Metabolic responses of Eisenia fetida after sub-lethal exposure to organic contaminants with different toxic modes of action

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) - based metabolomics has the potential to identify toxic responses of contaminants within a mixture in contaminated soil. This study evaluated the metabolic response of Eisenia fetida after exposure to an array of organic compounds to determine whether contaminant-specific responses could be identified. The compounds investigated in contact tests included: two pesticides (carbaryl and chlorpyrifos), three pharmaceuticals (carbamazephine, estrone and caffeine), two persistent organohalogens (Aroclor 1254 and PBDE 209) and two industrial compounds (nonylphenol and dimethyl phthalate). Control and contaminant-exposed metabolic profiles were distinguished using principal component analysis and potential contaminant-specific biomarkers of exposure were found for several contaminants. These results suggest that NMR-based metabolomics offers considerable promise for differentiating between the different toxic modes of action (MOA) associated with sub-lethal toxicity to earthworms.     

Evaluation of biodegradation of nonylphenol ethoxylate and lignin by combining toxicity assessment and chemical characterization

The aerobic biodegradation of commercial nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) mixture and alkali lignin was studied using the OECD headspace test accompanied by the simultaneous measurement of ecotoxicity directly from the biodegradation liquors and by the follow-up of the chemical composition of the studied chemicals. NPE degradation was dependent on the inoculum source: approximately 40% of NPE was mineralized into CO₂ during the 4-week experiment when inoculum from Helsinki City wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was used, and only 12% was mineralized when inoculum from Jyväskylä City WWTP was used. Chemical analyses revealed a shift in the ethoxylate chain length from longer to shorter soon after the beginning of the NPE biodegradation tests. At the same time also toxicity (reverse electron transport assay, RET) and estrogenic activity (human estrogen receptor yeast) measured directly from the biodegradation liquors decreased. In case of alkali lignin, approximately 11% was mineralized in the test and chemical analysis showed in maximum a 30% decrease in lignin concentration. Toxicity of lignin biodegradation liquors started to decrease in the beginning of the test, but became more toxic towards the end of the test again. Especially RET assay proved to be sensitive enough for measuring toxicity changes directly from biodegradation liquors, although a concentrating treatment of the liquors is recommended for a more detailed characterization and identification of toxic metabolites.     

Modeling Biodegradation of Nonylphenol

Nonylphenol is the primary breakdown product of nonylphenol ethoxylates, a certain class of nonionic surfactants. Nonylphenol has been found to be toxic to aquatic organisms and has been suspected of being harmful to humans due to its xenoestrogenic properties. Although there are known releases of nonylphenol to the environment, there is a lack of data describing the extent of biodegradation. This study thus focuses on much needed information on the biodegradation kinetics of nonylphenol. Oxygen uptake, cell growth and nonylphenol removal data were collected using batch reactors in an electrolytic respirometer. Nonylphenol removal, cell growth and substrate removal rates were modeled by the Monod, Haldane, Aiba, Webb, and Yano equations. The differential equations were solved by numerical integration to simulate cell growth, substrate removal, and oxygen uptake as a function of time. All models provided similar results with the Haldane model providing the best fit. The values of the kinetic parameters and the activation energy for nonylphenol were determined. These values can be used for predicting fate and transport of nonylphenol in the environment. The validity of applying each model to the biodegradation of nonylphenol was analyzed by computing the R ² values of each equation.     

Effects of nonylphenol on the brain development-associated gene expression profiles of F1 generation rats

To explore the effects of nonylphenol on brain development-associated gene expression profiles of F1 generation rats by means of microarray technique. The mRNA were extracted respectively from the brain of 2-day-old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation were tested with and without nonylphenol, respectively, then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with cy5 and cy3 fluorescence. Subsequently,the cDNA probes were hybridized to the Mouse40S cDNA microarray and the fluorescent signals of cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen identified genes expressed differently, including 13 down-regulated in which five were related to brain function and development. Nonylphenol can effect the brain function in many ways, mainly disturb metabolism, development and differentiation of neurocyte, and synthesis and release of neurotransmitter.     

二氧化钛膜光催化降解水中壬基酚的研究

用溶胶-凝胶法于500℃制备了不同层数的锐钛矿纳米二氧化钛（TiO2）薄膜。利用TiO2薄膜作催化剂,研究了水中壬基酚（NP）的紫外光降解特性。考察了镀膜层数、pH值、初始浓度、光照距离和光照时间与降解率的关系。结果表明,镀3层膜,pH值为5．0～6．0,光照距离为9cm,光照时间为60min的条件下,ρ（NP）初始为100μg/L时降解率可达80％以上。     

水中壬基酚的去除研究进展

壬基酚是环境内分泌干扰物质中具有代表性的物质,非离子表面活性剂壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚在环境中的降解产物,对生物体造成很大危害。目前检测水样中壬基酚的主要方法是采用GC—MS和HPLC,预处理主要采用固相萃取和液一液萃取。研究表明自来水厂的常规处理工艺对于水中壬基酚的去除有限;近年来倍受关注的深度处理工艺如活性炭吸附等物理方法...     

Nonylphenol photodegradation by novel ternary MIL-100（Fe）/ZnFe2O4/PCN composite under visible light irradiation via double charge transfer process

Nonylphenol（NP） residues, as a typical endocrine disrupting chemical（EDC）, frequently exist in sewage, surface water, groundwater and even drinking water, which poses a serious threat to human health due to its bioaccumulation. In order to remove NP, a series of MIL-100（Fe）/Zn Fe₂O₄/flake-like porous carbon nitride（MIL/ZC） was synthesized through in-situ synthesis at room temperature. High performance of ternary MIL/ZC is used to degrade NP under visible light irradiation. ...     

丰水期沱江水系环境内分泌干扰物分布特征

采集丰水期沱江水系德阳至泸州水样,分析6种环境内分泌干扰物的含量和分布特征。主要检出双酚A、壬基酚,双酚A的平均浓度为3.93~198 ng/L,与国内外河流浓度相比处于中等水平;壬基酚平均浓度为5.23~150 ng/L,与国外河流水平相当,但低于目前已有报道的国内河流。沱江水系中双酚A、壬基酚的分布整体均呈现出北高南低,上游高于中游、下游,干流低于支流的特征。