SHORT COMMUNICATION - CADMIUM UPTAKE BY SPIRULINA-MAXIMA - TOXICITY AND MECHANISM

Cadmium uptake by Spirulina maxima cells was more pronounced in living than in dead cells, with a maximum recovery of 47.63 mg Cd/g cells fo r living cells and 37.00 mg Cd/g cells for inactivated cells. When in the medium at 1.2 mg/l, cadmium affected cell growth and diminished ce ll productivity. Cadmium was detected in the outer and inner faces of the external membrane, essentially in the lipid layer.