Breakdown products on metabolic pathway of degradation of benz[a]anthracene by a ligninolytic fungus

Cultures of the ligninolytic fungus Irpex lacteus incubated in a nutrient liquid medium degraded more than 70% of the initially applied benz[a]anthracene within 14 days. At the first step of metabolization, benz[a]anthracene was transformed via a typical pathway of ligninolytic fungi to benz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione (BaAQ). The product was further transformed by at least two ways, whereas one is complied with the anthracene metabolic pathway of I. lacteus. Benz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione was degraded to 1,2-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and phthalic acid that was followed with production of 2-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid or monomethyl and dimethylesters of phthalic acid. Another degradation product of BaAQ was identified as 1-tetralone. Its transformation via 1,4-naphthalenedione, 1,4-naphthalenediol and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxynaphthalene resulted again in phthalic acid. None of the intermediates were identified as dead-end metabolites. Metabolites produced by ring cleavage of benz[a]anthracene using the ligninolytic fungus are firstly presented in this work.     

Prediction of ozone concentrations in Oporto city with statistical approaches

The performance of three statistical methods: time-series, multiple linear regression and feedforward artificial neural networks models were compared to predict the daily mean ozone concentrations. The study here reported was based on data from one urban site with traffic influences and one rural background site. The studies were performed for the year 2002 and the respective four trimesters separately. In the multiple linear regression and feedforward artificial neural network models, the concentrations of ozone, the concentrations of its precursors (nitrogen oxides) and some meteorological variables for one and two days before the prediction day were used as predictors. For the application of these models in the validation step, the inputs of ozone concentration for one and two days before were replaced by the ozone concentrations predicted by the models. The results showed that time-series modelling was not profitable. In the development step, similar performances were obtained with multiple linear regression and feedforward artificial neural network. Better performance indexes were achieved with feedforward artificial neural network models in validation step. Concluding, feedforward artificial neural network models were more efficient to predict ozone concentrations.     

Cadmium and zinc bioaccumulation and metallothionein response in two freshwater bivalves (Corbicula fluminea and Dreissena polymorpha) transplanted along a polymetallic gradient

This study was designed to compare the metallothionein (MT) response capacity of two freshwater bivalves, Corbicula fluminea and Dreissena polymorpha, along an environmental gradient of polymetallic pollution. The bivalves were transplanted into 4 stations in southwestern France, with a cadmium and zinc pollution gradient. MT and metal concentrations were measured in the soft bodies of the clams and mussels over 2.5 months. In the zebra mussels, variations in MT concentrations were strictly correlated to progressive Cd and Zn bioaccumulation. In contrast, the faster response in the clams appeared positively correlated to Cd accumulation only, with the activation of efficient detoxification mechanisms which limited Cd bioaccumulation and reduced Zn concentrations over time. Nevertheless, despite stronger metal accumulation factors in D. polymorpha, C. fluminea revealed higher sensitivity of MT response along the pollution gradient.     

In situ and laboratory bioassays using Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 in the biomonitoring of an acidic lake at Camaçari, BA, Brazil

The suitability and viability of acute in situ bioassays were investigated in the biomonitoring program of an acidic lake contaminated with sulphur residues. Responses of organisms observed in laboratory and in situ bioassays were also assessed to determine whether or not they were similar and comparable, regarding accuracy and precision. Newborn Poecilia reticulata were employed as test organisms and exposed to the same water samples under in situ and laboratory conditions. Mortality/immobility was the endpoint assessed and dead/immobile organisms were counted at various time intervals during exposure. The mean calculated LT50 values and 95% confidence intervals were 1.61 (1.36-1.87) h in the laboratory bioassays and 0.72 (0.55-0.89) h in the in situ bioassays. Statistical comparison of these values revealed a significant difference (p<0.05). In situ bioassays were more accurate than those carried out in the laboratory, demonstrating higher sensitivity and better reproduction of what occurs in nature, while laboratory bioassays were more precise.     

Importance of cholinesterase kinetic parameters in environmental monitoring using estuarine fish

The aim of the present study was to determine the kinetic parameters and cholinesterase (ChE) activity in two teleost fish, the white mouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Scianidae) and the Madamango sea catfish Cathorops spixii (Ariidae), to verify their suitability as sentinel species of aquatic pollution by anticholinergic compounds. Individuals of each species were captured in one reference and one polluted site in the Southern Brazilian coast. Brain tissue was used as enzyme source. Inhibition kinetic parameters indicated that ChE from C. spixii collected at the reference site showed more affinity (Ka) for eserine that from those collected at the polluted site. The opposite was observed for the carbamylation constants (Kc). Thus, similar inhibition constants (Ki) were observed. M. furnieri brain showed an extremely low sensitivity to in vitro inhibition by eserine, indicating that it is not a suitable biomarker to be employed in environmental monitoring of anticholinergic compounds. Results from the present study also point to the need for considering kinetic analysis when cholinesterase activity is employed as a biomarker.     

Physiological recovery from episodic acid stress does not mean population recovery of Gammarus fossarum

The physiological responses of the acid-sensitive amphipod Gammarus fossarum exposed in situ to acid stress (pH4.5 and 5.5) and then transferred back to neutral water were investigated. Survival rate and haemolymph [Cl(-)] and [Na(+)] were assessed after 24, 48 and 72h of exposure in acidic streams and after a recovery period of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60h. After 24h, exposure to slightly acidic (pH5.5) and strongly acidic water (pH4.5) led to a severe and significant depletion in haemolymph [Na(+)] and [Cl(-)] compared to organisms exposed in circumneutral water (pH7.3). However, after only a 12h-period of transfer back in neutral water and whatever the previous exposure time (24, 48 and 72h) in both slightly and strongly acidic water, haemolymph [Na(+)] and [Cl(-)] were equal or superior to the control level without associated mortality. In spite of this fast physiological recovery capacity, populations of G. fossarum living in streams undergoing episodic acid stresses were drastically affected thus, demonstrating the high acid-sensitivity of this species. We discuss the possible reasons of population regression and the absence of population recovery.     

Effect of farmyard manure application on boron adsorption-desorption characteristics of some soils

Boron (B) availability to crop plants depends on soil properties as well as management practices like liming, fertilization and use of organic manures. To assess the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) application on availability of added B, adsorption-desorption of B was investigated in five different soils receiving varying doses of FYM (0, 5 and 10 g FYM kg(-1) soil). Two surfaces Freundlich model was found best to account for B adsorption-desorption data of all soils. Application of FYM increased B adsorption capacities pertaining to low (K1) and high (K2) concentration ranges in all soils, except Soil C (Alfisol) having a pH of 9.8, in which the higher rate of FYM decreased the value of K2. Application of FYM did not change B desorption capacities of soils corresponding to low B concentration range (K(1)(1)) significantly, however, it increased B desorption capacity pertaining to high B concentration (K(1)(2)) in all soils, except Soils C (Alfisol) and E (Entisol) having pH of 9.8 and 5.1, respectively. Application of FYM increased the desorption slope factor applicable to low concentration range (1/n(1)(1)) in Soil A (Inceptisol), but decreased it in Soil E (Entisol). The 1/n(1)(2) (desorption slope factor applicable to high concentration range) decreased with FYM application in all soils except Soil E (Entisol), where it was increased. Boron desorption index (slope(ads)/slope(des)) decreased with FYM application in low B concentration range, but increased in high concentration range for all soils except soil E (Entisol, pH 5.1), in which a reverse trend was observed. Application of FYM increased the retention of added B in soils and may help reducing the leaching losses.     

Contribution of anthropogenic pollutants to the increase of tropospheric ozone levels in the Oporto Metropolitan Area, Portugal since the 19th century

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of anthropogenic pollutants to the increase of tropospheric ozone levels in the Oporto Metropolitan Area (Portugal) since the 19th century. The study was based on pre-industrial and recent data series, the results being analyzed according to the atmospheric chemistry. The treatment of ozone and meteorological data was performed by classical statistics and by time-series analysis. It was concluded that in the 19th century the ozone present in the troposphere was not of photochemical origin, being possible to consider the respective concentrations as reference values. For recent data a cycle of 8h for ozone concentrations could be related to traffic. Compared to the 19th century, the current concentrations were 147% higher (252% higher in May) due to the increased photochemical production associated with the increased anthropogenic emissions.     

Modelling the extra and intracellular uptake and discharge of heavy metals in Fontinalis antipyretica transplanted along a heavy metal and pH contamination gradient

Samples of the aquatic bryophyte Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. were transplanted to different sites with the aim of characterizing the kinetics of the uptake and discharge of heavy metals in the extra and intracellular compartments. The accumulation of metals in extracellular compartments, characterized by an initial rapid accumulation, then a gradual slowing down over time, fitted perfectly to a Michaelis-Menten model. The discharge of metals from the same compartment followed an inverse linear model or an inverse Michaelis-Menten model, depending on the metal. In intracellular sites both uptake and discharge occurred more slowly and progressively, following a linear model. We also observed that the acidity of the environment greatly affected metal accumulation in extracellular sites, even when the metals were present at relatively high concentrations, whereas the uptake of metals within cells was much less affected by pH.     

Evaluating the role of desorption in bioavailability of sediment-associated contaminants using oligochaetes, semipermeable membrane devices and Tenax extraction

The success of the rapidly desorbing fraction as an available fraction was challenged by using sediment ingesting and non-ingesting oligochaetes (Lumbriculus variegatus) together with passive samplers (semipermeable membrane devices, SPMDs) in accumulation and kinetic modelling exercises for carbon-14 labelled model compounds (pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl). Passive samplers clearly produced lower uptake rate constants and steady state factors than either of the oligochaete treatments when residue concentrations were based on animal lipid or total SPMD weight. The rapidly desorbing chemical fractions in sediments did not show a significant relationship with the biota sediment accumulation factors or SPMD accumulation factors. A distinctly better relationship was observed between the accumulation factors and the desorption rate constants. The results support the assumption that desorption plays an important role in bioavailability, although animal behaviour and the diffusional limitations of hydrophobic contaminants in sediment together probably affect the actual available pool.