Ökotoxikologische Untersuchung von Sedimenten und Schwebstoffen

The potential risk of ground-water contamination through the infiltration of contaminants originating from suspended matter and sediments deposited within flood retention areas in the Upper Rhine valley, as well as subsequent problems for drinking water production, were analyzed by means of the bacterial dehydrogenase activity (DHA; sediment contact test) assay with Arthrobacter globiformis and in a prolonged embryo toxicity assay using zebrafish (Danio rerio). Since the direct uptake of contaminants from particle-bound sources has usually been assumed to play only a minor role in bioaccumulation, the availability of organic extracts to biota has generally been regarded as being overestimated. In order to confirm or discard this hypothesis, organic (acetone) extracts of recently suspended, freeze-dried matter, as well as freeze-dried sediments collected from Rhine flood plains (i.e. soil samples) were compared to corresponding native samples in order to screen for the relative availability of particle-bound contaminants. Whereas a significantly higher ecotoxicological burden was observed for some native soil samples, organic extracts of suspended matter proved to be more toxic than corresponding native samples when compared to organic extracts using each test system. With respect to organic extracts, the suspended matter samples were more toxic than soil samples taken from a rarely flooded site. In contrast to the native samples, the rarely flooded soils revealed a higher toxicity than suspended matter. Therefore, organic extracts did not necessarily overestimate the toxicity of soil and suspended matter samples. Moreover, considerable toxicity of particle-bound contaminants to both bacteria and fish embryos, even in native samples, corroborate the hypothesis that particle-bound contaminants may be more readily available than is generally assumed.     

长江口南支沉积物对卤虫的毒性效应研究

以Ⅱ-Ⅲ龄卤虫幼体（Artemia salina）为受试生物,开展生物检测试验,研究长江口南支沉积物的毒性效应。生物检测结果表明长江口南支部分站位的沉积物对卤虫幼体已产生毒性效应,其中,2、5、8三站沉积物对卤虫体长和体内SOD酶活性具有显著影响（p〈0.05）,1号和2号站沉积物对卤虫体内LDH活性有显著影响（p〈0.05）。对多个毒性效应指标运用因子分析法得到长江口南支各站因子得分F,F值大小可表征各站沉积物对卤虫综合毒性的强弱,各站F值排序为：2号（-1.59）〈5号（-0.76）〈8号（-0.42）〈1号（0.06）〈6号（0.62）〈7号（0.78）〈3号（1.31）,2号站沉积物毒性最强,3号站毒性最弱。经逐步回归分析,因子得分F与沉积物中Cu、Cd含量具有显著相关关系（R=0.91,p〈0.05）,表明长江口南支沉积物中Cu和Cd是对卤虫产生毒性效应的关键污染物。     

固相萃取/气相色谱质谱法测定灰尘中的氯代多环芳烃

建立了固相萃取(SPE)/气相色谱质谱(GC/MS)联用检测灰尘中氯代多环芳烃(ClPAHs)的方法.以正己烷和二氯甲烷混合液为提取溶剂,索氏提取灰尘样品中的20种ClPAHs,活性硅胶层析柱与活性炭混合硅胶SPE柱协同净化.净化后的提取液采用GC/MS测定,SIM模式扫描,并用质谱特征离子定量分析.结果表明,填充量为0.2 g(W(活性炭)∶W(硅胶)=1∶40)的活性炭混合硅胶SPE小柱能有效地将ClPAHs分离出来,载样后采用反向溶剂洗脱,既提高了回收率又减少了洗脱剂甲苯的用量,净化效果好.处理灰尘样品后检测分析,20种ClPAHs的平均回收率稳定在60.4%—120.1%,相关系数>0.99,检出限为0.04—0.17 ng.g-1,相对标准偏差为1.6%—10.2%.本方法前处理简单,定性、定量准确可靠,可广泛应用于环境介质中氯代多环芳烃的检测.     

Leaching of elements from flue dust produced in copper scrap smelting process

To understand the features and leaching characteristics of copper (Cu) scrap smelting dust and its potential risk to environment and humans, three types of smelting dust were sampled and investigated. The dust samples were collected from the dust captured by cyclone collector, panel cooler, and bag house in a typical Cu scrap smelting process of a factory in Guangxi of China. Zinc (Zn), Cu and lead (Pb) were the main elements of the samples of cyclone collector dust (CCD), panel cooler dust (PCD), and bag house dust (BHD). There were less arsenic (As), Pb and Cu in CCD than PCD and BHD, and PCD contained more manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) than BHD. The particle shapes of BHD appeared more regular than CCD and PCD, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis illustrated the compositions of selected surface areas of three samples. The size of particles ranged from 0.011 to 33.11 μm in CCD, from less than 1 μm to several mm in PCD, and from 0.832 to 363.078 μm in BHD. The main elements in leachate were Zn and Mn from CCD, Zn, cadmium (Cd) and Pb from PCD, Zn, Mn and Cd from BHD. The leaching toxicity risk of Cd, Mn, and Zn of PCD and BHD was higher than CCD.     

Comparative Toxicities of Polar and Non-Polar Organic Fractions From Sediments Affected By the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska

Standardized tests were applied to aromatic and polar fractions of sediment extracts to determine whether polar constituents or oxidative degradation products contributed significantly to the toxicity of sediments oiled by the Exxon Valdez spill. Intertidal sediment and pore-water samples were collected in September 1990 from two heavily oiled sites and an unoiled site in Prince William Sound (PWS). Methylene chloride extracts from these samples were fractionated by liquid chromatography into aliphatic, aromatic and polar fractions, and the aromatic and polar fractions were tested for toxicity using the Microtox^R test, bivalve larval mortality and development (Mytilus); several measures of genotoxicity in Mytilus, including SOS Chromotest^R, anaphase aberrations and sister chromatid exchange; and survival, anaphase aberrations and teratogenicity in coho salmon (Onchorhynchus kisutch). Microtox^R and SOS Chromotest^R protocols were applied in a screening mode to all samples, whereas other tests were applied only to selected fractions from two sites. Samples from Bay of Isles (oiled) were consistently more toxic (usually only 2 to 5-fold) than the Mooselips Bay (unoiled) samples, which gave very low responses in all tests. for both sites, however, responses to polar and aromatic fractions were about the same in most tests, suggesting that while the overall toxicity of the oil was low in these samples, at least part of that toxicity was derived from polar constituents. Compared to the parent hydrocarbons, polar oxidation products partition preferentially into pore-water and are more rapidly diluted and dispersed in the water column. These results suggest that polar oxidation products of petroleum hydrocarbons pose little risk to marine organisms, except possibly for infauna continuously exposed to pore-water in heavily oiled sediments. Independent surveys showed that sediment toxicity in PWS declined during 1989-1991 to near background levels, in accord with previous understanding of oil weathering and toxicity.     

Does subway expansion improve air quality?

Major cities in China and many other fast-growing economies are expanding their subway systems in order to address worsening air pollution and traffic congestion. This paper quantifies the impact of subway expansion on air quality by leveraging fine-scale air quality data and the rapid build-out of 14 new subway lines and 252 stations in Beijing from 2008 to 2016. Our main empirical framework examines how the density of the subway network affects air quality across different locations in the city during this period. To address the potential endogenous location of subway stations, we construct an instrument based on historical subway planning, long before air pollution and traffic congestion were of concern. Our analysis shows that an increase in subway density by one standard deviation improves air quality by two percent and the result is robust to a variety of alternative specifications including the distance-based difference-in-differences method. The total discounted health benefit during a 20-year period from reduced mortality and morbidity as a result of 14 new subway lines amounts to $1.0–3.1 billion, or only 1.4–4.4 percent of the total construction and operating cost.     

上海市典型污水处理厂污泥浸出液的化学和毒性评价

为了研究污水污泥在海洋环境中释放带来的生态风险,在分析上海7处典型污水处理厂污水污泥浸出液中重金属与溶解性有机碳的基础上,使用黑鲷,卤虫,三角褐指藻,纤细角毛藻和小球藻研究污水污泥浸出液对海洋生物的急性毒性作用和生长抑制作用。化学分析结果表明,所有样点的污水污泥浸出液中重金属总量均低于中国(GB5085.3-2007)与欧盟(EN12457.2-2002)关于危险废弃物的鉴别标准,但溶解性有机碳(DOC)含量超过欧盟标准1个数量级。毒性实验结果表明,黑鲷幼鱼对污水污泥浸出液的敏感性最强,其次是海洋微藻,卤虫无节幼体的敏感性较低;毒性综合分析结果表明,S2和S3点的污水污泥浸出液对海洋生物的综合生物毒性相对最高,而S4,S5的综合生物毒性最低,其中接纳污水为工业污水,且有机质与硫化物含量较低的污水污泥浸出液对海洋生物的综合生物毒性较低。     

Zooplankton feeding ecology

Extracts of 19 of 24 species of sponge collected from Queensland. Australia, inhibited the growth of test microorganisms in in-vitro assays. A similar result has been obtained by earlier workers for extracts of species of sponge obtained from temperate waters. Some of the extracts, including extracts of Thorecta vasiforis, Arenochalina mirabilis and Acanthella kleutha, showed activity against bacterial strains that was comparable with that exhibited by penicillin G and streptomycin against these strains. Gram-positive bacteria were expecially sensitive to many extracts. Little activity was exhibited by any extract against four species of fungi tested. Some of the extracts were markedly toxic to one or more of the test organisms (a fish, a crustacean and a hydroid) used, but no clear pattern linking toxicity to these organisms with antimicrobial properties of the extracts emerged. In general, there bas a negative correlation between antimicrobial activity and surface-fouling, raising the possibility of using freedom from surface-fouling as an indicator of antimicrobial activity. Four of five encrusting species from the undersides of coral boulders showed antimicrobial activity. This study confirmed the value of using methanol-toluene extracts in field-based screening programmes, but emphasised the need to use additional extracting media such as methylene chloride in order to augment the number of antimicrobial compounds detected. There are indications that antimicrobial activity may be widespread in the order Dictyoceratida, in the order Verongida and in the order Axinellida, but sporadic in other orders of Porifera.     

长江三角洲河网地区典型城镇街尘中多环芳烃的污染特征

街尘是一种重要的环境介质,其携带的污染物在城镇化过程中对河网地区的水环境构成了一定的威胁.为初步探讨长江三角洲河网地区典型街尘中多环芳烃(PAHs)的污染特征,以杭嘉湖平原河网地区饮用水水源河流上游典型小城镇的街尘为研究对象,对工业区、交通干道、旧居区、新居区和商业区5种土地利用类型的15个采样点进行街尘样品采集和粒径分级,测试街尘的密度、有机质含量以及16种U.S.EPA优控PAHs含量等指标.结果表明,粒径为<63、63～125、125～250和250～900μm街尘中总多环芳烃(∑PAHs)的平均含量分别为7261、5835、4660和2909μg·kg-1,粒径越小,PAHs含量越高,其生态风险越大.不同土地利用类型的街尘中PAHs的含量顺序依次为:工业区>交通干道>旧居区>新居区>商业区.街尘中PAHs和有机质含量存在显著正相关关系,且街尘粒径越小,有机质和PAHs的相关性越强.源解析结果表明,街尘中的PAHs多为燃烧源.     

Comparative Toxicities of Polar and Non-Polar Organic Fractions From Sediments Affected By the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Prince William Sound,Alaska

Abstract

Standardized tests were applied to aromatic and polar fractions of sediment extracts to determine whether polar constituents or oxidative degradation products contributed significantly to the toxicity of sediments oiled by the Exxon Valdez spill. Intertidal sediment and pore-water samples were collected in September 1990 from two heavily oiled sites and an unoiled site in Prince William Sound (PWS). Methylene chloride extracts from these samples were fractionated by liquid chromatography into aliphatic, aromatic and polar fractions, and the aromatic and polar fractions were tested for toxicity using the Microtox^R test, bivalve larval mortality and development (Mytilus); several measures of genotoxicity in Mytilus, including SOS Chromotest^R, anaphase aberrations and sister chromatid exchange; and survival, anaphase aberrations and teratogenicity in coho salmon (Onchorhynchus kisutch). Microtox^R and SOS Chromotest^R protocols were applied in a screening mode to all samples, whereas other tests were applied only to selected fractions from two sites. Samples from Bay of Isles (oiled) were consistently more toxic (usually only 2 to 5-fold) than the Mooselips Bay (unoiled) samples, which gave very low responses in all tests. for both sites, however, responses to polar and aromatic fractions were about the same in most tests, suggesting that while the overall toxicity of the oil was low in these samples, at least part of that toxicity was derived from polar constituents. Compared to the parent hydrocarbons, polar oxidation products partition preferentially into pore-water and are more rapidly diluted and dispersed in the water column. These results suggest that polar oxidation products of petroleum hydrocarbons pose little risk to marine organisms, except possibly for infauna continuously exposed to pore-water in heavily oiled sediments. Independent surveys showed that sediment toxicity in PWS declined during 1989–1991 to near background levels, in accord with previous understanding of oil weathering and toxicity.     

Evidence for a symbiosis between bacteria of the genus Rhodobacter and the marine sponge Halichondria panicea : harbor also for putatively toxic bacteria?

Halichondria panicea (Pallas) is a marine sponge, abundantly occurring in the Adriatic Sea, North Sea, and Baltic Sea. It was the aim of the present study to investigate if this sponge species harbors bacteria. Cross sections through H. panicea were taken and inspected by electron microscopy. The micrographs showed that this sponge species is colonized by bacteria in its mesohyl compartment. To identify the bacteria, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene segment, typical for bacteria, was performed. DNA was isolated from sponge material that had been collected near Rovinj (Adriatic Sea), Helgoland (North Sea), and Kiel (Baltic Sea) and was amplified with bacterial primers by PCR. The data gathered indicate that in all samples bacteria belonging to the genus Rhodobacter (Proteobacteria, subdivision α) are dominant, suggesting that these bacteria live in symbiotic relationship with the sponge. In addition, the results show that the different samples taken contain further bacterial species, some of them belonging to the same genus even though found in sponges from different locations. The possibility of the presence of toxic bacteria was supported by the finding that organic extracts prepared from sponge samples displayed toxicity, when analyzed in vitro using leukemia cells. Received: 7 March 1997 / Accepted: 2 October 1997     

Acetylene reduction (nitrogen fixation) in a Delaware,USA salt marsh

Acetylene reduction (nitrogen fixation) was measured in several vegetational areas in a Delaware, USA salt marsh. Samples were collected for 1 yr and the results showed a seasonally variable pattern of acetylene reduction at all stations. Peak rates were generally recorded during the later summer and early fall (September–October). The seasonality was influenced mainly, although not exclusively, by the soil temperature. In addition, samples collected in short Spartina alterniflora stands exhibited rates which were up to 20-fold higher than those found in samples from tall S. alterniflora stands. Over 50% of the total yearly ethylene production occurred from mid-August until the beginning of December at the tall and short S. alterniflora stations. Maximum activity occurred at 5 cm depth for all stations. Surface activity accounted for only 3–4% of the total measured in the top 20 cm. Addition of glucose or mannitol resulted in considerable increases in activity, thus suggesting that heterotrophic acetylene reduction is carbon and/or energy limited. The results obtained in this study indicate that the measured rates are only potential rates and that considerable caution must be used in extrapolating from acetylene reduction rates to nitrogen fixation rates in situ.     

Characterization of indoor dust from Brazil and evaluation of the cytotoxicity in A549 lung cells

Over the past decade, ambient air particulate matter (PM) has been clearly associated with adverse health effects. In Brazil, small and poor communities are exposed to indoor dust derived from both natural sources, identified as blowing soil dust, and anthropogenic particles from mining activities. This study investigates the physicochemical and mineralogical composition of indoor PM₁₀ dust samples collected in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and evaluates its cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential. The mean PM₁₀ mass concentration was 206 μg/m³. The high dust concentration in the interior of the residences is strongly related to blowing soil dust. The chemical and mineralogical compositions were determined by ICP-OES and XRD, and the most prominent minerals were clays, Fe-oxide, quartz, feldspars, Al(hydr)oxides, zeolites, and anatase, containing the transition metals Fe, Cr, V, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ti, and Mn as well as the metalloid As. The indoor dust samples presented a low water solubility of about 6 %. In vitro experiments were carried out with human lung alveolar carcinoma cells (A549) to study the toxicological effects. The influence of the PM₁₀ dust samples on cell viability, intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 was analysed. The indoor dust showed little effects on alamarBlue reduction indicating unaltered mitochondrial activity. However, significant cell membrane damage, ROS production, and IL-8 release were detected in dependence of dose and time. This study will support the implementation of mitigation actions in the investigated area in Brazil.     

废弃农药厂污染场地土壤浸出液的急性毒性和遗传毒性筛查

污染土地再开发是城市土地可持续利用的关键。为进行废弃农药厂的生态风险评价,采集常州市某废弃农药厂污染场地6个不同区域的土壤样品(编号为S1、S2、S3、S4、S5和S6),选取发光细菌、大型溞和蚕豆根尖细胞为试验生物,运用成组生物毒性试验对6个土壤样品的浸出液进行生物毒性检测。结果表明:6个土壤样品的浸出液都具有急性毒性和遗传毒性;发光菌和大型溞急性毒性试验表明,S3和S5的土壤浸出液毒性最高,S6的土壤浸出液毒性最低;蚕豆根尖微核遗传毒性试验表明S3和S5的土壤浸出液毒性最高,S4和S6的土壤浸出液毒性最低。蚕豆根尖微核遗传毒性试验结果与发光菌和大型溞急性毒性效应基本相同,表明成组生物毒性测试法可以用于污染土壤浸出液的毒性评价。污染物质和毒性检测结果的相关性分析结果表明,土壤中所含污染物种类和浓度已经对土壤毒性效应产生影响,结合化学分析与生物毒性检测可为污染场地进行综合评价与风险评估提供依据。     

Der Einsatz von Pflanzentests bei der Sedimentbewertung

Up to now, sediment studies have mainly used standardized aquatic bioassays with organisms of the three trophic levels. Among these, algae are the only representatives of the entire plant kingdom. Bioassays with higher plants have hardly been used for the assessment of sediments. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that the use of higher plants in biotests for analyses of anthropogenically contaminated sediments yields valuable results, which may be included in a concept for the integrated assessment of waters. The contamination by environmental chemicals was determined in the River Elbe by means of samples taken at the Fahlberg-List industrial site at Magdeburg in combination with studies in a reference area on the Müritz-Elde Waterway (Eldenburger Kanal). Sediment extracts and pore waters were tested with the aquatic lemna test. For comparison, first sediment contact tests withLemna minor were tried out. The whole extract of the sediment from Fahlberg-List Magdeburg and one fraction F5 caused distinct damages of the plants. Obviously, the phytotoxic substances of the whole extract are preferentially concentrated in the highly polar fraction F5. A comparison with chemical analytical data proved that the whole fraction F0 and the fraction F5 were heavily contaminated with chemicals. Assays with pore water from this sediment and with the whole sediment also caused a strong inhibition of growth. These results confirm the high contamination of the sediment from Magdeburg. The tests with the reference sediment suggested only a moderate toxic contamination. The results of this study prove that the selected aquatic plant,Lemna minor, is basically able to indicate contamination. In the aquatic test of the sediment extracts, it showed weak, but very selective, responses to certain classes of contaminants. Fractionating of the sample and subsequent chemical analysis combined with toxicity tests allow to narrow down the groups of substances causing toxic effects. This toxicity was confirmed by analyses of the pore waters and whole sediment samples. Together with other toxicity tests (e.g. standardized bioassays) and combined with biological benthos examinations, an overall judgment can be given for the integrated assessment of waters.     

Investigating into composition,distribution, sources and health risk of phthalic acid esters in street dust of Xi’an City,Northwest China

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers and in consumer products, which may enter the environment and present risks to human health. U.S. EPA classifies six PAEs as priority pollutants, which could be accumulated in street dust at the interface of atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere. This study collected a total of 58 street dust samples from Xi’an City in Northwest China and analyzed for concentrations of the priority PAEs. Composition, distribution, sources and health risk of the PAEs were further examined. All the priority PAEs were detected in the street dust. The concentrations of individual PAEs varied between not detected and 183.19 mg/kg. The sum of the 6 priority PAEs (∑6PAEs) ranged from 0.87 to 250.30 mg/kg with a mean of 40.48 mg/kg. The most abundant PAEs in the street dust were di-n-butyl phthalate and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Higher concentrations of ∑6PAEs in the street dust were found in the south and west parts of Xi’an City as well as its urban center, which were possibly attributed to the prevailing northerly Asian winter monsoon. The PAEs in the street dust originated mainly from wide application of plasticizers as well as cosmetics and personal care products. The main pathways of human exposure to PAEs in the street dust were ingestion and dermal adsorption of dust particles. The non-cancer risk of human exposure to PAEs in the street dust was relatively low, while the risk to children was higher than that to adults. The cancer risk of human exposure to DEHP in the street dust was lower than the standard limit value of 10^?6.     

Trace metal content in inhalable particulate matter (PM<Subscript>2.5–10</Subscript> and PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>) collected from historical mine waste deposits using a laboratory-based approach

Mine wastes and tailings are considered hazardous to human health because of their potential to generate large quantities of highly toxic emissions of particulate matter (PM). Human exposure to As and other trace metals in PM may occur via inhalation of airborne particulates or through ingestion of contaminated dust. This study describes a laboratory-based method for extracting PM_2.5–10 (coarse) and PM_2.5 (fine) particles from As-rich mine waste samples collected from an historical gold mining region in regional, Victoria, Australia. We also report on the trace metal and metalloid content of the coarse and fine fraction, with an emphasis on As as an element of potential concern. Laser diffraction analysis showed that the proportions of coarse and fine particles in the bulk samples ranged between 3.4–26.6 and 0.6–7.6 %, respectively. Arsenic concentrations were greater in the fine fraction (1680–26,100 mg kg^?1) compared with the coarse fraction (1210–22,000 mg kg^?1), and Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb and Zn were found to be present in the fine fraction at levels around twice those occurring in the coarse. These results are of particular concern given that fine particles can accumulate in the human respiratory system. Our study demonstrates that mine wastes may be an important source of metal-enriched PM for mining communities.     

染织排水对日本青鳉幼鱼和胚胎的毒性效应

采用日本青鳉幼鱼及胚胎暴露评估染织排水的毒性效应.4个测试水样采自染织工厂排水口.96 h急性毒性试验表明:1和2号水样对幼鱼急性毒性效应不明显,3和4号水样对幼鱼具有急性毒性效应,毒性单位分别为0.47、0.53、9.93和1.68TUa,1和2号水样为微毒,3号水样为中毒,4号水样为低毒.14 d胚胎幼鱼慢性毒性试...     

水源水中有机提取物生殖毒性评价和敏感检测指标的筛选（Reproductive Toxicity of Drinking Source Water and Selection of Sensitive Bioassays）

以原代培养的大鼠睾丸细胞为体外毒性试验靶细胞,采用支持细胞、生精细胞、间质细胞的形态、细胞活力、胞外乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力、细胞早期凋亡坏死率和间质细胞睾酮分泌量5种检测指标评价了X市和L市水源水中有机提取物的生殖毒性,并筛选了对痕量有机污染物敏感的生殖毒性指标.研究结果表明,两市水源水中有机提取物皆可引起支持细胞、间质细胞和生精细胞形态的变化,相比较而言,对生精细胞的影响更严重.X市水源水有机提取物对3种生殖细胞胞外LDH活力没有显著影响(p>0.05);而在L市水源水中有机提取物的暴露下,支持细胞和间质细胞胞外LDH活力显著增强(p<0.01).X市水源水中有机提取物可使间质细胞睾酮分泌量显著减少(p<0.01);而L市水源水有机提取物对间质细胞睾酮分泌量无明显影响(p>0.05).两市水源水有机提取物均能不同程度地诱发大鼠睾丸细胞损伤,生精细胞对环境毒物是比较敏感的细胞,细胞形态、活力、LDH活力、凋亡坏死率、睾酮分泌量等生殖毒理学检测指标可用于饮用水源地水质的评价.     

Bacterial toxicity testing and antibacterial activity of parabens

Parabens are used because of their antimicrobial effects, yet they have multiple adverse effects. The aim of this work was to evaluate the bactericidal activity and bacterial toxicity of the most common parabens: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isopropylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben and phenylparaben. The bactericidal action was evaluated by means of the dilution-neutralization method against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the biotest of inhibition of growth of E. coli was applied for the bacterial toxicity assay. Bactericidal concentrations were reached only for propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben. The toxicity study showed methylparaben to be the least toxic, whereas the most toxic one was phenylparaben. It can be concluded that the disinfectant activity of the parabens studied is insignificant against S. aureus and E. coli. Acute toxicity is very low, and the inhibitory effect is weak. Our results provide information about the risk–benefit balance of parabens use.