Influence of selected fluorescent dyes on small aquatic organisms

• Published in: Acta geophysica Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 91 - 109
• Main Authors: Rowiński, Paweł M., Chrzanowski, Marcin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Versita 01.02.2011; Versita; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic organisms; bioindication method; Crustaceans; dye; Dyes; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Fauna; Fluorescent dyes; Freshwater; Geophysics/Geodesy; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydrology; lethal concentration; Organisms; Qualitative research; Rhodamine; Rivers; Shellfish; Shrimps; Statistical methods; Structural Geology; toxkit; tracer; Rhodamine; dye; aquatic organisms; lethal concentration; bioindication method; tracer; toxkit
• ISSN: 1895-6572; 1895-7455
• DOI: 10.2478/s11600-010-0024-7

Rhodamine B and Rhodamine WT are fluorescent dyes commonly used as tracers in hydrological investigations. Since introducing intensely red substances into rivers raises understandable doubts of ecological nature, the authors aimed at examining the influence of these dyes on small water fauna using bioindication methods. Quantitative results, calculated with the use of Bliss-Weber probit statistical method, were achieved by means of standardized ecotoxicological tests containing ready-to-hatch resting forms of fairy shrimp ( Thamnocephalus platyurus ). Qualitative studies included observation of water flea crustacean ( Daphnia magna ) and horned planorbis snail ( Planorbis corneus ), both typically present in rivers and representative for temperate climate, as well as guppy fish ( Poecilla reticulata ), paramecium protozoan ( Paramaecium caudatum ) and the above-mentioned fairy shrimp. The investigation revealed that both dyes in concentrations used for hydrological purposes are low enough to exert almost no toxic impact on water fauna considered.