title: Toxic effects of Hydrilla verticillata exposed to toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene and safety assessment for protecting aquatic macrophytes.
abstract: Little information is available about the toxicity of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene acting on macrophytes, and their toxicity data are rarely used in regulation and criteria decisions. The results extended the knowledge on toxic effects of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene on aquatic plants. The responses of Hydrilla verticillata to these pollutants were investigated. Chlorophyll levels, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase) showed diverse responses at different concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The linear regression analyses were performed respectively, suggesting the concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene expected to protect aquatic macrophytes were 7.30 mg L⁻¹, 1.15 mg L⁻¹ and 2.36 mg L⁻¹, respectively. This study emphasized that aquatic plants are also sensitive to organic pollutants as fishes and zooplanktons, indicating that macrophytes could be helpful in predicting the toxicity of these pollutants and should be considered in regulation and criteria decisions for aquatic environment protection.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Qixing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D031321:Hydrocharitaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D012449:Safety; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity; D014992:Xylenes / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; C004912:ethylbenzene