title: Evaluation of the effects of diuron and its derivatives on Lemna gibba using a fluorescence toxicity index.
abstract: The herbicide diuron (DCMU) [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] is largely used in agricultural practices which contribute to water pollution in large areas. Its degradation induced by light or microbial activity is known to be a slow process, and may result in the accumulation of DCMU derivatives in the environment. In this report we used the yield of PSII variable fluorescence of Lemna gibba affected by the DCMU derivatives DCPMU [1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methylurea], DCPU [1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea], and DCA [3,4-dichloroaniline] to calculate the fluorescence toxicity index. We found the fluorescence toxicity index to be a useful parameter to evaluate the inhibitory effect on PSII electron transport in L. gibba exposed to DCMU and its derivatives. The variations observed for the inhibitory effect between DCMU and its derivatives seem to be caused by the modification of the dimethylurea group within the DCMU molecule. The fluorescence toxicity index demonstrated a strong quantitative dependency between the inhibitory effect of PSII electron transport and pollutant concentrations. We propose the fluorescence toxicity index to be a useful tool for future bioassays in evaluating the quality of water polluted with herbicides that induce an inhibition to PSII photochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Montréal, Département de Chimie-Biochimie, TOXEN, CP8888, succ Centre-Ville, Canada H3C 3P8.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewez
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eullaffroy
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovic
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004237:Diuron / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006540:Herbicides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006540:Herbicides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D004237:Diuron