The effects of three Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

namely erythromycin lactobionaten (ETM)

diclofenac sodium (DCF) and polyoxyethylene nonylphenol ethers (n=10

NPEO

10

)

on growth and photoystem II (PS II) of Scenedesmus obliquus were investigated. The results showed that the three PPCPs could significantly decrease the growth rate and inhibit the PS II function of the tested algae

among which

ETM was the most toxic

followed by NPEO

10

 and DCF. However

low concentration (0.05 mg/L) of NPEO

10

 could promote the growth rate and PS II function of S. obliquus. Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence transient kinetics showed that ETM induced an inactivation of reaction center and inhibited both donor and acceptor sides of PS II reaction center

however

the other two PPCPs mainly inhibited the electron flow beyond Q

-

A

. Our study suggested that some chlorophyll fluorescence indices are highly sensitive and relatively specific to algal exposure of PPCPs

and may be potentially used as candidate biomarkers for the exposure of PPCPs.