Abstract
Aquatic organisms have been used to investigate the safety of chemicals worldwide. One such assessment is an algal growth inhibition test. Algal growth inhibition tests are commonly performed using a growth chamber with fluorescent lamps as the lighting source, as test guidelines require continuous uniform fluorescent illumination. However, fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which has been identified as hazardous to humans and other organisms. The Minamata Convention (adopted in 2013) requires reduction or prohibition of products containing mercury. On the other hand, light-emitting diodes do not contain mercury and provide a photosynthetically effective wavelength range of 400-700 nm which is an adequate light intensity for algal growth. Light-emitting diodes are thus preferable to fluorescent lamps as a potential light source in algal growth inhibition tests. In this study, we investigated if light-emitting diodes could be substituted for fluorescent lamps in growth inhibition studies with green alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), diatom (Navicula pelliculosa), and cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae). Algal growth inhibition tests were performed using five different chemicals known to have different modes of action and are assigned as reference substances in the test guidelines. The results of each algal test showed similar values between light-emitting diodes and fluorescent lamps in terms of conditions for the growth inhibition rate and percent inhibition in yield of each chemical. It was therefore concluded that using light-emitting diodes instead of fluorescent lamps as a lighting source had no effect on the algal growth inhibition test results.
Highlights
Owing to certain advantages over fluorescent lamps (FLs) and incandescent lamps, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are increasingly being used for devices such as mobile phones, cameras, televisions, outdoor billboards, cars, trains, airplanes, ships, interior lights, and external lights [1,2,3]
The wavelength shape of the LED condition was broad, whereas that of the FL condition was sharp; the shapes of the detected wavelengths and the spectral irradiances were different between the LED and FL conditions
We conducted algal growth inhibition tests under the same light intensity under LED and FL conditions
Summary
Owing to certain advantages over fluorescent lamps (FLs) and incandescent lamps (conventional lighting source), light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are increasingly being used for devices such as mobile phones, cameras, televisions, outdoor billboards, cars, trains, airplanes, ships, interior lights, and external lights [1,2,3]. Algal studies under fluorescent lamp and LED
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