Application of an algal bioassay to heavy-metal contaminated soil samples

The aim of this study was to test the effect of heavy‐metal contamination (Cu, Zn) on the growth of Chlorella kessleri. Two soils (Chernozem and Podzoluvisol) were contaminated with several amounts of copper and zinc (100–3000 ppm), and the effects of the soil eluates on the growth of the alga were examined over several days. The soil eluates inhibited algal growth in dependence on metal concentration and soil properties. It was shown that this algal assay, which was first developed for aquatic samples, in principle seems to be suitable also in monitoring soil contamination.