• Universitat de València
• Universidad Rey Juan Carlos I

• Helena Moreno Traba
• Myriam Catalá Rodríguez
• Noelia Domínguez Morueco

Environmental toxicology is a recent discipline that studies the impact of pollutants on the structure and function of biological systems. Environmental toxicity can be assessed by bioassays, which are experiments in which the biological activity of a substance is determined by observing its effect on micro-organisms, organs or biological preparations. Bioassays can be applied on a wide range of species, from bacteria, fish and even birds, and can be based on different parameters, from mortality assessment to optical scattering, chlorophyll autofluorescence or DNA quantification. However, the selection of the species to be analysed in the bioassay is fundamental, since in order to provide ecologically relevant results, it must meet requirements such as sensitivity to environmental factors, wide distribution, availability in sufficient quantity and ease of handling in the laboratory.

Researchers from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and the Universitat de València have developed a novel microbioassay and environmental toxicity kit based on an extract of phycobionts, the algal part of the lichen. This microbioassay allows the analysis of toxicity in water, soil or air samples, using optical scattering techniques, chlorophyll autofluorescence or DNA quantification. Phycobionts are tolerant to desiccation and recover quickly after desiccation without losing their characteristics. In addition, they can grow at low temperatures and low light and grow in suspensions or on solid media, which facilitates their production and storage. Their easy handling and tolerance, and their sensitivity to contaminants make them ideal for rapid, simple, inexpensive and reliable toxicity assessment of samples.

The technology is applicable in the fields of biotechnology, environment, environmental industry and within the ecotoxicological sector. It may be of interest to environmental management companies, air pollution control and abatement companies, water resource management companies, and entities involved in environmental quality assessment, research and development.

The main advantages of the technology are:

• Use in samples of very different nature: aqueous, solid, semi-solid and gaseous.
• High ecological relevance of the bioassays, which makes them useful as a tool for environmental surveillance and monitoring of different habitats.
• Micro-organisms that are easy to reproduce in the laboratory.
• Organisms tolerant to desiccation. Ease of storage and transport.
• Very rapid recovery of organisms.
• Reduction of bioassay time compared to other methods.
• Low economic cost of the bioassay. Can also be applied with basic laboratory material.
• Easily automated bioassay, using small sample volumes.

• Patent granted