Analysis of the cyanotoxins anatoxin-a and microcystins in Lesser Flamingo feathers†

Feathers from carcasses of the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), which had died after ingesting cyanobacterial toxins (cyanotoxins) contained between 0.02 and 30.0?µg microcystin-LR equivalents per gram of feather according to HPLC and ELISA analysis of feather extracts. Anatoxin-a was detected less frequently in the Lesser Flamingo feathers, up to 0.8?µg anatoxin-a per gram of feather being recorded. When feathers from different body regions were analysed and compared for microcystins and anatoxin-a, wing feathers were found to contain the highest concentrations of these cyanotoxins, the order of concentration and frequency of analytical detection being wing?>?breast?>?head. Consistent with the presence of the microcystins and anatoxin-a in gut contents and the livers of the dead birds and negligible in vitro adsorption to feathers, the cyanotoxins associated with the feathers of the dead wild flamingos are inferred to be primarily of dietary origin.     

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil and wild Libyan jird Meriones libycus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This study was undertaken to document the impact of heavy metal pollution on the Libyan jird, Meriones libycus and to contribute to an environmental impact statement for the rapidly growing City of Riyadh. All metal concentrations in surface soil of a polluted site (within Riyadh City) were higherthan those from a reference site (outside the city).Although Pb declined versus earlier reports on Riyadh soil, Cd (0.97 microg g(-1)) and Hg (0.28 microg g(-1)) were above some of the most stringent quality guidelines (0.07-0.62 microg g(-1) for Cd and 0.14-0.18 microg g(-1) for Hg). Metal distribution in M. libycus proved site-related and organ-specific, recognizing a higher affinity of most tested metals towards the kidneys, liver and brain than the lung and heart. The comparatively lower site-specific accumulation of Pb in soft tissues was attributed primarily to its major hypothetical accumulation in bones, whereas, the transition rate of Hg from the liver was suggested to be lower to the brain than to the kidneys. Although a non hazardous status was assumed for Cu (11.27-13.16 microg g(-1)) and Hg (up to 0.207 microg g(-1)) in tissues of M. libycus, a potential risk was imposed by mean tissue concentrations of Cd (up to 3.29 microg g(01)), Ni (up to 1.48 microg g(-1)) and Pb (up to 1.94 microg g(-1)). On the grounds of the significantly higher metal levels in polluted soft tissues versus reference subjects, Libyan jirds possess high exposure potential and can be useful biomonitors of environmental metal contamination.     

Validation of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) for cyprinus carpio l. vitellogenin,as a biomarker of reproductive disorders

Vitellogenin is a female sex-specific protein, and a validated and suitable method for its assay can be applied as a biomarker of reproductive disorders in male and female aquatic animals. Therefore, the present study was designed to validate an ELISA for measuring plasma vitellogenin in wild carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) living in the Lake of Trasimeno (Umbria, Italy); plasma samples were taken during pre-spawning, spawning, and post-spawning periods; in addition to vitellogenin, in both male and female carps, plasma changes of estradiol-17 g were monitored together with those of estrogen receptor density in the liver. In females, VTG showed high seasonality, reaching the highest levels in March during the pre-spawning period; the VTG levels correlated with those of estradiol-17 g ( E 2 ), and with the changes of gonadosomatic index (GSI), while a non parallel trend was found in the liver estrogen receptor (ER) density. In forty percent of males, VTG was found to be present in the plasma and changes of ER density in the liver were observed. The data here reported suggest that the common carp can be a useful sentinel species for biomonitoring studies of environmental estrogens, and of their effects on its reproductive biology.     

Changes of hematological parameters in Prochilodus lineatus (Pisces, Prochilodontidae) exposed to sublethal concentration of cypermethrin

Freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus were exposed to sublethal concentrations of cypermethrin (0.3 and 0.6 microg/l) for 2, 5 and 8 days. It was observed that with the increase of exposure time total erythrocyte (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values decreased but mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) values increased. These reports indicate that hematological parameters, may be useful as a diagnostic test for cypermethrin exposure in aquatic organisms.     

Potential correlation between perfluorinated acids and liver morphology in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

In this study, residual concentrations of chlorpyrifos (CPF) were determined in feed (40) and fodder (25) samples collected from various locations of Tarai region of Uttarakhand. For extracting residues, liquid–liquid partition followed by alumina column clean up was used and the detection and quantification of residues was undertaken with the help of high-performance liquid chromatography using C18 column and diode array detector at 220?nm. Of the total 40 feed samples analyzed, 7 (17.5%) samples were found positive for CPF with the mean residual concentration of 0.058?µg?g^?1; while out of 25 fodder samples, CPF residues were detected in a single (4%) sample with residual concentration of 0.39?µg?g^?1. However, none of the feed or fodder samples contained CPF residues above the prescribed limit.     

Liver and renal lesions in mercury-contaminated narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) from North West Greenland are known to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in tissues and internal organs. This is postulated to be a health concern and therefore studies were undertaken to conduct a screening study of Hg concentrations and histopathology of liver and renal tissues in a total of 12 specimens. The sample consisted of two sub-adults (one male, one female) and 10 adult (six males, four females) collected in Qaanaaq (Thule) 2010. In liver, Hg mean ± SD was 11.88 ± 10.47 μg/g ww (range: 0.39?31.8 μg/g ww) while the concentrations in kidneys were 1.85 ± 1.20 μg/g ww (range: 0.41?4.03 μg/g ww). There was no marked difference in Hg concentrations between males and females while sub-adults had significantly lower concentrations. The histological examinations of renal tissue showed glomerular capillary dilatation and basement membrane thickening, dilatation, and hyalinization of Bowman's space/capsule and tubular lesions with hyaline casts accompanied by interstitial fibrosis in the kidneys. In liver tissue, portal cell infiltrates and fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, lipid-filled Ito cells, and steatosis were found. There was no marked difference in histological prevalence between males and females and in Hg concentrations in individuals with or without lesions. Four of seven renal lesions and one liver lesion were found in the two sub-adult whales. Based upon these findings, as well as the nature of the lesions, evidence suggests that histopathological alterations were a result of age but that Hg might be an aggravating co-factor in development of renal lesions in particular.     

Role of GSH in the amelioration of chromium-induced membrane damage

Membrane damage is one of the important consequences of chromium (Cr), an environmental toxicant, induced cytotoxicity. Reduced glutathione (GSH), a membrane protectant may be used to reduce the Cr-induced membrane damage. In the present study, the impact of Cr in presence and absence of GSH was studied on plasma membrane of the liver and kidneys in male Wistar rats. Significant increases in membrane cholesterol levels as well as significant decreases in membrane phospholipid levels in Cr exposed (0.8 mg per 100 g body weight, i.p., for 28 days) animals suggest structural alterations in both the liver and kidney plasma membranes. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total ATPase, and Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase activities of plasma membrane were significantly decreased in both the liver and kidneys after Cr treatment. This treatment also produced significant weight loss and increased Cr content in the liver and kidneys. However, GSH (8 mg per 100g body weight, i.p., daily at an interval of 6 h after injection of Cr for a period of 28 days) supplementation restored alterations induced by Cr in plasma membrane of both the liver and kidneys but was not able to eliminate the deposited Cr from the liver and kidney tissues.     

Statistical inference using stratified judgment post-stratified samples from finite populations

This paper develops statistical inference for population mean and total using stratified judgment post-stratified (SJPS) samples. The SJPS design selects a judgment post-stratified sample from each stratum. Hence, in addition to stratum structure, it induces additional ranking structure within stratum samples. SJPS is constructed from a finite population using either a with or without replacement sampling design. Inference is constructed under both randomization theory and a super population model. In both approaches, the paper shows that the estimators of population mean and total are unbiased. The paper also constructs unbiased estimators for the variance (mean square prediction error) of the sample mean (predictor of population mean), and develops confidence and prediction intervals for the population mean. The empirical evidence shows that the proposed estimators perform better than their competitors in the literature.     

Comparison of a two-stage sampling design and its composite sample alternative: An application to soil studies

The objective of a long-term soil survey is to determine the mean concentrations of several chemical parameters for the pre-defined soil layers and to compare them with the corresponding values in the past. A two-stage random sampling procedure is used to achieve this goal. In the first step, n subplots are selected from N subplots by simple random sampling without replacement; in the second step, m sampling sites are chosen within each of the n selected subplots. Thus n · m soil samples are collected for each soil layer. The idea of the composite sample design comes from the challenge of reducing very expensive laboratory analyses: m laboratory samples from one subplot and one soil layer are physically mixed to form a composite sample. From each of the n selected subplots, one composite sample per soil layer is analyzed in the laboratory, thus n per soil layer in total. In this paper we show that the cost is reduced by the factor m — 1 when instead of the two-stage sampling its composite sample alternative is used; however, the variance of the composite sample mean is increased. In the case of positive intraclass correlation the increase is less than 12.5%; in the case of negative intraclass correlation the increase depends on the properties of the variable as well. For the univariate case we derive the optimal number of subplots and sampling sites. A case study is discussed at the end.     

双酚AF对雄性斑马鱼卵黄蛋白原水平与芳香化酶基因表达的影响

双酚AF(4,4'-六氟-2-二酚,BPAF)对生物有机体具有内分泌干扰作用。为研究低剂量BPAF对水生生物的效应,本研究选择成年雄性斑马鱼为研究对象,考察了0.005、0.05和0.5 mg·L~(-1)3种浓度BAPF暴露30 d对血浆中卵黄蛋白原(VTG)含量、2种卵黄蛋白原基因(vtg~(-1)和vtg-3)表达和2种芳香酶基因(cyp 19a与cyp 19b)表达的影响。结果表明:在0.005 mg·L~(-1)浓度暴露30 d后,血浆中VTG含量显著升高,随着暴露浓度的升高,促进作用不显著;BPAF暴露对不同组织中的4种基因存在不同的影响,0.005 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露可诱导脑部cyp19b、肝脏中cyp19a和性腺中vtg~(-1)、vtg-3和cyp19b基因表达;0.5 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露可导致肝脏中vtg~(-1)、vtg-3、性腺中cyp19a等基因显著上调。实验结果表明,BPAF具有雌性激素样效应,可诱导雄性斑马鱼体内部分组织卵黄蛋白原基因和芳香酶基因的表达。BPAF可引起斑马鱼血浆中的VTG含量的上升,从而干扰由VTG所参与的下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴与免疫系统的正常生理过程。     

Tissue distribution of antimony (Sb) in piglets orally given graded levels of Sb (V)

The potential risks from oral intake of soil antimony (Sb) depends mainly on the amount of metal ingested and its bioavailability. Relative bioavailability may be determined by comparing Sb present in soil to a reference compound, taking into account accumulation in different target tissues or excretion. However, due to the lack of scientific knowledge concerning the fate of Sb in the organism, there is a need to study the absorption and distribution of Sb in order to select target tissues for assessment of bioavailability of Sb in soils. Thus, 45 piglets were exposed to a soluble pentavalent antimony salt (KSb(OH)₆), for 15 days at concentrations ranging from 0–1600 µg Sb/kg body weight (BW) per day. Following the exposure period, blood, plasma, liver, spleen, kidneys, hair, bone, bile and urine were obtained to measure Sb concentrations by ICP-MS. Results showed that tissue Sb levels were dose-related. Higher Sb concentrations were found in urine, kidneys, hair, bone and liver. Sb(V) was not detectable in blood and plasma. In the case of highly contaminated soil with soluble forms of Sb in concentrations ranging from 200–1600 µg Sb/kg BW, kidneys, liver and spleen are the most reliable compartments to determine Sb bioavailability from soil. However, for the soils with lower levels of contamination and a low Sb bioaccessibility, urine may serve as a relevant compartment.     

VALIDATION OF AN ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) FOR CYPRINUS CARPIO L. VITELLOGENIN, AS A BIOMARKER OF REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS

Vitellogenin is a female sex-specific protein, and a validated and suitable method for its assay can be applied as a biomarker of reproductive disorders in male and female aquatic animals. Therefore, the present study was designed to validate an ELISA for measuring plasma vitellogenin in wild carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) living in the Lake of Trasimeno (Umbria, Italy); plasma samples were taken during pre-spawning, spawning, and post-spawning periods; in addition to vitellogenin, in both male and female carps, plasma changes of estradiol-17 βwere monitored together with those of estrogen receptor density in the liver.

In females, VTG showed high seasonality, reaching the highest levels in March during the pre-spawning period; the VTG levels correlated with those of estradiol-17 β( E 2 ), and with the changes of gonadosomatic index (GSI), while a non parallel trend was found in the liver estrogen receptor (ER) density. In forty percent of males, VTG was found to be present in the plasma and changes of ER density in the liver were observed.

The data here reported suggest that the common carp can be a useful sentinel species for biomonitoring studies of environmental estrogens, and of their effects on its reproductive biology.     

内蒙古自治区河套平原砷中毒高发区作物中砷的检测及健康风险评价

为了研究地方性砷中毒高发区作物中砷含量及其对人体健康的威胁,在内蒙古自治区河套平原4个自然村采集了72个谷物蔬菜水果、81份人体尿样和8个自来水样品。用高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱(HPLC-ICP-MS)分析测定采集的样品中各形态砷及其含量;用ICP-MS分析测定消解后的作物样品中砷总量。结果表明,自来水中总砷含量均小于1.0μg·L-1。尿液样品中总砷含量为4.50～319μg·L-1(平均值为56.9μg·L-1),二甲基砷(DMA)是尿砷的主要形态(>70%)。作物中砷的主要形态有无机三价砷As(III)、无机五价砷As(V)和DMA。谷物和蔬菜水果中总砷含量的最大值分别为102和335μg·kg-1。成人和儿童最大日摄入砷量分别为232和205μg。通过分析采样地人体尿砷、作物砷和地方性砷中毒发病率的相关性得出,作物中砷的含量虽未明显超过国家标准,但对人体健康有明显的潜在威胁。政府改水后(饮用水由井水变为达标的自来水),人体的健康风险主要来自作物中的砷,而不是饮用水中的砷。     

Exposure profiles of mercury in human hair at a terai belt of North India

Human hair is frequently used as a bioindicator of mercury exposure. Mercury (Hg) has for centuries been a useful metal in a variety of applications. Unfortunately, this usefulness is counterbalanced by its neurotoxicological health impact. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping the hair Hg level <1.0 µg/g. Therefore, an investigation has been performed in order to ascertain the hair Hg levels among the people living at the terai belt of North India. Hair samples were collected from 111 individuals and were placed in an identified plastic bag, stapled to prevent the shift of the hair strand. Samples were analyzed by combustion, gold amalgamation, atomic absorption spectrometry (C-GA-AAS). The mean Hg level in hair was 0.28 µg/g for the whole group ranging from 0.0012 to 1.9091 µg/g. The mean hair Hg levels were 0.16 µg/g for men and 0.12 µg/g for women, indicating that men had higher hair Hg levels than women. Total hair Hg was found to be significantly associated with age, gender and fish consumption frequency. 98 % of the total sample had hair Hg concentrations less than 1.0 µg/g, i.e, within safe dose, whereas only 2 % had Hg concentrations greater than 1.0 µg/g, thereby exceeding the safe dose.

     

Precision of the mean and the design of benthos sampling programmes: caution advised

To calculate the number of samples required to estimate population density to a specified precision, a prior estimate of the sample variance is needed. Using data from the freshwater benthic literature, Downing (1979, 1980a) calculated a regression equation to predict sample variance from sampler size and population density. He used predicted sample variance to calculate the number of samples, of a range of sizes, required to estimate a range of population densities to a specified precision. He concludes that massive savings (1300 to 5000%) of total surface area sampled may be achieved by using sample units of small surface area. These conclusions are misleading. The data set used for the regression does not adequately cover the combination of a low-density population sampled by a device of small surface area. The benthic community of Belhaven Bay, East Lothian, Scotland was sampled in 1982 with a 0.1 m² grab and a 0.0018 m² corer, providing 112 sets of replicate data which were used to test the hypothesis that for a specified precision of the mean a considerable saving of total area sampled may be obtained by sampling with a device of small surface area. The benthos of Loch Creran, Argyll, Scotland was sampled with contiguous corer samples on four occasions in 1980 and 1981, providing 234 independent sets of replicate data. Contiguous samples were grouped to form several simulated series of samples of increasing surface area. A sampler of small surface area provided a saving of total area sampled of about 20%. Whether such a small saving is justifiable will depend on the extra field expenses incurred by taking many small samples.     

Effects of industrial waste water on heavy metal accumulation, growth and biochemical responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

The waste water showed high values of total solid (TS), hardness and chloride with slightly alkaline pH along with high concentrations of Cr (2.03 mg l(-1)), Ni (1.59 mg l(-1)) and Zn (0.46 mg l(-1)). The concentration of Cu (0.21 mg l(-1)) and Zn in industrial waste water was low than Ni and Cr. The diluted (25 and 50%), undiluted (100%) waste water was used to irrigate the lettuce plants grown in alluvial soils. Plants accumulated heavy metals in their shoot (Ni, 13.65; Cr, 19.73; Zn, 21.6 and Cu 14.76 microg g(-1) dry weight) and root (Ni, 41.4; Cr, 31.6; Zn, 30.2 and Cu 15.85 microg g(-1) dry weight) in high concentrations after irrigation with undiluted industrial waste water. Maximum accumulation of heavy metals was found in the root than the shoot (13.65-21.60 microg g(-1) dry weight). Dry matter yield and biomolecules (Chlorophyll a, b and sugar contents) was found to increase with increase in concentration of waste water up to 50%, which declined at the exposure of undiluted waste water. Catalase activity was found to increase with increase in waste water concentrations up to 100%, while carotenoids content increased in plants only up to the 50% waste water irrigation. Use of industrial waste water in such form, on agricultural lands is not found suitable without proper treatment. It could be injurious to plants growth and may be a potential threat to food web.     

Particle size distribution and pollutants in road-deposited sediments in different areas of Zhenjiang,China

An understanding of road-deposited sediment (RDS) characteristics on an impervious surface is essential to estimate pollutant washoff characteristics and to minimise the impacts of pollutants on the water environment. A total of 62 RDS samples were collected from four different land-use types (commercial, residential, intense traffic and riverside park) in Zhenjiang City, China. The samples were fractionated into seven grain-size classes and analysed for particle size distribution and concentrations of pollutants. The samples are found to consist predominantly of fine particles (60–80%, <250 μm). The maximum mean concentrations of zinc, lead and copper were 686.93, 589.19 and 158.16 mg/kg, respectively, with the highest metal concentrations found in samples from the intense traffic area. The maximum mean contents of organic matter (12.55%), nitrogen (6.31 mg/g) and phosphorus (5.15 mg/g) were found in samples from the commercial area. The concentrations of heavy metals were highest in the smallest particle size fraction analysed (63 μm). The organic matter and nitrogen content generally increased with decreasing particle sizes in the <500-μm particle size range. The results also revealed that most of the total nitrogen (TN) is attached to the finer sediments and that to effectively reduce TN loads in particulates, treatment facilities must be able to remove the finer particles (down to 125 μm for TN).     

Transport of cadmium and other metals in the blood of the bivalve mollusc Mercenaria mercenaria

The distribution of metals (Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in the blood plasma and the circulating hemocytes was determined for a eulamellibranch bivalve, the quahog Mercenaria mercenaria (L.), collected from a relatively clean site at Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA. Whole blood volume was an exponential function of quahog length (Y=5.71×10^-5 X^3.0678; Y=ml of whole blood; X=mm length). Of this volume, 1.2±0.3% ( ) was attributable to blood cells. Total metal content (g metal, or g metal normalized per g of whole blood) was much higher in blood plasma than in hemocytes. In quahogs exposed in the laboratory to 100 ppb ¹⁰⁹Cd, 93.0% of the total accumulated blood Cd was in the plasma rather than in the circulating hemocytes (7.0%), irrespective of the length of exposure (1 h to 31 d). Less than 5% of the plasma Cd was either Cd²⁺, small inorganic Cd complexes or bound to organic molecules with a molecular weight smaller than 1 000. Cadmium was primarily bound to high molecular weight protein(s) (>60 000 daltons) within the plasma. This plasma protein-Cd complex has a low affinity constant (approximately 10⁴ M ^-1), indicating non-specific Cd binding, although the capacity for Cd-binding in the plasma is great (as high as 200 g Cd per ml of plasma). Blood plasma may be far more important in metal transport than has previously been realized.     

添加蚓粪对玉米秸秆厌氧发酵产气特性的影响

以玉米秸秆为原料,总固体(TS)含量为50g.kg-1,采用中温35℃批式发酵,考察了添加蚓粪对玉米秸秆厌氧发酵产气的影响。结果表明:玉米秸秆单独发酵时,单位TS产气量为333.3mL.g-1,甲烷产量为202.0mL.g-1,并在反应初期出现酸化现象;蚓粪与玉米秸秆TS质量比为1:1进行发酵时,单位TS产气量为400.0mL.g-1,甲烷产量为269.6mL.g-1,相对于玉米秸秆单独厌氧发酵分别提高了20.0%和35.5%,且反应过程中未出现酸化现象。说明蚓粪适合作为玉米秸秆厌氧发酵产气的添加剂。     

Residues of organochlorinated pesticides in eggs of water birds from Tai Lake in China

The levels of organochlorine compounds in eggs of water birds from the colony on Tai Lake in China were studied. The eggs were collected in 2000 and belonged to the following species: 65 samples of black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), 36 samples of little egret (Egretta garzetta), 26 samples of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) from 13 clutches and 43 samples of Chinese pond heron (Ardeola bacchus) from 17 clutches. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its derivates (DDE and DDD), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers (alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH, delta-HCH), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, and endosulfan sulfate were determined in the laboratory by gas chromatography. The data showed that DDE had the highest levels in all the samples, followed by beta-HCH. The mean levels of DDE among the water bird species were in the order as follows: black-crowned night heron (5464.26 ng/g, dry weight) > Chinese pond heron (2791.12 ng/g, dry weight) > little egret (1979.97 ng/g, dry weight) > cattle egret (660.11 ng/g, dry weight). DDT and its metabolites accounted for 90% of the total organochlorines, except that it was only 73% for cattle egret. The differences of the residue among the bird species were statistically significant and could be attributed to their variations in prey and habitat. Although the DDE burdens in Tai Lake were much lower than 8 microg/g (wet weight) which are thought to have significant adverse effects on black-crowned night herons, they would be expected to increase the risk of adverse effects on survival of chicks of herons and egrets, particularly black-crowned night heron, based on the critical value of 1 microg/g (wet weight) DDE. The burdens of HCHs in this study were higher and the cyclodienes were lower than those found elsewhere.