Impacts of chlorination and heat shocks on growth, pigments and photosynthesis of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae)

The main impacts of cooling water from thermal (nuclear) power plants on aquatic organisms were caused by chlorination and temperature increase. In this study, we investigated the impacts of residual chlorine and short-term heat shocks on growth, pigment contents and photosynthesis of Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Growth of P. tricornutum was completely inhibited; Chlorophyll a and carotenoids contents deceased about 63.3% and 61.4% in 24 h treated with 0.2 mg L− 1 chlorine. The negative effects of chlorination increased with enhanced concentration and prolonged exposure time. Relative electrode transfer rate (rETR) of P. tricornutum was significantly suppressed when treated with 0.2 mg L− 1 residual chlorine for 24 h. Furthermore, the effective quantum yield (Fv'/Fm') decreased first but then recovered with prolonged exposure when residual chlorine ranged between 0.1 and 0.2 mg L− 1. The cells were less sensitive to heat shocks compared with chlorination: the rETR and Fv'/Fm' was suppressed only when the temperature exceeded 35 °C for 1 h. When P. tricornutum was exposed to chlorination combined with heat shocks, the rETR was further inhibited at 35 °C. It indicated that both chlorination and heat shocks had negative impacts on the primary producers living in discharging coastal waters; furthermore, there were synergistic effects of heat shocks on chlorination toxicity.

Research Highlights
► The cells were less sensitive to heat shocks compared with chlorination.
► The rETR and Fv'/Fm' was suppressed only when the temperature exceeded 35 °C.
► The toxicity of chlorination was enhanced at 35 °C.