Toxic masking and synergistic modulation of the estrogenic activity of chemical mixtures in a yeast estrogen screen (YES)

Background, aim and scope

Estrogenic and non-estrogenic chemicals typically co-occur in the environment. Interference by non-estrogenic chemicals may confound the assessment of the actual estrogenic activity of complex environmental samples. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether, in which way and how seriously the estrogenic activity of single estrogens and the observed and predicted joint action of estrogenic mixtures is influenced by toxic masking and synergistic modulation caused by non-estrogenic chemical confounders.

Materials and methods

The yeast estrogen screen (YES) was adapted so that toxicity and estrogenicity could be quantified simultaneously in one experimental run. Mercury, two organic solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 2,4-dinitroaniline), a surfactant (LAS-12) and the antibiotic cycloheximide were selected as toxic but non-estrogenic test chemicals. The confounding impact of selected concentrations of these toxicants on the estrogenic activity of the hormone 17ß-estradiol was determined by co-incubation experiments. In a second step, the impact of toxic masking and synergistic modulation on the predictability of the joint action of 17ß-estradiol, estrone and estriol mixtures by concentration addition was analysed.

Results

Each of the non-estrogenic chemicals reduced the apparent estrogenicity of both single estrogens and their mixtures if applied at high, toxic concentrations. Besides this common pattern, a highly substance- and concentration-dependent impact of the non-estrogenic toxicants was observable. The activity of 17ß-estradiol was still reduced in the presence of only low or non-toxic concentrations of 2,4-dinitroaniline and cycloheximide, which was not the case for mercury and DMSO. A clear synergistic modulation, i.e. an enhanced estrogenic activity, was induced by the presence of slightly toxic concentrations of LAS-12. The joint estrogenic activity of the mixture of estrogens was affected by toxic masking and synergistic modulation in direct proportion to the single estrogens, which allowed for an adequate adaptation of concentration addition and thus unaffected predictability of the joint estrogenicity in the presence of non-estrogenic confounders.

Discussion

The modified YES proved to be a reliable system for the simultaneous quantification of yeast toxicity and estrogen receptor activation. Experimental results substantiate the available evidence for toxic masking as a relevant phenomenon in estrogenicity assessment of complex environmental samples. Synergistic modulation of estrogenic activity by non-estrogenic confounders might be of lower importance. The concept of concentration addition is discussed as a valuable tool for estrogenicity assessment of complex mixtures, with deviations of the measured joint estrogenicity from predictions indicating the need for refined analyses.

Conclusions

Two major challenges are to be considered simultaneously for a reliable analysis of the estrogenic activity of complex mixtures: the identification of known and suspected estrogenic compounds in the sample as well as the substance- and effect-level-dependent confounding impact of non-estrogenic toxicants.

Recommendations and perspectives

The application of screening assays such as the YES to complex mixtures should be accompanied by measures that safeguard against false negative results which may be caused by non-estrogenic but toxic confounders. Simultaneous assessments of estrogenicity and toxicity are generally advisable.     

Detection of DDT and its metabolites in two estuaries of South China using a SPME-based device: First report of p,p′-DDMU in water column

A solid-phase microextration-based sampling method was employed to determine the concentrations of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and its metabolites, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDE) and 1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDMU), in two estuarine bays, Daya Bay and Hailing Bay, of South China. Six DDT components including p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDE, and p,p′-DDMU were detected in Hailing Bay, while only p,p′-DDD was found in Daya Bay. p,p′-DDD was the most abundant DDT component in both bays, sharply different from the previous finding in the water column of the Palos Verdes Shelf, California, USA that p,p′-DDE was prevalent. In addition, the occurrence of p,p′-DDMU (with a range of 0.047-0.21 ng/L in Hailing Bay) has not been reported around the globe, and its presence in our study region appeared to stem from dehydrochlorination of p,p′-DDD, favored under aerobic conditions, but further investigations are clearly needed to confirm the mechanism for generation of DDMU in estuarine environments.     

油气田建设项目施工期环境监理探析

针对油气田建设项目的具体情况,对油气田建设项目施工期主要环境影响,包括钻井作业、输气站及输气管道建设工程中的主要环境影响进行了分析,从施工期的污染防治措施监理、生态保护措施监理、环境保护设施监理几个方面对施工期环境监理的主要内容进行了探讨。     

官厅水库和永定河沉积物中多氯联苯和有机氯农药的污染

利用气相色谱-电子捕获检测(GC-ECD)方法对官厅水库-永定河流域沉积物中26种多氯联苯(PCBs)同系物和13种有机氯农药进行了分析测定,在4个采样点均检出多氯联苯和部分有机氯农药.其中PCBs和有机氯农药总量的最高点均出现在永定河下游的三家店,分别为9.7ng*g-1和26.7ng*g-1,按照国际关于沉积物质量的同类研究结果,判定为轻度污染水平.HCH最高仅为4.50ng*g-1,属轻度污染,DDT浓度以八号桥和三家店样点最高,分别为23.2ng*g-1和26.7ng*g-1,属中度污染.有机氯农药总量分布为三家店＞八号桥＞官厅大坝＞雁翅,表明永定河下游多氯联苯和有机氯农药不仅来自官厅上游,也来自下游地区.     

Result-oriented approaches to the management of drinking water catchments in agricultural landscapes

Management of water quality in drinking water catchments is of ongoing, high importance as nitrate concentrations are often still very high. We analysed the Augsburg catchment in Germany, a unique example where a result-oriented approach has been implemented. We investigated the historical evolution of the water protection programme, the result-oriented payment contracts with farmers, and farmer satisfaction with the contracts, based on interviews with the water utility and farmers as well as an analysis of the literature. Today, the water protection programme has been successfully implemented, and a significant reduction of nitrate concentration was achieved due to the following factors: (1) investment of non-negligible amounts of money for high compensation and remuneration payments, (2) different contract options, (3) farmers’ participation in the negotiation process for result-oriented payment contracts, (4) involvement of “outside” people and institutions in negotiation processes, (5) anticipation of starting a programme when nitrate levels were still far below legislative thresholds, and (6) a political and legislative framework allowing direct decisions by a water supplier.     

Toxicological responses of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) exposed to metal-contaminated soils

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological responses of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) induced by field-contaminated, metal-polluted soils. Biochemical responses and DNA damage of earthworm exposed to two multi-metal-contaminated soils in a steel industry park and a natural reference soil in Zijin Mountain for 2, 7, 14, and 28 days were studied. Results showed that three enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cellulase, in earthworm in metal-contaminated soils were significantly different from those of the reference soil. Cellulase and AChE were more sensitive than SOD to soil contamination. The Olive tail moment of the comet assay after 2-day exposure increased 56.5 and 552.0 % in two contaminated soils, respectively, compared to the reference soil. Our findings show that cellulase and DNA damage levels can be used as potential biomarkers for exposure of earthworm to metal-polluted soils.     

玉米深加工废水的混凝实验

在室温条件下,分别选用聚合氯化铝(PAC)、聚合氯化铝铁(PAFC)及三氯化铁(FeCl3)对玉米深加工废水进行混凝实验。综合考虑各种混凝剂对磷、COD以及SS的去除效果,最终选取PAC作为混凝剂。采用PAC和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)作为复合混凝剂,对其去除效果做进一步研究,并确定了最佳投加量及pH值。实验结果表明,在PAC投加量25mg/L,PAM投加量0.5 mg/L,pH为8条件下,混凝效果最佳。磷、COD、SS去除率可分别达到90.1%、53.3%和88.2%,对应的出水质量浓度分别为0.41、26.8和2 mg/L。     

一株产絮酵母菌废菌体对Cd2+的吸附特性

将一株产絮酵母菌(编号B-02号)发酵后的废菌体制成生物吸附剂,研究该生物吸附剂对废水中Cd2+的生物吸附特性。结果表明:(1)pH值对Cd2+会产生较大的影响,偏酸性(pH=4～6)条件利于吸附;该吸附剂对Cd2+吸附速率较快,8～10 min就可达到吸附平衡;(2)吸附剂的吸附动力学符合二级动力学模型,吸附Cd2+的实验数据对Langmuir等温式的拟合情况良好,吸附剂吸附Cd2+的最大吸附量为70.752 mg/g。用0.5 mol/L HNO3对吸附Cd2+的酵母菌进行解吸,解吸率可达89.7%。     

以红薯浸泡液为碳源的生物反硝化

为选择低碳氮比污水生物脱氮中合适的碳源,以搅拌罐浸泡淀粉类物质释放碳源,在确定利用红薯浸泡液为碳源后,以浸没式生物滤池为反应器进行生物反硝化实验。实验结果表明:20 g红薯置于2 L自来水中,采用250 r/m in的搅拌速度,搅拌频率为每搅拌3 h停1 h,2 d后得到的浸泡液COD浓度平均为5 921 mg/L,最高可超过7 000 mg/L;将此红薯浸泡液和污水以1∶50的流量比例,采用分别投加的方式进入反应器,污水中总氮、硝酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮及氨氮的平均去除率分别为88.6%、91.6%、88.2%和54.8%,出水COD平均在30 mg/L以下;在红薯浸泡液COD浓度为5 700 mg/L左右时,进水中亚硝酸盐氮浓度与硝酸盐氮浓度比为3∶2时总氮去除率为95.3%,当该比例为2∶3时总氮去除率为88.2%。研究表明,红薯浸泡液是一种经济合适的碳源,采用红薯浸泡液作为低碳氮比污水生物处理中反硝化的碳源是可行的。     

An integrated approach to model the biomagnification of organic pollutants in aquatic food webs of the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir ecosystem using adapted pollution scenarios

The impounding of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) at the Yangtze River caused large flooding of urban, industrial, and agricultural areas, and profound land use changes took place. Consequently, substantial amounts of organic and inorganic pollutants were released into the reservoir. Additionally, contaminants and nutrients are entering the reservoir by drift, drainage, and runoff from adjacent agricultural areas as well as from sewage of industry, aquacultures, and households. The main aim of the presented research project is a deeper understanding of the processes that determines the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of organic pollutants, i.e., mainly pesticides, in aquatic food webs under the newly developing conditions of the TGR. The project is part of the Yangtze-Hydro environmental program, financed by the German Ministry of Education and Science. In order to test combinations of environmental factors like nutrients and pollution, we use an integrated modeling approach to study the potential accumulation and biomagnification. We describe the integrative modeling approach and the consecutive adaption of the AQUATOX model, used as modeling framework for ecological risk assessment. As a starting point, pre-calibrated simulations were adapted to Yangtze-specific conditions (regionalization). Two exemplary food webs were developed by a thorough review of the pertinent literature. The first typical for the flowing conditions of the original Yangtze River and the Daning River near the city of Wushan, and the second for the stagnant reservoir characteristics of the aforementioned region that is marked by an intermediate between lake and large river communities of aquatic organisms. In close cooperation with German and Chinese partners of the Yangtze-Hydro Research Association, other site-specific parameters were estimated. The MINIBAT project contributed to the calibration of physicochemical and bathymetric parameters, and the TRANSMIC project delivered hydrodynamic models for water volume and flow velocity conditions. The research questions were firstly focused on the definition of scenarios that could depict representative situations regarding food webs, pollution, and flow conditions in the TGR. The food webs and the abiotic site conditions in the main study area near the city of Wushan that determine the environmental preconditions for the organisms were defined. In our conceptual approach, we used the pesticide propanil as a model substance.