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Toxic effects of 1,4-dichlorobenzene on photosynthesis in Chlorella pyrenoidosa

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Abstract

1,4-Dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) is a common organic contaminant in water. To determine the effects of this contaminant on photosynthesis in the freshwater alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa, algal cells were treated with 1,4-DCB at different concentrations for various times, and their photosynthetic pigment contents and chlorophyll fluorescence traits were analyzed. The results showed that 1,4-DCB exerted toxic effects on photosynthesis in C. pyrenoidosa, especially at concentrations exceeding 10 mg/L. The inhibitory effects of 1,4-DCB were time- and concentration-dependent. After treatment with 1,4-DCB (≥10 mg/L), the contents of photosynthetic pigments decreased significantly, the photosystem II reaction center was irreversibly damaged, and the quantum yield of photosystem II decreased significantly. Also, there were sharp decreases in the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport and energy conversion. Photosystem II became overloaded as the amount of excitation energy distributed to it increased. All of these events weakened the photochemical reaction, and ultimately led to serious inhibition of photosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the editor of Edanz Editing for his/her editorial assistance with the English. This study was funded by the Foundation of Plateform Construction Project of Infrastructure for Science and Technology of Shanxi (No. 2015091004-0102) and Social Development Foundation of Shanxi (No. 201603D321008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

    Jinhua Zhang, Jie Wang, Jia Feng, Junping Lv, Qi Liu & Shulian Xie

  2. Institute of Applied Chemistry, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China

    Jin Cai

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  1. Jinhua Zhang
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  2. Jie Wang
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  3. Jia Feng
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  4. Junping Lv
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  5. Jin Cai
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  6. Qi Liu
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  7. Shulian Xie
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Correspondence to Shulian Xie.

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Zhang, J., Wang, J., Feng, J. et al. Toxic effects of 1,4-dichlorobenzene on photosynthesis in Chlorella pyrenoidosa . Environ Monit Assess 188, 526 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5537-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5537-3

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