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EFFECTS OF PETROLEUMS ON THE GROWTH OF FRESHWATER ALGAE J. C. Coffey, Graduate Student C. H. Ward, Professor and Chairman J. M. King, Research Associate Department of Environmental Science and Engineering Rice University Houston, Texas 77001 INTRODUCTION Natural oil seeps have been contributing unknown quantities of petroleum to aquatic ecosystems for centuries, while anthropic introduction of petroleum hydrocarbons into the aquatic environment is relatively recent and parallels utilization of liquid fossil fuels. The complex chemical compositions of petroleums and their highly variable behavior on entry into aquatic habitats has resulted, in part, in a deficiency in our knowledge and predictive ability regarding the toxicity of petroleums to aquatic organisms. However, problems which may be associated with petroleum pollution were emphasized dramatically by the wreck of the "Torrey Canyon" and oil spillage from platform "A" in the Santa Barbara Channel. Effects of these acute spills and ones of smaller proportions on marine organisms have been reviewed by several investigators [1-3]. Acute biological effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine algae have been well investigated but few general conclusions can be drawn. The sensitivity of marine algae to petroleums is species-dependent [4-6], and toxicity depends on the stage of refinement of the petroleums [7-9]. Nonpersistence of petroleum components in aquatic habitats allows recovery of most algal populations after oil spills [6,10,11]. Low concentrations of petroleums may stimulate photosynthesis in algae [12], while high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons inhibit photosynthesis [12,13]. Few investigations have explored the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons to freshwater algae, even though 35% of the tonnage moving over inland waterways consists of petroleums [14]. Storrs [15] showed that significant quantities of petroleums enter freshwater, and he identified the following as major sources of these pollutants: (a) oil refinery wastewater; (b) petrochemical industry wastewater; (c) steel processing plants; (d) urban storm drainage, and (e) disposal of used lubricants. Pure aromatic fractions of petroleums inhibit growth of some freshwater algae and naphthalene is highly toxic to the photosynthetic system of Chlamydomonas angulosa [16]. Hellebust et al. [17] found no adverse effects of a crude-oil spill on diversity and abundance of freshwater algae. Likewise, Dogadina [18] showed no inhibition of growth in Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus on exposure to crude oils. This chapter presents the results of an investigation of the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the growth of 5 freshwater algae in batch culture systems. Naphthalene was also tested for possible use as a simple model of complex petroleums. MATERIALS AND METHODS Organisms and Experimental Culture Systems Three species of green algae (Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Selenas- trum capricornutum) and two species of blue-green algae (Anabaena flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa) were used as test organisms. The cultures of green algae were freed of contaminating bacteria [19] and were tested periodically for bacterial contamination [20]. Basic microbiological techniques were employed throughout experiments in order to maintain axenic systems. 885
Object Description
Purdue Identification Number | ETRIWC197680 |
Title | Effects of petroleums on the growth of freshwater algae |
Author |
Coffey, J. C. Ward, C. H. King, J. M. |
Date of Original | 1976 |
Conference Title | Proceedings of the 31st Industrial Waste Conference |
Conference Front Matter (copy and paste) | http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/engext,27048 |
Extent of Original | p. 885-893 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Date Digitized | 2009-07-08 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
Description
Title | page 885 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Transcript | EFFECTS OF PETROLEUMS ON THE GROWTH OF FRESHWATER ALGAE J. C. Coffey, Graduate Student C. H. Ward, Professor and Chairman J. M. King, Research Associate Department of Environmental Science and Engineering Rice University Houston, Texas 77001 INTRODUCTION Natural oil seeps have been contributing unknown quantities of petroleum to aquatic ecosystems for centuries, while anthropic introduction of petroleum hydrocarbons into the aquatic environment is relatively recent and parallels utilization of liquid fossil fuels. The complex chemical compositions of petroleums and their highly variable behavior on entry into aquatic habitats has resulted, in part, in a deficiency in our knowledge and predictive ability regarding the toxicity of petroleums to aquatic organisms. However, problems which may be associated with petroleum pollution were emphasized dramatically by the wreck of the "Torrey Canyon" and oil spillage from platform "A" in the Santa Barbara Channel. Effects of these acute spills and ones of smaller proportions on marine organisms have been reviewed by several investigators [1-3]. Acute biological effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on marine algae have been well investigated but few general conclusions can be drawn. The sensitivity of marine algae to petroleums is species-dependent [4-6], and toxicity depends on the stage of refinement of the petroleums [7-9]. Nonpersistence of petroleum components in aquatic habitats allows recovery of most algal populations after oil spills [6,10,11]. Low concentrations of petroleums may stimulate photosynthesis in algae [12], while high concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons inhibit photosynthesis [12,13]. Few investigations have explored the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons to freshwater algae, even though 35% of the tonnage moving over inland waterways consists of petroleums [14]. Storrs [15] showed that significant quantities of petroleums enter freshwater, and he identified the following as major sources of these pollutants: (a) oil refinery wastewater; (b) petrochemical industry wastewater; (c) steel processing plants; (d) urban storm drainage, and (e) disposal of used lubricants. Pure aromatic fractions of petroleums inhibit growth of some freshwater algae and naphthalene is highly toxic to the photosynthetic system of Chlamydomonas angulosa [16]. Hellebust et al. [17] found no adverse effects of a crude-oil spill on diversity and abundance of freshwater algae. Likewise, Dogadina [18] showed no inhibition of growth in Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus on exposure to crude oils. This chapter presents the results of an investigation of the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the growth of 5 freshwater algae in batch culture systems. Naphthalene was also tested for possible use as a simple model of complex petroleums. MATERIALS AND METHODS Organisms and Experimental Culture Systems Three species of green algae (Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Selenas- trum capricornutum) and two species of blue-green algae (Anabaena flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa) were used as test organisms. The cultures of green algae were freed of contaminating bacteria [19] and were tested periodically for bacterial contamination [20]. Basic microbiological techniques were employed throughout experiments in order to maintain axenic systems. 885 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
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