Cytotoxicity of Synthetic Fuel Products on Tetrahymena pyriformis. I. Phenol*

Abstract

Phenol is the major organic constituent of coal-conversion scrub water and is therefore a potential environmental contaminant. After T. pyriformis strain GL-C, syngen 1 was exposed to phenol, its behavior, cytology, respiration and growth rates were examined. Concentrations .gtoreq. 75 mg/l alter cell motility, shape and contractile vacuole activity. o2 uptake was abruptly reduced within 3 min of exposure to phenol in concentrations as low as 10 mg/l. Concomitantly there was an increase in the electron density of the mitochondrial matrix. Recovery to normal rates of O2 consumption was paralleled by a return to normal matrix density. Alterations of mucocysts, pellicle and glycogen were also observed. Length of lag phase growth curves increased generally in proportion to concentration of toxicant. Phenol did not affect the rate of cell multiplication during the exponential growth phase. The potential use of this system to examine the effects of other possible organic pollutants is discussed.