Development of freshwater microalgae under exposure to atrazine and cadmium
During the latest decades, human activities have contributed a large number of pollutants such as heavy metals, herbicides into water bodies. These pollutants cause negative effects on the aquatic environment and organisms in aquatic ecosystems, including microalgae. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of the herbicide atrazine and the metal Cd on development and growth rate of four freshwater microalgae, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Scenedesmus protuberans, Pediastrum duplex, and Pseudanabaena mucicola. We found that atrazine at the concentrations from 3–300 µg/L caused the reduction of development of S. quadricauda and P. mucicola. The growth rate of these two microalgae was inhibited upon exposure to 300 µg/L of atrazine. The Cd at the concentrations of 17–143 µg/L slightly influenced the development and growth rate of P. duplex. In contrast, the concentrations of 46–123 µg Cd/L, enhanced the development of S. protuberans between the 6th and 10th day of incubation. The development and growth rate of S. protuberans decreased exposed to 607 µg Cd/L. The current study evidenced the potent toxicity of atrazine to microalgae. Besides, the microalgae species P. duplex and S. protuberans showed their tolerance to Cd at the concentration up to 143 µg/L. Hence they would be potential candidates for phytoremediation in relation to metal contamination in water bodies.