Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Ultrastructural and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy Studies of Sequestration Mechanisms of Cd and Cu in the Marine Diatom Skeletonema costatum

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

The marine diatom Skeletonema costatum was used to study mechanisms of detoxification when submitted to cadmium and copper contamination. After 96 h of growth, concentration corresponding to 50% growth inhibition (IC50, 96 h) was 0.224 mg/L for cadmium and 0.045 mg/L for copper, indicating that copper is more toxic for S. costatum than cadmium. Heavy cellular damages were observed for cadmium and copper concentrations close to the IC50. Exposure to these concentrations induced a migration of inclusions from the peripheral cytoplasm to the vacuole. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) investigations demonstrated that Cd and Cu were specifically trapped in these inclusions. However, Cu was less sequestered than cadmium in the vacuole. EELS determination of oxidation states evidenced that trace metals were sequestered as Cd2+ and Cu2+. Nitrogen and sulfur are involved in metallic storage, especially in the case of cadmium contamination.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 6 August 1996/Revised: 18 February 1997

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nassiri, Y., Mansot, J., Wéry, J. et al. Ultrastructural and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy Studies of Sequestration Mechanisms of Cd and Cu in the Marine Diatom Skeletonema costatum . Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 33, 147–155 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002449900236

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002449900236

Keywords

Navigation