Effect of Tributyltin pollutant toxicity of sea alga cells, Kappaphycus alvarezii

The sublethal effect of TBT on the morphology of algae cells occurs at concentrations of 2-10ppm, starting with a fading color change followed by bleaching in the tallus. Histopathologically, the concentration of 2-4ppm algae cell structure is still intact as in control, where the cortex and medulla consist of a series of round cells. At a 6ppm TBT concentration, the boundary between the cortex and medulla cells is almost non-existent and the cells become very thin, while the higher concentrations (8 and 10ppm) of the cortex and medulla cells are completely damaged.