title: Quantification of ecotoxicological tests based on bioluminescence using Polaroid film.
abstract: Assays based on the measurement of bacterial luminescence are widely used in ecotoxicology. Bacterial strains responding either to general toxicity or specific pollutants are rapid, cost-effective and easy to use. However, quantification of the signal requires relatively expensive instrumentation. We show here that the detection of luminescence of BioTox, a Vibrio fischeri-based toxicity test, and of a specific recombinant bacterial strain for arsenic determination, is possible using common Polaroid film. The exposed films can be used for visual or computer-assisted quantification of the signal. Qualitative visual comparison to standards can be used in the rapid and relatively accurate estimation of toxicity or pollutant concentration. The computer-assisted method significantly improves the accuracy and quantification of the results. The results obtained by computer-assisted quantification were in good agreement with the values obtained with a luminometer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. manu.tamminen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Manu V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Tamminen
authors.forename: Marko P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Virta
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical