Ecotoxicological Analysis of Acrylamide Using a Microalga as an Indicator Organism

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are very prone to contamination. The fast and accurate assessment of the toxicity of water is an important tool for environmental safety. The aim of this study was to assess the possible toxic effects of acrylamide on physiological parameters of the Chlorophyceae Desmodesmus quadricauda. Cells in exponential growth phase were exposed for 72 h to different concentrations of acrylamide. Light microscopy analysis documented cell density, number of cells per coenobia, cell dimensions, and biovolume; chlorophyll a concentration was also determined. Result show that EC50 of acrylamide for D. quadricauda is 5.88 mg/L. Significant morphological changes were also observed for phenotypic plasticity and cellular dimensions. The most noticeable changes were the significant increase in one-celled coenobia over 24 and 48 h of exposure to EC50. These findings demonstrate that acrylamide may affect aquatic life, not only through growth inhibition, but also inducing phenotypic plasticity and also be problematic when used in high concentrations for water supply.