Cadmium tolerance fungi isolated from polluted sites in the Mae Tao creek, Thailand

This research were aimed at determining water and sediment quality and screening for high Cd tolerance fungi from the Mae Tao creek in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. The study results revealed that mostly the surface water quality of the Mae Tao creek was suitable for people to consume and industrial purposes under sanitary controlled process and agriculture. The concentrations of Cd in water were low compared to the surface water quality standards of Thailand, but Cd levels in the sediment were found to exceed the UK Health Protection Agency standard of soil and sediment. Totally five isolates (Humicola sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. 1, Aspergillus sp. 2 and Alternaria sp.) could grow on potato dextrose agar containing 1 mg l Cd. Altogether, Humicola sp. could grow in the presence of high concentration Cd and was considered as high Cd resistance fungi, which makes it an attractive potential candidate for further investigation regarding its ability to remove Cd from polluted water. 30 Tinnapan Netpae, Sawitree Suckley and Chitchol Phalaraksh