To evaluate the toxicity of atrazine on the freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp. using sensitive indices indicated by photosynthetic parameters

Atrazine is a widely-applied herbicide used primarily to control weeds, which can persist in the ecosystem and exert potential toxicity to phytoplankton in the aquatic environment. In this study, acute toxicity of atrazine on microalgae Chlorella sp. was investigated with different initial cell densities (1 × 105 and 1 × 106 cells mL−1) and exposure periods (4 d and 8 d). Both growth rate and photosynthetic parameters of the microalgae in response of atrazine stress were determined to find out the sensitive indices and toxicological mechanisms. Because of the independence of initial cell density as well as the high sensitivity and reliability, the performance index PIABS was verified as the most convincing photosynthetic parameter for indicating IC50 of atrazine on Chlorella sp., being superior to the traditional parameters of growth rate and FV/FM. The IP amplitude (ΔFIP, fluorescence amplitude of the I-to-P-rise in the OJIP curve) was another sensitive biomarker to reflect atrazine stress. Results from chlorophyll fluorescence transient revealed that atrazine damaged the photosystem II (PS II) reaction center, suppressed the electron transport at the donor and receptor sides, and acted on the absorption, transfer, and utilization of light energy. Our results provide confirmatory references for understanding the toxicity and mechanisms of atrazine on freshwater microalgae. [Display omitted] •Atrazine IC50 was calculated and compared with different photosynthetic indices.•IC50 assessed by PIABS is the most sensitive indicator for atrazine toxicity.•The variation of PIABS was independent of cell number (i.e. biomass).•ΔFIP was sensitive to reflect the atrazine stress.•Atrazine toxicity lies in obstruction of light absorption and electron transfer.