Toxicity of nanosized and bulk ZnO, CuO and TiO2 to bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustaceans Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus

As the production of nanoparticles of ZnO, TiO2 and CuO is increasing, their (eco)toxicity to bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustaceans Daphnia magna and Thamnocephalus platyurus was studied with a special emphasis on product formulations (nano or bulk oxides) and solubilization of particles. Our innovative approach based on the combination of traditional ecotoxicology methods and metal-specific recombinant biosensors allowed to clearly differentiate the toxic effects of metal oxides per se and solubilized metal ions. Suspensions of nano and bulk TiO2 were not toxic even at 20 g l(-1). All Zn formulations were very toxic: L(E)C50 (mg l(-1)) for bulk ZnO, nanoZnO and ZnSO4.7H2O: 1.8, 1.9, 1.1 (V. fischeri); 8.8, 3.2, 6.1 (D. magna) and 0.24, 0.18, 0.98 (T. platyurus), respectively. The toxicity was due to solubilized Zn ions as proved with recombinant Zn-sensor bacteria. Differently from Zn compounds, Cu compounds had different toxicities: L(E)C50 (mg l(-1)) for bulk CuO, nano CuO and CuSO4: 3811, 79, 1.6 (V. fischeri), 165, 3.2, 0,17 (D. magna) and 95, 2.1, 0.11 (T. platyurus), respectively. Cu-sensor bacteria showed that toxicity to V. fischeri and T. platyurus was largely explained by soluble Cu ions. However, for Daphnia magna, nano and bulk CuO proved less bioavailable than for bacterial Cu-sensor. This is the first evaluation of ZnO, CuO and TiO2 toxicity to V. fischeri and T. platyurus. For nano ZnO and nano CuO this is also a first study for D. magna.     

Comparative toxic and genotoxic effects of chloroacetanilides,formamidines and their degradation products on Vibrio fischeri and Chironomus riparius

Toxic and genotoxic effects of alachlor, metolachlor, amitraz, chlordimeform, their respective environmentally stable degradation products 2,6-diethylaniline, 2-ethyl-4-methylaniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline, and two other related compounds, 3,4-dichloroaniline and aniline were compared. Acute toxicity tests with Chironomus riparius (96 h) and Vibrio fischeri (Microtox) and genotoxicity tests with a dark mutant of V. fischeri (Mutato) were carried out. Our results demonstrate that toxicity and genotoxicity of the pesticides are retained upon degradation to their alkyl-aniline metabolites. In the case of the herbicides alachlor and metolachlor, the toxicity to V. fischeri was enhanced upon degradation. Narcosis alone explains toxicity of the compounds to the midge, but not so for the bacteria suggesting a disparity in the selectivity of the test systems. All compounds showed direct genotoxicity in the Vibrio test. but amitraz and its metabolite were genotoxic at concentrations 10(3)-10(5) lower than all the other compounds. The observations indicate that stable aniline degradation products of the pesticides may contribute considerably to environmental risks of pesticides application and that genotoxic effects may arise upon degradation of pesticides.     

Cr(VI) reduction into Cr(III) as a mechanism to explain the low sensitivity of Vibrio fischeri bioassay to detect chromium pollution

Vibrio fischeri bacteria, used as a biological target in either acute or chronic toxicity tests, display a low sensitivity to Cr(VI). This phenomenon could be due to the capacity of these bacteria to reduce Cr(VI) into Cr(III). This reducing capacity was found to depend on culture medium composition, pH value, incubation time and the presence of a carbon source. It also depends on the nature of the carbon source, glucose being more efficient than glycerol. This is probably related to differences in bacterial metabolism when given either glucose or glycerol. The thermostable Cr(VI)-reducing activity found in the supernatants of V. fischeri cultures grown on glucose suggests that, under these conditions, the bacteria release non-proteic reducing substances which have not been identified yet.     

Biotransformation of phenylurea herbicides by a soil bacterial strain, Arthrobacter sp. N2: structure, ecotoxicity and fate of diuron metabolite with soil fungi

In order to assess the influence of the aromatic substitution on the ability of a soil bacterial strain, Arthrobacter sp. N2, to degrade phenylurea herbicides, biotransformation assays were performed in mineral medium with resting cells of this soil bacterial strain on three phenylurea herbicides (diuron, chlorotoluron and isoproturon). Each herbicide considered, led to the formation of only one metabolite detected by HPLC analysis. After isolation, the metabolites were identified by NMR and MS, as the corresponding substituted anilines. According to the Microtox test (realized on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri), these metabolites presented non-target toxicity far more important (up to 600 times higher for 4-isopropylaniline) than the parent molecule. For isoproturon and chlorotoluron, the amount of substituted anilines obtained at the end of the biotransformation was very low, whereas the biotransformation of diuron into 3,4-dichloroaniline was almost quantitative. In this last case, the degradation product accumulated in the medium. In soil, other microorganisms are present that might degrade it. So the biotransformation of 3,4-dichloroaniline was then tested with four fungal strains: Aspergillus niger, Beauveria bassiana, Cunninghamella echinulata var. elegans and Mortierella isabellina. The aniline was further transformed with all the microorganisms tested. Only one metabolite was detected by HPLC analysis and after isolation, it was identified to be 3,4-dichloroacetanilide. This acetylated compound led to biological effects less important on V. fischeri than 3,4-dichloroaniline. These results stress the importance of identifying the degradation products to assess the impact of a polluting agent. Indeed, the pollutant may undergo transformation yielding compounds more toxic than the parent molecule.     

A comparison of five rapid direct toxicity assessment methods to determine toxicity of pollutants to activated sludge

Five rapid direct toxicity assessment methods were used in three European partner countries to determine the toxicity of single toxicants, mixed toxicants and real industrial wastes. The final aim was to protect microbial degradation of organic wastes in biological treatment processes and hence enhance the quality of treated effluents to be discharged to the environment. Nitrification inhibition, Respirometry, Adenosine triphosphate luminescence and Enzyme inhibition were tested utilising activated sludge as the testing matrix. The Vibrio fischeri toxicity test was used as a surrogate to compare the various microbial bioassays. The IC50 (toxicant concentration eliciting a 50% inhibitory effect) was determined for a number of pollutants including single toxicants Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, 3,5-dichlorophenol, toluene and linear alkylbenzenesulphonate (LAS); a standard mixture of metals and LAS; a standard mixture of organics and LAS, and 16 industrial effluents. The V. fischeri bioassay was also chosen in order to assess quality control of toxicant preparation during testing in the different laboratories of the partner countries. Comparisons of sensitivity, cost of implementation, cost per test, relevance, and ease of use were made. The most sensitive bioassays were V. fischeri and Nitrification inhibition, however, this depended in the main on the pollutant and mixtures tested. It is recommended that during assessment of wastewater toxicity a suite of tests be used rather than reliance on one particular test.     

Degradation mechanism and the toxicity assessment in TiO2 photocatalysis and photolysis of parathion

The photocatalytic degradation of methyl parathion was carried out using a circulating TiO2/UV reactor. The experimental results showed that parathion was more effectively degraded in the photocatalytic condition than the photolysis and TiO2-only condition. With photocatalysis, 10mg/l parathion was completely degraded within 60 min with a TOC decrease exceeding 90% after 150 min. The main ionic byproducts during photocatalysis were measured. The nitrogen from parathion was recovered mainly as NO3-, NO2- and NH4+, 80% of the sulfur as SO4(2-), and less than 5% of the phosphorus as PO4(3-). The organic intermediates 4-nitrophenol and paraoxon were also identified, and these were further degraded. Two different bioassays (Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna) were used to test the acute toxicity of solutions treated by photocatalysis and photolysis. A Microtox test using V. fischeri showed that the toxicity, expressed as the relative toxicity (%), was reduced almost completely after 90 min under photocatalysis, whereas only an 83% reduction was achieved with photolysis alone. Another toxicity test using D. magna also showed that the relative toxicity disappeared after 90 min under photocatalysis, whereas there was a 65% reduction in relative toxicity with photolysis alone. The pattern of toxicity reduction parallels the decrease in parathion and TOC concentrations.     

Time-dependent toxicity in the long-term inhibition assay with Vibrio fischeri

The significance of the duration of exposure for the detection of toxicity was evaluated in a 24 h long-term bioluminescence inhibition assay with Vibrio fischeri. Bioluminescence was measured over the time course of 24 h using microplates. The undisturbed luminescence of controls in this assay exhibited characteristic dynamics: a decrease within a period of 12 h with minimal luminescence followed by a continuous increase of luminescence beyond the starting value. To evaluate the toxic influence of compounds chosen to reflect immediate and delayed toxicity to V. fischeri, the bioluminescence was measured for 24 h at 30 min intervals. Luminescence inhibition patterns were recorded for subdinoseb, pentachlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol) and for substances causing delayed toxicity (chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid and phosphomycin). The toxic influence of substances with immediate toxicity was observed directly after application, whereas the toxicity patterns of substances with delayed toxicity developed specifically over the time according to the different involved mechanisms of action. It is concluded that knowledge about time to toxicity in bioassays is necessary in order to identify suitable test endpoints as well as to recognize potential hazards related to time-dependent toxicity.     

Toxicity of metals and organic chemicals evaluated with bioluminescence assays

The development of a bioluminescent sensor organism (Shk1) that was created for assessing wastewater toxicity was reported several years ago. In order to establish a test battery to better characterize wastewater toxicity, additional luminescent sensor organisms were later created. The present study focused on one promising candidate (PM6), a Pseudomonas spp. strain, because of its high level of luminescence compared to that of other newly created organisms. Using a batch toxicity testing protocol, the toxicity of 7 metals and 25 organic compounds was evaluated with the PM6 and Shk1 assays. Results indicated that the toxicity data of the PM6 and the Shk1 assays were correlated, and no assay appeared to be particularly more sensitive to a group of toxicants than the other assay. The results of the PM6 and Shk1 assays were further evaluated by comparing with the results of the Vibrio fischeri luminescence inhibition assay and activated sludge inhibition assays. Data suggested that PM6 and Shk1 more closely represented activated sludge organisms than V. fischeri. The suitability of using PM6 and Shk1 for assessing wastewater toxicity on activated sludge, both individually and in a test battery, was discussed.     

Assessment of chemical, biochemical and ecotoxicological aspects in a mine soil amended with sludge of either urban or industrial origin

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge (SS), of sugar beet sludge (SBS), or of a combination of both, in the remediation of a highly acidic (pH 3.6) metal-contaminated soil, affected by mining activities. The SS was applied at 100 and 200 Mg ha(-1) (dry weight basis), and the SBS at 7 Mg ha(-1). All pots were sown with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). After 60 d of growth, shoot biomass was quantified and analysed for Cu, Pb and Zn. The pseudo-total and bioavailable contents of Cu, Pb and Zn and the enzymatic activities of beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, cellulase, protease and urease were determined in the soil mixtures. Two indirect acute bioassays with leachates from the soil (luminescent inhibition of Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna immobilization) were also used. The SS, in particular when in combination with SBS, corrected soil acidity, while increasing the total organic matter content and the cation exchange capacity. The application of SS led to a decrease in the level of effective bioavailable metals (extracted by 0.01 M CaCl(2), pH 5.7, without buffer), but caused an increase in their potential bioavailability (extracted by a solution of 0.5M NH(4)CH(3)COO, 0.5 M CH(3)COOH and 0.01 M EDTA, pH 4.7). Plant biomass increased more than 10 times in the presence of 100 Mg SS ha(-1), and more than five times with the combined use of 100 Mg SS ha(-1) and SBS, but a considerable phytotoxic effect was observed for the application rate of 200 Mg SS ha(-1). Copper, Pb and Zn concentrations in the shoots of L. multiflorum decreased significantly when using 100 Mg SS ha(-1) or SBS. The activities of beta-glucosidase, urease and protease increased with increasing SS applications rates, but cellulase had a reduced activity when using 200 Mg ha(-1)SS. Both amendments were able to suppress soil toxicity to levels that did not affect D. magna, but increased the soil leachate toxicity towards V. fischeri, especially with the application of 200 Mg SS ha(-1). This study showed that for this type of mine soils, and when using SS of similar composition, the maximum SS application rate should be 100 Mg ha(-1), and that liming the SS amended soil with SBS did not contribute to a further improvement in soil quality.     

Toxicity assessment of the maize herbicides S-metolachlor,benoxacor, mesotrione and nicosulfuron,and their corresponding commercial formulations,alone and in mixtures,using the Microtox® test

The Microtox® test, using the prokaryote Vibrio fischeri, was employed to assess the toxicity of the maize herbicides S-metolachlor, benoxacor, mesotrione and nicosulfuron, and their formulated compounds: Dual Gold Safeneur®, Callisto® and Milagro®; alone and in mixtures. For each compound we obtained original IC₅₀ values, with consistent higher toxicities for formulated compounds compared to active ingredients alone. Mixtures of the four herbicides, prepared according to application doses encountered in agriculture, were found to be toxic at a lower concentration than single molecules. Mesotrione and nicosulfuron mixture appeared to be highly toxic to V. fischeri, however, this recommended post-emergence combination for maize crops got its toxicity decreased in formulated compound mixtures, suggesting that chemical interactions could potentially reduce the toxicity. Data comparisons to theoretical models showed a good prediction of mixture toxicity by Concentration Addition concept. Results seemed to exclude any synergistic effects on V. fischeri for the tested herbicide mixtures. Additional work coupling these bioassay data to ecosystemic level studies (aquatic and soil compartments) and data on additives and degradation products toxicity, will help to fill the gap in our knowledge of the environmental impact of these xenobiotics and in the choice of a more sustainable use of pesticides.     

Influence of pH on the toxicity of nitrophenols to Microtox and Spirotox tests

The toxicity of mononitrophenols and dinitrophenols (DNP) to luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox test) and ciliated protozoan Spirostomum ambiguum (Spirotox test) was evaluated. Spirotox was more sensitive to the tested nitrophenols (NPs) than the Microtox test. 2,5-DNP was the most toxic and 2-NP was the least toxic to the both bioindicators. The toxicity depended greatly on the pH of the medium. The highest changes were observed for DNPs, where the toxicity decreased more than 20-times when the pH increased from 6 to 8. No significant decrease of the toxicity was found for NPs, when the pH increased from 6 to 7. Greater increase of the pH to 8 caused from 1.5 to 4-fold decrease of the toxicity.     

Evaluation of the toxicity of two soils from Jales Mine (Portugal) using aquatic bioassays

Soil contamination can be one path for streams and groundwater contamination. As a complement of chemical analysis and total contaminants determination, bioassays can provide information on the bioavailable fraction of chemical compounds, focusing on the retention and habitat function of soils. In this study the evaluation of the toxicity of two soils from the abandoned Jales Mine (Portugal) regarded both functions. The buffer capacity of soils was tested with bioassays carried out using the cladoceran Daphnia magna and the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri. The habitat function of soils was evaluated with the reproduction bioassay with the collembolan Folsomia candida. The Microtox solid-phase test was performed with V. fischeri using soil as test medium, and soil elutriates were extracted to perform the Microtox basic test, and an immobilization and reproduction bioassay with D. magna. The marine bacteria showed high sensitivity to the soil with low heavy metal content (JNC soil) and to JNC soil elutriates, while the soil with highest heavy metal content (JC soil) or soil elutriates exposure did not cause any toxic effect. In the bioassays with D. magna, organisms showed sensitivity to JNC and also to JC soil elutriates. Both mobilization and reproduction features were inhibited. The bioassay with F. candida did not reflect any influence of the contaminants on their reproduction. Although JNC soil presented lower heavy metal contents, elutriates showed different patterns of contamination when compared to JC soil and elutriates, which indicates different retention and buffer capacities between soils. Results obtained in this study underlined the sensitivity and importance of soil elutriate bioassays with aquatic organisms in the evaluation strategy in soil ERA processes.     

Study of the toxicity of diuron and its metabolites formed in aqueous medium during application of the electrochemical advanced oxidation process "electro-Fenton"

Diuron (N'-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-N,N-dimethylurea) is a herbicide belonging to the phenylurea family, widely used to destroy weeds on uncultivated surfaces. Because of its toxicity for aquatic organisms and suspicion of being carcinogenic for humans, diuron is the object of growing environmental concern. Therefore, we have developed the electro-Fenton method, an electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP), to degrade diuron in aqueous medium, and we have studied the evolution of the toxicity of treated solution during the process. Indeed, the EAOPs catalytically generate hydroxyl radicals that oxidize the persistent organic pollutants, and can ultimately destroy and mineralize them. But, sometimes, relatively toxic organic metabolites are formed during the oxidation reaction. In this work, the evolution of toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions was studied at different initial concentrations, during treatment by the electro-Fenton method. Samples were collected at various electrolysis times and mineralization degrees during the treatment. The toxicity of the samples was measured using the bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox) and the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. Our results demonstrated that the toxicity of diuron aqueous solutions (concentrations=3.0-27.6 mg L(-1)) varied considerably with time. The formation and disappearance of several metabolites, having toxicity often stronger than that of the initial herbicide, were observed. To improve the efficiency of water decontamination, the electro-Fenton method should be applied during a time long enough (several hours) and at relatively high electrolysis current (I=250 mA) to reach a nearly complete mineralization of the herbicide in the aqueous medium.     

Optimisation of a microbial bioassay for contaminated soil monitoring: bacterial inoculum standardisation and comparison with Microtox assay

This work represents the first step to set up a toxicity testing procedure and to evaluate the sensitivity of the test microorganism to several classes of environmental pollutants. First, three different techniques were employed to standardise the microbial inoculum, then two different toxicity assessment protocols have been compared: Microtox and a dehydrogenase (DHase) activity inhibition test. The main goal was the optimisation of a microbial bioassay based on the dehydrogenase activity (DHase) inhibition in Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial strain ATCC 13525. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) was used as electron acceptor and its reduction produces Triphenyl formazane (TPF). The P. fluorescens DHase inhibition bioassay was investigated for being a reliable and rapid method for assessing toxicity. The optimisation of the operating conditions resulted in a repeatable bioassay. Then, P. fluorescens and Vibrio fischeri sensitivity were firstly compared by testing Zn++, one of the reference compounds for Microtox test. In addition, other compounds (Ni++, Cd++, Cu++, phenol) were also tested with both bioassays. A high statistical significance of data was obtained with the logistic curve. The present work has demonstrated that P. fluorescens is as sensitive as Microtox culture (V. fischeri), for some of the metal ions. With reference to organic compounds, the lower sensitivity of P. fluorescens to phenol makes its use difficult in organic polluted samples.     

发光细菌法在水质综合毒性在线检测中的应用

以海洋发光细菌费氏弧菌（Vibriofischeri）作为检测生物，采用冻干菌粉快速复苏技术，研究费氏弧菌在水质检测中的最佳测试温度和有效性测试条件，并对硫酸锌等多种毒物和几种实际水样进行发光抑制作用分析。研究表明，费氏弧菌冻干粉复苏菌液保存在2～5℃条件下能有效测试7d，最佳测试温度为15℃，最佳测试时间为15min。氯化汞、硫酸锌、硫酸镉等重金属和苯胺、多菌灵、甲醛等有机毒物对费氏弧菌均具有较强的光抑制作用，也即费氏弧菌对以上毒物较为敏感，并能够连续7d保持对同一浓度硫酸锌的敏感性较为一致。对几种实际水样的测试和分析表明，以费氏弧菌为指示生物的发光细菌法能够应用于水质环境安全的综合毒性在线监测预警中。     

Microbial activities in soils of a former sawmill area

To find out microbial metabolic functioning and toxicity in a former sawmill area, carbon dioxide evolution, methane oxidation potential, 10 hydrolytic enzyme activities, Vibrio fischeri test, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis activity (FDA), soil pH, carbon, nitrogen and pentachlorophenol (PCP) content were measured at four sites. The area is contaminated with aged chlorophenols. Chlorophenol content of soil was analyzed with a novel HPLC-MS technique, which allowed to measure chlorophenols without derivatization. The sites had a pollution gradient from 0.5 to 15 microg PCP g dw of soil(-1). Endogenous carbon dioxide evolution, methane oxidation potential, butyrate-esterase, acetate-esterase, sulphatase and aminopeptidase activities were lower at the site 2 than 3, although the site 2 and 3 had similar content of carbon and nitrogen. The soil was toxic in V. fischeri test at the site 2, which had high content of PCP (3.93+/-1.00 microg PCP g dw of soil(-1)). The results indicated that endogenous carbon dioxide evolution, methane oxidation potential, butyrate-esterase, acetate-esterase, sulphatase and aminopeptidase activities were sensitive to PCP in the soil. The results indicated that alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-xylosidase, beta-cellobiosidase, phosphomonoesterase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase activity and FDA hydrolysis activity were not sensitive to PCP in the soil. Soil processes involved in the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus were only slightly vulnerable in the former sawmill area and most sensitive microbial species were probably replaced with more tolerant ones to maintain and recover functioning of the former sawmill soils.     

Agonistic and antagonistic toxic effects observed with miniaturized growth and luminescence inhibition assays

Kinetic data recordings with miniaturized growth and luminescence inhibition assays with prokaryotes (Pseudomonas putida and Vibrio fischeri) reveal typical sample and species specific growth and light emission patterns respectively. Growth inhibiting influences, based on toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic sample specificities appeared in each growth phase. Agonistic and antagonistic effects of combinations of heavy metals like Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ and other compounds were easily recognized after accurate curve discussions. Some of the influences that made it more difficult to evaluate toxicological results only by restriction on EC values (effective concentrations) were investigated. The findings may lead to a more comprehensive interpretation of toxicological data and a presumption on the composition of complex samples in terms of screening investigations. Therefore, the conclusions demonstrate the possibilities and limits of kinetic data recordings in chronic and acute toxicity testing.     

微囊藻毒素-LR降解菌的筛选及降解特性研究

从上海市淀山湖表层水体中筛选分离出了1株降解微囊藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)的细菌并研究了其降解特性。根据细胞形态结构、生理生化特征及其16S rDNA基因序列分析,鉴定分离菌株DHU-28(GenBank序列登录号为HM047512)属嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas maltophilia)。微囊藻毒素降解实验结果表明,该菌株能在以MC-LR为唯一碳源、氮源的无机盐培养基中生长,6 d内可将初始质量浓度为15 mg/L的MC-LR降解为8.12 mg/L,降解效率达到45.9%。菌株DHU-28的最适生长温度是30℃,最适生长pH为7.0。酵母粉、蛋白胨、葡萄糖等营养物质可以明显促进菌株对MC-LR的降解效率,尤其是加入50 mg/L酵母粉后,6 d降解率达到63.2%。     

Biosorption and Biovolatilization of Arsenic by Heat-Resistant Fungi (5 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background

The aim of this work is to show the ability of several fungal species, isolated from arsenic polluted soils, to biosorb and volatilize arsenic from a liquid medium under laboratory conditions. Mechanisms of biosorption and biovolatilization play an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of arsenic in the environment. The quantification of production of volatile arsenicals is discussed in this article.

Methods

Heat-resistant filamentous fungi Neosartorya fischeri, Talaromyces wortmannii, T. flavus, Eupenicillium cinnamopurpureum, originally isolated from sediments highly contaminated with arsenic (more than 1403 mg.l-1 of arsenic), and the non-heat-resistant fungus Aspergillus niger were cultivated in 40 mL liquid Sabouraud medium (SAB) enriched by 0.05, 0.25, 1.0 or 2.5 mg of inorganic arsenic (H3AsO4). After 30-day and 90-day cultivation under laboratory conditions, the total arsenic content was determined in mycelium and SAB medium using the HG AAS analytical method. Production of volatile arsenic derivates by the Neosartorya fischeri strain was also determined directly by hourly sorption using the sorbent Anasorb CSC (USA).

Results

Filamentous fungi volatilized 0.025–0.321 mg of arsenic from the cultivation system, on average, depending on arsenic concentrations and fungal species. The loss of arsenic was calculated indirectly by determining the sum of arsenic content in the mycelium and culture medium. The amount of arsenic captured on sorption material was 35.7 ng of arsenic (22nd day of cultivation) and 56.4 ng of arsenic (29th day of cultivation) after one hour's sorption. Biosorption of arsenic by two types of fungal biomass was also discussed, and the biosorption capacity for arsenic of pelletized and compact biomass of Neosartorya fischeri was on average 0.388 mg and 0.783 mg of arsenic, respectively.

Discussion

The biosorption and amount of volatilized arsenic for each fungal species was evaluated and the effect of initial pH on the biovolatilization of arsenic was discussed.

Conclusions

The most effective biovolatilization of arsenic was observed in the heat-resistant Neosartorya fischeri strain, while biotransformation of arsenic into volatile derivates was approximately two times lower for the non-heat-resistant Aspergillus niger strain. Biovolatilization of arsenic by Talaromyces wortmannii, T. flavus, Eupenicillium cinnamopurpureum was negligible. Results from biosorption experiments indicate that nearly all of an uptaken arsenic by Neosartorya fischeri was transformed into volatile derivates.

Recommendations and Perspective

. Biovolatilization and biosorption have a great potential for bioremediation of contaminated localities. However, results showed that not all fungal species are effective in the removal of arsenic. Thus, more work in this research area is needed.

     

Toxicity monitoring and classification of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) using recombinant bioluminescent bacteria

A recombinant bioluminescent Escherichia coli, DPD2794, containing the recA promoter region fused to luxCDABE originating from Vibrio fischeri was used for detecting genotoxicity caused by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to cells. As well, several other recombinant bioluminescent bacteria, including TV1061, which is sensitive to protein damage (grpE::luxCDA BE), DPD2511, sensitive to oxidative damage (katG::luxCDABE), and DPD2540, sensitive to membrane damage (fabA::luxCDABE), were used for evaluating other possible modes of toxicity. It was found that the recombinant bacteria could monitor the toxic effect, not estrogenic effect, due to the presence of various EDCs through the measurement of bioluminescence (BL) and cell growth rate, which depend upon the type of toxicity occurring and which of the four strains was used. In addition, it was found that the damage caused by EDCs can be classified into several groups upon their mechanisms of toxic action.