The Effect of Asphalt Shingle Particles on the Growth of Chlorella vulgaris in Aquatic Environments
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Aquatic environments are highly susceptible to pollutants. Roofing materials have a large surface area and as a result are a leading source of pollution. This is due to more surface being exposed to the elements, resulting in greater chances for outside conditions to cause pollutants from that surface. Aquatic pollution can be found in the form of both chemical pollutants and physical particulates. Chemical leachate pollution is well understood compared to the effects of physical particulates. It was hypothesized that the algae samples in higher concentrations of particulate pollution would exhibit lower growth compared to samples in control and low concentrations due to previous literature supporting the idea that pollutants lessen the ability for organisms to thrive. Sterile growth containers were filled with 500 mL of distilled water, the appropriate level of pollutants (0 g, 0.05 g, 0.25 g), nutrients (500 μL), and Chlorella vulgaris (500 g/L). After nine days of growth, the absorbance of each sample was measured using a spectrophotometer, and comparative analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between pollutants and growth. It was found that Chlorella vulgaris samples grown in high concentrations of pollutants tended to grow significantly higher than those grown in low concentrations or control conditions. This result suggests that to some degree particles, particulates, aid the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, although future research is necessary to further support this conclusion.
Recommended Citation
Murr, Patrick, "The Effect of Asphalt Shingle Particles on the Growth of Chlorella vulgaris in Aquatic Environments" (2026). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 79.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2026/all/79
Location
Furman Hall 209
Start Date
3-28-2026 9:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Asphalt Shingle Particles on the Growth of Chlorella vulgaris in Aquatic Environments
Furman Hall 209
Aquatic environments are highly susceptible to pollutants. Roofing materials have a large surface area and as a result are a leading source of pollution. This is due to more surface being exposed to the elements, resulting in greater chances for outside conditions to cause pollutants from that surface. Aquatic pollution can be found in the form of both chemical pollutants and physical particulates. Chemical leachate pollution is well understood compared to the effects of physical particulates. It was hypothesized that the algae samples in higher concentrations of particulate pollution would exhibit lower growth compared to samples in control and low concentrations due to previous literature supporting the idea that pollutants lessen the ability for organisms to thrive. Sterile growth containers were filled with 500 mL of distilled water, the appropriate level of pollutants (0 g, 0.05 g, 0.25 g), nutrients (500 μL), and Chlorella vulgaris (500 g/L). After nine days of growth, the absorbance of each sample was measured using a spectrophotometer, and comparative analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between pollutants and growth. It was found that Chlorella vulgaris samples grown in high concentrations of pollutants tended to grow significantly higher than those grown in low concentrations or control conditions. This result suggests that to some degree particles, particulates, aid the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, although future research is necessary to further support this conclusion.
