Uptake and acute toxicity of cerium in the lichen Xanthoria parietina

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 104; pp. 379 - 385
• Main Authors: Paoli, L., Fiorini, E., Munzi, S., Sorbo, S., Basile, A., Loppi, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.06.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Ascomycota - drug effects; Ascomycota - metabolism; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomonitoring; Cerium - metabolism; Cerium - toxicity; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Environmental Monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lichens - drug effects; Lichens - metabolism; Microbial Viability - drug effects; Photosynthesis - drug effects; Physiology; Traffic-related elements; Ultrastructure; Biomonitoring; Physiology; Traffic-related elements; Bioaccumulation; Ultrastructure; Lanthanide; Toxicity; Acute; Cerium; Biological indicator; Uptake; Biological monitoring; Surface structure; Fungi; Transmission electron microscopy; Morphology; Lichenes; Biological accumulation
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.02.028

Environmental cerium (Ce) levels are likely to increase in the near future and monitoring of its biological effects will therefore be necessary. The aim of this study was to test if treatment of the lichen Xanthoria parietina with Ce-containing solutions (0.1mM, 1mM, 10mM and 100mM) causes Ce bioaccumulation (both extra- and intra-cellularly) as well as physiological (sample viability, membrane lipids peroxidation, photosynthetic performance, water-soluble proteins content) and ultrastructural alterations. The results showed that treatment with Ce solutions induces Ce bioaccumulation, both extra-cellularly and intra-cellularly, which in turn causes an acute toxicity, evident as decreased sample viability, marked decrease in the photosynthetic performance and important changes in the ultrastructure. •The lichen Xanthoria parietina was negatively affected by treatment with cerium.•Total and intracellular Ce content increased with increasing Ce treatment.•Ce decreased viability and photosynthetic performance and altered the ultrastructure.