Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Botany and Microbiology Department , Faculty of Science, Arish University ,North Sinai ,Egypt
2
Aquatic Environment Department, Faculty of Fish Resources, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.
3
Faculty of Basic Sciences ,King Salman International University, South Sinai ,Egypt.
Abstract
The pervasive presence of pharmaceutical residues in aquatic ecosystems
raises critical concerns regarding their potential ecological impacts. This
study investigated the toxicological effects of one of commonly used non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) on
the unicellular green alga Chlorella vulgaris. Algal cultures were exposed to
a gradient of concentrations to determine sub-lethal doses (LC10, LC25, LC50)
over 24, 48, and 96-hour intervals. The impacts on algal growth, pigment
composition (chlorophyll a, b), biochemical constituents (proteins, lipids,
carbohydrates). assessed. Results indicated a concentration- and time-
dependent inhibition of algal growth and a significant decline in pigment and
macromolecule content, particularly at LC50 levels after 96 hours.
Chlorophyll a decreased by about 57%, Chlorophyll b by 80%, Protein
levels fell by roughly 33%, Total carbohydrates showed a decrease of
around 22% and Lipid content declined by nearly 28% LC50 levels after 96
hours compared with the control. Overall, the findings demonstrate that
aspirin at ecotoxicologically relevant levels exerts pronounced physiological
stress on C. vulgaris, primarily through suppression of photosynthesis and
depletion of cellular macromolecules, highlighting the potential ecological risk of pharmaceutical contamination in aquatic systems, which makes it
necessary to take this into consideration during wastewater treatment
processes.
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