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. 2015 Oct 9;16(10):23929–23969. doi: 10.3390/ijms161023929

Table 1.

Effect of metals, metalloids and metallic nanoparticles on growth of microalgae.

Metal Microalgae Strain Cultivation Time Concentration Effect on Growth Ref.
Hg Chlorella sp. Scenedesmus acutus 8 days 2.5–5 mg/L 100% growth inhibition [58]
Hg Selenastrum capricornutum – 0.027 mg/L 50% inhibition [59]
Pb Phaeocystis antarctica 10 days 0.57 mg/L 50% inhibition [60]
Pb Dunaliella tertiolecta 48 h 1.5–6.4 mg/L 20% stimulation [26]
48 h 7.29 mg/L 25% inhibition
Cr(III) Dyctiosphaerium chlorelloides 72 h 13–17 mg/L 50% inhibition [61]
Cr(III) Scenedesmus sp. 9 days 0.75 µM MMC [62]
Geitlerinema sp. 9 days 0.25 µM
Cr(VI) Chlorella pyrenoidosa 72 h 2 mg/L 50% inhibition [63]
Cr(VI) Chlorella vulgaris 96 h 5 µmol/L ~40% inhibition [64]
As(III) Chlorella sp. 72 h 25.2 mg/L 50% inhibition [65]
Monoraphidium arcuatum 72 h 14.6 mg/L 50% inhibition
As(III) Chlorella sp. 72 h 27 mg/L 50% inhibition [66]
As(V) Chlorella sp. 72 h 1.1 mg/L 50% inhibition [66]
As(V) Chlorella sp. 72 h 25.4 mg/L 50% inhibition [65]
Monoraphidium arcuatum 72 h 0.254 mg/L 50% inhibition
As(V) Oscillatoria tenuisa 72 h 3.8 mg/L 50% inhibition [67]
Anabaena affinis 72 h 2.6 mg/L 50% inhibition
Microcystis aeruginosa 72 h 1.2 mg/L 50% inhibition
As(III) Nostoc minutum 7 days 5 mg/L Cell death [34]
As(V) Nostoc minutum 7 days 1000 mg/L 66% stimulation [34]
Cu Isochrysis galbana 72 h 0.01–0.018 mg/L T 50% inhibition [68]
Cu Phaeocystis antarctica 10 days 0.0059 mg/L 50% inhibition [60]
Cd Phaeocystis antarctica 10 days 1.5 mg/L 50% inhibition [60]
Cd Scenedesmus armatus 24 h ~15–18 mg/L + or 0.46–0.54 mg/L +x 50% inhibition [69]
Cd Thalassiosira weissflogii – 4.6 pM ~30%–92% stimulation ZnL [44]
Ni Selenastrum capricornutum – 0.125 mg/L 50% inhibition [59]
Ni Synechococcus sp. 15 day 25 mg/L ~42% inhibition [70]
Li Chlorella vannielii 12 h 1000 mg/L 48% inhibition [30]
Li Cyanothece sp. 28 days 70 mg/L Cell death [31]
Tl Chlorella sp. 72 h 80 nmol 100% inhibition [71]
Tl Synechocystis sp. 72 h 1 µM 50% inhibition [72]
Co Monoraphidium minutum 11 days 0.5 ppm 12% stimulation [33]
3 ppm 44% inhibition
Zn Phaeocystis antarctica 10 days 1.11 mg/L 50% inhibition [60]
Zn Anabaena sp. 96 h 0.38 mg/L 50% inhibition [73]
Al Dunaliella tertiolecta 48 h 2.6–14.9 mg/L 20% stimulation [26]
48 h 22.42 mg/L 25% inhibition
Al Isochrysis galbana 72 h 2.57–3.23 mg/L T 50% inhibition [68]
V Met Scenedesmus obliquus 7 days 20 µg/L 534% stimulation * [37]
V Met Chlorella pyrenoidosa 7 days 1 µg/L 67% stimulation [38]
V Met Chlorella pyrenoidosa 7 days >1 mg/L Inhibitory threshold [38]
V Ort Haematococcus lacustris 4 days 2.5–5 mM Full inhibition [39]
V Oxi Scenedesmus quadricauda 12 days 2.23 mg/L 50% inhibition [40]
Ce Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 6 µmol/L 16% stimulation A [41]
Ce Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 94 µmol/L ~19% inhibition A [41]
Ce Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 5.74 µmol/L 20% inhibition B [41]
60% stimulation C
Ce Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 1.14 µmol/L 40% inhibition D [41]
Ce Anabaena flosaquae 17 days 0.1 mg/L ~16% stimulation [27]
5–10 mg/L ~33% inhibition
La Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 5.72 µmol/L 10% inhibition B [41]
80% stimulation C
La Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 1.13 µmol/L No change D [41]
La Scenedesmus quadricauda 22–23 days 72 µmol/L 50% inhibition [42]
La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu Skeletonema costatum 96 h 28–29 µmol/L 50% inhibition [43]
Nd Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 5.76 µmol/L 10% stimulation B [41]
120% stimulation C
Nd Desmodesmus quadricauda 3 days 1.09 µmol/L ~5% inhibition D [41]
TiO2-NPs Nitzschia closterium 96 h 88–118 mg/L 50% inhibition [49]
TiO2-NPs Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 72 h 2.53 mg/L 50% inhibition [52]
TiO2-NPs Chlorella vulgaris – 2.5–5 g/L 42% inhibition [74]
ZnO-NPs Chlorella vulgaris 72 h 200 mg/L 35% cell viability [50]
ZnO-NPs Dunaliella tertiolecta 96 h 2.4 mg/L 50% inhibition [56]
ZnO-NPs Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 72 h 0.1 mg/L 80% inhibition [52]
ZnO-NPs Phaeodactylum tricornutum – 100 mg/L 80% inhibition [51]
Alexandrium minutum 100 mg/L 80% inhibition
Tetraselmis suecica 100 mg/L No effect
ZnO-NPs Scenedesmus rubescens 96 h 14.27 mg/L or >810 mg/L CM 50% inhibition [53]
CeO2-NPs Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 72 h 4.1–6.2 mg/L AS 50% inhibition [55]
NiO-NPs Chlorella vulgaris 120 h 44 mg/L 50% inhibition [75]
Y2O3-NPs Phaeodactylum tricornutum – 100 mg/L ~40% inhibition [51]
Alexandrium minutum 100 mg/L ~40% inhibition
Tetraselmis suecica 100 mg/L 70% inhibition
BaTiO3-NPs Chlorella vulgaris 72 h 1 mg/L ~57% inhibition [76]
Al2O3-NPs Chlorella sp. 72 h 45.4 mg/L 50% inhibition [54]
Scenedesmus sp. 72 h 39.35 mg/L 50% inhibition
Ag-NPs Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 72 h 1.63 mg/L 50% inhibition [77]
Pt-NPs Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata 72 h 16.9 mg/L 50% inhibition [77]
nZVI-Nanofer 25 Arthrospira maxima 216 h 5.1 mg/L 19% stimulation [57]
nZVI-Nanofer 25 Desmodesmus subspicatus 216 h 5.1 mg/L 73% stimulation [57]
nZVI-Nanofer 25 Parachlorella kessleri 216 h 5.1 mg/L 38% stimulation [57]

MMC, Minimum Metal Concentration significantly affecting Chlorophyll a intensity; T, depending on temperature applied; +, depending on Cd salt used; x, including complex abilities of media mineral elements; *, when compared to Scenedesmus growth in Fe deficient medium; ZnL, at low Zn concentrations; Met, added as metavanadate; Ort, added as orthovanadate; Oxi, added as vanadium pentoxide; A, in standard medium and compared to a control in standard medium without Ce; B, in Ca deficient medium and compared to a control in standard medium without tested metal; C, in Ca deficient medium and compared to a control in Ca deficient medium without tested metal; D, in Mn deficient medium and compared to a control in Mn deficient medium without tested metal; NPs, nanoparticles; CM, depending on culture medium; AS, depending on aged suspension; nZVI, zero-valent iron nanoparticles; Ref., Reference.