A SEMISTATIC MICROPLATE-BASED PHYTOTOXICITY TEST

A novel phytotoxicity test is described herein that employs a micropla te equipped with membrane-bottomed wells. This MultiScreen(TM) (Millip ore Corp., Bedford, MA) microplate allows performance of a semistatic algal test, in which test medium is renewed periodically. With such a design, the algal test becomes comparable to other short-term tests us ed to evaluate chronic toxicity of chemicals and effluents. The EC50s obtained for Cu2+, Cd2+, Cr6+, atrazine, and one leachate sample (muni cipal sludge incinerator residue) with static and semistatic algal mic roplate tests were compared in this study. The semistatic microplate t est revealed greater sensitivity than did the static microplate test.