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Using Biological Methods to Determine Pollution Sources of the Vilnia River
N. Kazlauskiene1, D. Marčiulioniene2, T. Virbickas1
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1Laboratory of Ecology and Physiology of Hydrobionts, Institute of Ecology, Vilnius University,
Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius-21, Lithuania
1Laboratory of Radioecology, Institute of Botany, Žaliuju Ežeru 49, LT-08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2008;17(1):163-167
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ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to investigate pollution sources in the Vilnia River and evaluate the toxicity
of sewage, contamination of the Vilnia River water and bottom sediments, using a complex of biological methods. Toxicity was assessed by use of various indices of test-organisms: seed germination and root growth in Lepidium sativum L., and mortality and physiological indices in early ontogenesis (embryos and larvae) of Oncorhynchus mykiss L. Changes in biological indices of Lepidium sativum L. and embryos and larvae of Oncorhynchus mykiss demonstrated that sewage of an identified point of the pollution source and the water of the Vilnia River 300 m downstream from the pollution source, bottom sediments of the Vilnia River nearby the pollution source and 300 m downstream from the pollution source could be defined as toxic.