Abstract
The effects of Cd2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+ on the microbial activity of water and sediment samples from a contaminated stream were studied. The maximum [14C]glucose uptake (Vmax) and the mineralization (14CO2) rates were determined. A 10% reduction in Vmax was obtained at lower metal concentrations in water samples than in sediment ones. Moreover, a 10% decrease in 14CO2 was observed at significantly minor metal levels, so 14CO2 was more sensitive to evaluated heavy metal pollution. On the basis of MICs obtained for both communities, they were more sensitive to Cd2+ than to Cr3+ and Zn2+. Zinc was less inhibitory to Vmax and 14CO2 rates; Cr3+ showed an intermediate toxicity, and Cd2+ was 10–100 times more inhibitory than the other metals.
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