SPERM CELL TOXICITY TEST USING SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS LAMARCK(ECHINODERMATA: ECHINOIDEA): SENSITIVITY AND DISCRIMINATORY ABILITY TOWARD ANIONIC AND NONIONIC SURFACTANTS

摘要

A reliable sperm cell toxicity test procedure has been developed for the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The sensitivity and discriminatory ability of the test were investigated with regard to surfactants and their biotransformation products. Aromatic and aliphatic surfactants of anionic(linear alkylbenzene sulfonates［LAS］)and nonionic(alcohol polyethoxylates[AE] And nonylphenol polyethoxylates[NPE]types and their aerobic biodegradation products, i.e., sulfophenylcarboxylates(SPC), Polyethylene glycols(PEG), carboxylated polyethylene glycols(PEGC), carboxylated AE(AEC), and nonylphenol(NP), were Examined in order to elucidate the influence of their molecular structure on toxicity.