A simple method for screening petroleum effluents by in vitro enzyme inhibition

Because of the need to evaluate the environmental hazards of industrial wastes, there is an increased demand for rapid methods to screen industrial effluents to determine whether more sophisticated tests are needed. A rapid and inexpensive method has been developed to screen petroleum effluents. The method involves determining the extent of in Vitro enzyme inhibition by a particular industrial petroleum effluent. The animal bioassays currently being used to assess toxicity of effluents require considerable time, space, supplies, and personnel. Enzyme assays require inexpensive reagents, little space, and only minutes to complete. Because the toxic actions observed in screening organisms are often due to metabolic imbalances, the effect of an effluent on enzymes may constitute a valid bioassay. More research is needed to evaluate this method fully.