Using Arthrobacter globiformis bioassay for assessment of bioavailability and toxicity of soil and sediments

Abstract

We used the bacterial test on the cells called Arthrobacter globiformis in order to detect the level of toxins in the sediment of the Lake Skadar. We kept an eye on the influence of the sediments on the activity of the whole of bacterial dehydrogenase (DNA) by the process of the reduction of the oxidoreduction color of the resasurine into the resofurine. We used the organic fraction of the sediments (the extracts of sediments) in combination with the native sediments. The sediments of the lake indicated lower or higher level of the toxin depending on the locality and the presence of certain substances that have toxic effects which are biologically easily accessible to the living organisms. The highest level of toxins indicated the sediments of Radus and the sediments of the estuary of the river Moraca into both of the systems.