Evaluation of bioaccumulation and toxicity of Congo Red on Pseudochloris wilhelmii and Daphnia magna

Abstract

Congo Red, which may have allergic, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects for organisms used in textiles and in biochemistry and histology for dyeing microscopic media, is an organic pollutant that causes environmental concerns. This study shows that the acute toxic effects of Congo Red on two different aquatic organisms (Pseudochloris wilhelmii and Daphnia magna). The toxic effects of increasing dye concentrations on the growth of Pseudochloris wilhelmii were demonstrated by algal inhibition test. The maximum chlorophyll (a+b) concentration was determined as 0.445 µg/mL at a dye concentration of 5.38 mg/L after 72 hours of exposure. This value decreased to 0.218 µg/mL at 28.46 mg/L dye concentration, indicating a decrease of approximately 50%. For Daphnia magna, it was also demonstrated that acute toxic effects reached their highest level with increasing concentrations and duration (72h LC50: 89.91 mg/L). This study shows that the introduction of Congo red into ecosystems could cause stress on the environment and organisms.

Keywords

• Toxicity
• dye
• algae
• water flea

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