Methodological aspects of the use of Chlorella vulgaris green algae in biotesting the environment of industrial facilities

Abstract

Excessive and uncontrolled use of tetracycline antibiotics in animal husbandry and poultry farming is the cause of their toxic effects on the body of employees of the enterprise. The fact of indirect exposure confirms the presence of background concentrations of antibiotics in the urine of workers of livestock and poultry complexes. To assess the toxic effect of background concentrations of antibiotics during inhalation and oral exposure, there is a need to improve the methodological tools of biotesting.
 The study aims to evaluate the methodological possibilities for biotesting water and air samples containing tetracycline hydrochloride (THC) in different concentrations using the green algae Chlorella vulgaris as a test object.
 The authors considered the main methodological aspects of assessing the toxic effect of tetracycline group antibiotic — tetracycline hydrochloride by bioassay using green algae Chlorella vulgaris as a test object. The criterion for assessing toxicity was the change in the optical density of the algae culture during the day. We have based the criteria for the use of chlorella vulgaris in the biotesting method for assessing the toxic effect of tetracycline hydrochloride concentrations contained in water and air.
 Toxicological studies have shown a very high correlation (R=0.99; R2=0.98; A=0.23, p=0.045) between the indicator of the optical density of the algae culture and the concentration of tetracycline hydrochloride in water in the range from 0.006 to 0.1 mg/ml. We have the methodological capabilities of biotesting tetracycline hydrochloride in air at the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) (0.1 mg/m3) and above.
 The study showed that the growth reaction of the Chlorella vulgaris green algae culture to the effects of tetracycline hydrochloride makes it possible to develop a methodological apparatus for assessing the toxicity of the antibiotic in concentrations created in working areas at livestock and poultry facilities.
 Ethics. The research did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.