TESTING FOR HEAVY-METAL TOXICITY USING BACTERIA

Heavy metal pollution is of major concern to environmental scientists. In the present study, a colorimetric screening test using an electron acceptor dye has been used to assess the toxicity of some selected he avy metals to two pure bacterial cultures and to a mixed culture grown from activated sludge. The results obtained from this study, and the routine application of this test to real industrial samples can be use d to make a predictive assessment of the inhibitory effects of heavy m etals in biological treatment units.