Fast pesticide pre-screening in marine environment using a green microalgae-based optical bioassay

Unprecedented increases in anthropogenic pollution of marine environments have made the development of sensitive, cheap, and adaptable early-warning systems absolutely crucial for on-site monitoring of chemical contaminants. Biosensors based on microalgae cells might constitute a promising and cost-effective alternative for environmental analyses since they capable of providing rapid toxicity information in the case of pollution, while assessing the harmful effects of the contaminants on the ecosystem.