Biomarkers of Freshwater Algae Lemna minor as a Model for Urban Pollution with Pesticides and Heavy Metals

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Mammalian & Aquatic Toxicology Department, Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, 12611, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Biochemical changes in collected algal cells of Lemna minor were examined as biomarkers for pesticides and heavy metals pollution for different sites of an urban district. Four contaminated sites were chosen for the biomonitoring programs, while another site (rural zone) was considered as a reference to compare the risk factors. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) reached the lowest values in winter season to account for 3.22, 6.75, 5.43 and 2.35 U. L-1 in Potato International Center (PIC)(S1), El-Nasaria (S2), Kafr Hashaad (S3) and Bounfer (S4), respectively. Multiresidue of pesticides and potential toxic metals were examined in linear regression analysis with some biochemical components in algal cells. During the same season, the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed decrease only in S3 and S4, but recorded the highest value (10.00 U. L-1) in S2.
Carbohydrates and total protein levels were significantly decreased in all sites compared with reference. The algal pigments reached the lowest values in S1 to account for 4.76, 1.83, and 1.97 mg. L-1 for chlorophyll a, b and carotenoides, respectively. Therefore, this study showed the importance of freshwater algae in biomonitoring programs especially for the urban regions.

 

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