title: The use of bioluminescent dinoflagellates as an environmental risk assessment tool.
abstract: A novel toxicity method to determine sublethal and lethal effects of manmade contaminants on the bioluminescence output from marine dinoflagellates has been developed and tested over the course of 16 years. The toxicity system, QwikLite, was developed for the sole purpose of evaluating the potential toxicity of various materials used in bay sediments, storm water discharges, industrial discharges from Naval facilities, and antifoulant paints. Bioluminescence inhibition was observed in the following dinoflagellates: Lingulodinium polyedrum (formerly known as Gonyaulax polyedra), Ceratocorys horrida, Pyrocystis noctiluca, Pyrocystis lunula, Pyrocystis fusiformis, and Pyrophacus steinii. Cultured cells were exposed to various concentrations of contaminants from hours through 10 days. Further application with bioluminescent dinoflagellates in a variety of toxicity testing schemes have shown that these species can be used as a screening assay organism in lieu of the more costly, labor intensive bioassays presently in use.
authors.affiliation: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Environmental Sciences, Code 2375, 53475 Strothe Road, San Diego, CA 92152-6310, USA. david.lapota@navy.mil
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lapota
authors.forename: Alexandra Robayo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Osorio
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bjorndal
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate