2020 | Russian Federation | Dasha Derevyagina

Pollution-induced changes in enzyme activity in aquatic ecosystems

Water issue adressed: Too dirty
Serdyashka river

The project goal was improvement of the rivers’ environmental monitoring using changes in enzymes’ activity in the surface waters, bottom sediments and hydrophytes. Activity of the following hydrolase enzymes has been researched: urease and oxide reductase (nitrate reductase and polyphenol oxydase). Enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometry methods. The level of enzyme activity increases with the concentrations of substances which form the enzyme-substrate complexes with these enzymes. This level can indicate the presence of certain substances in the water reservoir and provide a measure for their concentrations. Activity of polyphenol oxydase, nitrate reductase and urease increased when the surface runoff and household waste waters containing nitrates and phenols entered the water reservoir. This scientifically sound method is available for replication.

This is how I came up with the idea for this project:

I decided to start with a research of small river in my republic. But then I decided to dig a little deeper and see if I can do something that could help this river. I think my project could possibly help in solving not all, but some of the problems

CONTACT WATERTANK

Ania Andersch

Programme manager ania.andersch@siwi.org +46 8 121 360 59