The use of a battery of microbiotests as a tool for integrated pollution control : evaluation and perspectives in Cyprus

Abstract

The application of a battery of microbiotests i.e. Microtox® test, Daphtoxkit F™, Algaltoxkit F™ and Mutatox® test in parallel and in combination with chemical methods is discussed as a tool for the development of integrated monitoring and water pollution control. In order to get a more holistic and synthetic evaluation of the ecotoxicological quality of the aquatic environment, the results from different toxicity tests are integrated and expressed in one single toxicological index. As a first step the results from the acute toxicity tests are integrated into a sub-index, the PAF (%) i.e. the Potentially Affected Fraction of Species. This index is further integrated with results from the genotoxicity tests and eventually develops into one ecotoxicological index, the TOX. Finally, the TOX and 8 chemical and microbiological indices, form one“Yardstick”for pollution evaluation and hazard identification. The single toxicological index provides an overall view of the possible impacts on the ecosystem, and can therefore facilitate the integration of ecotoxicological results into the decision making process. The aim of the present work is to show how toxicity testing can be integrated with well-established chemical/microbiological investigations. This integration can provide the basis for a robust, monitoring system for surface waters, by which priorities for action can be clearly identified.