Effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on cyanobacteria and algae in laboratory strains and in natural algal assemblages. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bácsi, István; B-Béres, Viktória; Kókai, Zsuzsanna; Gonda, Sándor; Novák, Zoltán; Nagy, Sándor Alex; Vasas, Gábor
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 212(2016)
• Page Start: 508
• Page End: 518
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: NSAID -- Cyanobacteria -- Algae -- Laboratory strains -- Natural assemblages; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.02.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years measurable concentrations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown in the aquatic environment as a result of increasing human consumption. Effects of five frequently used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, diflunisal, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and piroxicam in 0.1 mg ml −1 concentration) in batch cultures of cyanobacteria ( Synechococcus elongatus, Microcystis aeruginosa, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii ), and eukaryotic algae ( Desmodesmus communis, Haematococcus pluvialis, Cryptomonas ovata ) were studied. Furthermore, the effects of the same concentrations of NSAIDs were investigated in natural algal assemblages in microcosms. According to the changes of chlorophyll-a content, unicellular cyanobacteria seemed to be more tolerant to NSAIDs than eukaryotic algae in laboratory experiments. Growth of eukaryotic algae was reduced by all drugs, the cryptomonad C. ovata was the most sensitive to NSAIDs, while the flagellated green alga H. pluvialis was more sensitive than the non-motile green alga D. communis . NSAID treatments had weaker impact in the natural assemblages dominated by cyanobacteria than in the ones dominated by eukaryotic algae, confirming the results of laboratory experiments. Diversity and number of functional groups did not change notably in cyanobacteria dominated assemblages, while they decreased significantly in eukaryotic algae dominated ones compared to controls. The results highlight that cyanobacteria (especially unicellular ones) are less sensitive to the studied, mostly hardly degradable NSAIDs, which suggest that their accumulation in water bodies may contribute to the expansion of cyanobacterial mass productions in appropriate environmental circumstances by pushing back eukaryotic algae. Thus, these contaminants require special attention during wastewater treatment and monitoring of surface waters. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A wide range of NSAIDs can affect cyanobacterial and eukaryotic algal growth. Unicellular cyanobacteria are less sensitive to NSAIDs than eukaryotic algae. NSAIDs have weaker effects in natural assemblages with cyanobacterial dominance. NSAIDs may cause compositional changes in eukaryotic algal dominated assemblages. Abstract : The study presents new data on the sensitivity of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae to NSAIDs and suggests higher tolerance of the former group both in laboratory and in field.