title: Ecotoxicological assessment of industrial effluent using duckweed  (Lemna minor L.) as a test organism.
abstract: This study aimed at assessing the toxic effects of industrial effluents using duckweed (Lemna minor L.) plants as a test system. Growth inhibition test according to standardized protocol (ISO 20079) was performed. The suitability of the Comet assay (indicates DNA damage) and certain parameters such as peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation level, as biomarkers for environmental monitoring was evaluated. The water samples were collected monthly over a 3-month period from the stream near the industrial estate of Savski Marof, Croatia. All samples caused inhibition of growth rates based on frond number and biomass as well as decrease of chlorophylls content. In contrast, peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde content and tail extent moment (measure of DNA strand breaks) markedly increased. Obtained data demonstrate the relevance of duckweed as sensitive indicators of water quality as well as the significance of selected biological parameters in the reliable assessment of phyto- and genotoxic potential of complex wastewaters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 6 Rooseveltov trg, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. sandra@zg.biol.pmf.hr
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radić
authors.forename: Drazenka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stipanicev
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cvjetko
authors.forename: Ivanka Lovrencić
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Mikelić
authors.forename: Marija Marijanović
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rajcić
authors.forename: Sinisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirac
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pevalek-Kozlina
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavlica
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D029064:Araceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D020552:Comet Assay; D017523:Croatia; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009195:Peroxidase