Qualitative and quantitative assessment of diatom deformities and protoplasmic condition under metal and metalloid stress.

Metals and metalloids are toxic, persistent, and non-biodegradable and can be biomagnified (e.g., Hg), and therefore pose a serious threat to the algal flora of aquatic ecosystems.

Testing the toxicity of metals, phenol, effluents, and receiving waters by root elongation in Lactuca sativa L.

Phytotoxicity tests using higher plants are among the most simple, sensitive, and cost-effective of the methods available for ecotoxicity testing. In the present study, a hydroponic-based phytotoxicity test using seeds of Lactuca sativa was used to evaluate the water quality of receiving waters and effluents near two industrial sites (Soyo and Daejon) in Korea with respect to the toxicity of 10 metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Hg, Ni, Zn) and phenol, and of the receiving waters and effluents themselves. First, the L.