi Chen1, Xiao Chen2

  • 1Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, PR China.

Journal of Hazardous Materials
|May 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Phosphorus influences Microcystis aeruginosa's response to amoxicillin. High phosphorus levels stimulate algal growth and toxin production, while the algae biodegrade more amoxicillin, complicating combined pollution.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Aquatic Toxicology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Microcystis aeruginosa is a common bloom-forming cyanobacterium.
  • Antibiotics like amoxicillin are emerging environmental contaminants.
  • Phosphorus is a key nutrient regulating algal growth and metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interactive effects of phosphorus and amoxicillin on Microcystis aeruginosa.
  • To determine how these interactions influence algal growth, physiology, and toxin production.
  • To assess the combined impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing Microcystis aeruginosa under varying phosphorus concentrations (0.05-5 mg L(-1)).
  • Exposing cultures to amoxicillin (200-500 ng L(-1)) for seven days.
  • Measuring algal growth, chlorophyll-a, ATP, malondialdehyde, microcystin production, and enzyme activities.

Main Results:

  • Amoxicillin stimulated Microcystis aeruginosa growth at high phosphorus levels (1 and 5 mg L(-1)) via hormesis.
  • Both phosphorus and amoxicillin altered chlorophyll-a, ATP, and enzyme activities.
  • Microcystin production and release, along with specific enzyme activities, were differentially regulated.
  • Algal biodegradation of amoxicillin increased with phosphorus concentration.
  • Amoxicillin aggravated Microcystis aeruginosa pollution, while the algae partially remediated amoxicillin.

Conclusions:

  • Phosphorus significantly modulates the interaction between Microcystis aeruginosa and amoxicillin.
  • Combined pollution presents a complex challenge, with increased algal blooms and toxin levels.
  • Microcystis aeruginosa plays a dual role in mitigating amoxicillin pollution through biodegradation.
Keywords:
AdenosinetriphosphataseAntioxidant responsesBiodegradationCombined pollutionHormesis

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