DEVELOPMENT, TESTING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED BIOTESTS FOR THEMONITORING OF THE RIVER RHINE, DEMONSTATED BY BACTERIA AND ALGAE TESTS

A joint research project for the development, testing and implementati on of automated biotests, capable of rapidly detecting acutely toxic w ater conditions of the River Rhine, was carried out by several adminis trative and scientific institutions in Germany. Automated biomonitors working with the test organisms bacteria, algae, water fleas, mussels, and fishes were tested and compared with respect to their sensitivity , reliability, and practical handling under field conditions. Field tr ials with atrazine and sodium pentachlorophenolate as toxicants were p erformed on the River Rhine. Threshold values and LOEC-values (Lowest observed effect concentration) were determined to compare the test spe cific sensitivity of the test systems. From 1990 to 1992 various biomo nitors were tested in monitoring stations on the river Rhine and in a mobile laboratory container on the rivers Rhine and Main. Results of b acteria and algae tests are presented.