HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM TOXICITY TO CYANOBACTERIUM SPIRULINA PLATENSIS

Abstract

The main industrial applications of heavy metals in leather and textile manufacturing, electro painting, corrosion inhibition, plating, glassware-cleaning solutions and the production of pigments has increased concentration of hexavalent chromium in the environment that lead to a serious problem to the ecosystem. Since, hexavalent chromium is found to be toxic in human beings. The present study has been designed to determine hexavalent chromium induced biomolecular changes in Spirulina platensis. Spirulina platensis, a filamentous cyanobacterium known as blue green algae of aquatic ecosystem has high economic importance due to its therapeutic potential. Blue green algae, Spirulina platensis was exposed to different concentration (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 mg/l) of hexavalent chromium as potassium chromate and observed for different growth parameters for 9 days of incubation period. The concentration variation of carbohydrate, protein and chlorophyll- a pigment in Spirulina platensis was observed in the presence of chromium. The growth of Spirulina platensis was inhibited upon exposure of different concentrations of chromium. Maximum growth inhibition was observed in 10 mg/l of chromium treated cells as compared to control. The extent of toxicity increased with increasing concentration of chromium along with exposure time.