Sensitivity of the alga Scenedesmus acutus to some pesticides.

acutus were tested for sensitivity to varying concentrations
of seven insecticides and three fungicides
. The growth rates of the organisms were
considerably reduced by BHC and DDT analogues even
at low concentrations of 500 ppb and 1 ppm . Lindane
above 5 ppm and Technical BHC and DDT at 100 ppm
were lethal to this alga . Of the three fungicides,
TMTD (Tetra Methyl Thiurum Disulfide) was most
toxic resulting in death of the culture at 10 and
100 ppm. Blitox (Copper-oxy chloride and Zineb
(Zinc Ethylene-Bis dithiocarbamate) considerably
retarded growth at all concentrations . This alga
was more sensitive to hindane, BHC (Technical),
DDT and TMTD . The growth rate appeared to be
influenced by the concentration of pesticide
present in the algal culture . As Scenedesmus acutus
is being considered as a source of Single Cell
Protein (SCP) for human consumption, knowledge on
the sensitivity of this alga to pesticide contamination
will be useful.