Autori: Violeta Astratinei and Ioana Varduca

Editorial: Transilvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research, 6, p.111-119, 2008.

Rezumat:

The results with respect to the toxicity effects of metal pollution on microorganisms in the Lapus and Sasar Rivers, from the Baia Mare mining area are reported in this paper. Toxicity tests were conducted using the ToxTracer system, which is based on the inhibition of Vibrio fisheri luminescence. The bioluminescence inhibition of Vibrio fisheri, ranged between 30-80% and 50-80% for Lapus and Sasar respectively. The inhibition data was then compared with the concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni), known as the most common pollutants present in the investigated ecosystems, as the bioluminescence inhibition is probably linked to the sensitivity of microorganisms to the high levels of toxic metals in the rivers (e.g. 0.5-4.3 mg/L Fe and 15-380 mg/L Cu for the Lapus river or 0.6-5.4 mg/L Fe and 40-140 mg/L Cu in the Sasar river). The results suggested links between ToxTracer and metal data in both of the rivers Thus the bioluminescence assay applied here is a promising tool for screening the toxicity of surface waters in the mining areas dominated by metal pollution.

Cuvinte cheie: ecology, environment // ecologie, mediu