title: Effect of heavy metals and PAH on soil assessed via dehydrogenase assay.
abstract: Dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) assay method using resazurin was accommodated for measuring of toxicity of compound contaminants on uncharacterized microbial communities present in any given soil. The method was used to compare the toxic effect of heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminant mixture (Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd, Pyrene) on four typical Estonian soils covering a range of compositions. The method proved to be useable on all soils; the sensitivity of soil microbiology to toxic effect of contaminants was found to have a negative correlation with Ca and organic matter (OM) content and a positive correlation with amorphous phase content of soils.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia 23, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia. natalja@kbfi.ce
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irha
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slet
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petersell
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D010088:Oxidoreductases