Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - In vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity. Hence, determination of genetic mutation and cytotoxicity of each pesticide is unavoidable to legislate health and safety appraisal about pesticides. The objective of current investigation was to determine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan（EN） and Lambda-cyhalothrin（LC）; individually and in combination. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide（MTT） assay was utilized to determine cytotoxicity, while two mutant histidine dependent Salmonella strains（TA98, TA100） were used to determine the mutagenicity of EN and LC.Moreover, mutagenicity assay was conducted with and without S9 to evaluate the effects of metabolic activation on mutagenicity. Even though a dose dependent increase in the number of revertant colonies was detected with EN against both bacterial strains, a highly significant（p 〈 0.05） increase in the mutagenicity was detected in TA98 with S9. In comparison, data obtained from LC revealed less mutagenic potential than EN. Surprisingly,the non-mutagenic individual-concentrations of EN and LC showed dose dependent mutagenicity when combined. Combination of EN and LC synergistically induced mutagenicity both in TA98 and TA100. MTT assay spotlighted comparable dose dependent cytotoxicity effects of both pesticides. Interestingly, the combination of EN and LC produced increased reversion and cytotoxicity at lower doses as compared to each pesticide, concluding that pesticide exposure even at sub-lethal doses can produce cytotoxicity and genetic mutations, which could lead to carcinogenicity.     

Evaluation of soil washing process with carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin and carboxymethyl chitosan for recovery of PAHs/heavy metals/fluorine from metallurgic plant site

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)/heavy metals/fluorine(F) mixed-contaminated sites caused by abandoned metallurgic plants are receiving wide attention. To address the associated environmental problems,this study was initiated to investigate the feasibility of using carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin(CMCD) and carboxymethyl chitosan(CMC) solution to enhance ex situ soil washing for extracting mixed contaminants. Further,Tenax extraction method was combined with a first-three-compartment model to evaluate the environmental risk of residual PAHs in washed soil. In addition,the redistribution of heavy metals/F after decontamination was also estimated using a sequential extraction procedure. Three successive washing cycles using50 g/L CMCD and 5 g/L CMC solution were effective to remove 94.3% of total PAHs,93.2% of Pb,85.8% of Cd,93.4% of Cr,83.2% of Ni and 97.3% of F simultaneously. After the 3rd washing,the residual PAHs mainly existed as very slowly desorbing fractions,which were in the form of well-aged,well-sequestered compounds; while the remaining Pb,Cd,Cr,Ni and F mainly existed as Fe–Mn oxide and residual fractions,which were always present in stable mineral forms or bound to non-labile soil fractions. Therefore,this combined cleanup strategy proved to be effective and environmentally friendly.     

Characterization of extracellular polymeric substances in the biofilms of typical bacteria by the sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy

A combined approach of physicochemical extraction and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure（XANES） spectroscopy was applied to characterize the extracellular polymeric substances（EPS） of typical bacterial biofilms in this study. Physicochemical analysis showed variation of the contents of DNA,polysaccharide and protein in different fractions of EPS in different mediums. The sulfur K-edge XANES analysis yielded a variety of spectra.Spectral fitting of the XANES spectra utilizing a large set of model compounds showed that there was more reduced sulfur in both LB-EPS（loosely bound EPS） and TB-EPS（tightly bound EPS） of all the biofilms in LB medium than in R2 A medium. More oxidized sulfur was identified in LB-EPS than that in TB-EPS,suggesting different niches and physiological heterogeneity in the biofilms. Our results suggested that the sulfur K-edge XANES can be a useful tool to analyze the sulfur speciation in EPS of biofilms.     

贫营养条件下17β-雌二醇厌氧生物降解规律研究

17β-雌二醇作为环境甾体雌激素污染的主要污染物之一,广泛分布于自然环境中。采用批次实验,研究了在贫营养条件下17β-雌二醇厌氧生物降解规律。结果表明,在贫营养条件下,厌氧污泥对17β-雌二醇的去除率达到90%(35℃,76 d),且降解作用主要集中在快速降解阶段,降解规律符合一级降解动力学模型(R2=0.95);厌氧污泥对17β-雌二醇的去除主要是通过转化为雌性效力较低的雌酮,再由雌酮转化为其他的转化产物,如17α-雌二醇;Fe(Ⅲ)对17β-雌二醇的去除和转化没有显著的影响。接种污泥的内源代谢作用产生甲烷,Fe(Ⅲ)的存在可以提高甲烷的产率,但对甲烷的总量没有显著影响。     

雌激素污染对水体微生物产甲烷功能的影响

针对目前水体环境雌激素的污染形势严峻,且其对水体功能性微生物群落影响规律及机理不明等问题,选择典型天然雌激素——17β-雌二醇(E2)为主要研究对象,构建实验室厌氧水体微生态系统,分析E2污染对厌氧水体微生物活性和产甲烷功能的影响规律。结果表明,在厌氧条件下,E2污染对水体微生物群体的活性存在显著的抑制效应,对水体甲烷的产生速率亦存在规律性的影响。当水体E2浓度≤0.5 ng/L时,对水体微生物的产甲烷活性存在促进作用。当E2浓度≥1.0 ng/L时,E2污染对水体微生物的产甲烷活性存在明显的抑制效应,且随着E2浓度的升高抑制作用增强。因此,厌氧条件下,微量E2污染会影响水体微生物活性和产甲烷效应的变化,从而对水体自净功能和甲烷释放产生影响。     

雌激素污染对水体微生物反硝化作用的影响

针对世界各国水体雌激素污染日趋严重的环境问题,文章选择典型天然环境雌激素——17β-雌二醇(E2)为污染源,构建实验室厌氧水体微生态系统,分析E2污染对水体微生物反硝化速率、反硝化终端产物比例和厌氧微生物活性的影响规律。结果表明,E2污染对水体微生物的反硝化速率和活性存在显著性显著抑制作用,但反硝化终产物中N2O的比例得到明显促进。因此,在厌氧条件下,微量E2污染会影响厌氧微生物活性和反硝化作用,对水体的氮素循环产生影响。     

未来10大高风险高回报的新技术

世界经济论坛全球事务理事会发布了一份关于信息技术的新报告,其中提到了10项有可能对全社会造成重大影响的新技术。这10项新技术涵盖了科学、医学、能源、制造、交通和电子等众多领域,理事会的报告简要说明了那些新技术将如何影响和改变我们的生活。     

毒性有机物BPA与普通小球藻的相互影响特性研究

考察了不同浓度双酚A(BPA)对普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)生长特性的影响,以及普通小球藻生长过程对BPA的去除效能.研究表明,低浓度BPA(0~20 mg·L-1)对普通小球藻生长具有促进作用,而高浓度BPA(20~50 mg·L-1)对普通小球藻生长具有抑制作用,且抑制效应与BPA浓度呈正相关关系.低剂量BPA(<20 mg·L-1)对叶绿素含量并无明显的影响,高剂量BPA(>20 mg·L-1)造成叶绿素含量降低.在BPA初始浓度2~50 mg·L-1的范围内,普通小球藻对其都有一定的去除效能,单位普通小球藻对BPA去除速率与其初始浓度呈正相关关系.BPA投加量为50 mg·L-1时,BPA去除速率最大,且最大速率出现于延滞期与对数期之间.     

城市污泥中温厌氧消化过程中厌氧耐药菌的分布与去除研究

城市污泥中含有大量的耐药菌,具有向环境传播耐药菌与抗性基因的潜在危险,但目前缺乏对城市污泥厌氧消化过程中耐药菌的研究.为此对某城市污水处理厂卵形消化池污泥进行了为期1 a的调查研究,考察了中温厌氧消化过程中四环素类与β-内酰胺类抗生素厌氧耐药菌的污染特征与去除效果,并分析了耐药菌的季节性变化规律.结果表明,厌氧进泥中四环素类耐药菌浓度与耐药率均低于β-内酰胺类.中温厌氧消化过程可以去除1.48~1.64 log单位的耐药菌(P<0.05),但经过厌氧消化后氨苄西林与头孢噻吩耐药率有显著增长(分别增加了12.0%与14.3%,P<0.05).厌氧进泥中耐药菌分布有明显的季节特征,除金霉素耐药菌外,其它耐药菌的浓度均为寒冷季显著高于温暖季(P<0.05).     

垃圾渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)细胞毒性分析

垃圾渗滤液的人类健康风险评估日益受到人们重视,也成为研究热点。本文采用一种新型高级氧化技术UV-Fenton处理渗滤液,并用人体乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7)评估处理过程中渗滤液原液以及渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)的细胞毒性,对垃圾渗滤液中EDCs的细胞毒性和变化规律进行了研究。结果表明渗滤液中的邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、双酚A(BPA)、壬基酚(NP)是产生细胞毒性的主要物质,其毒性大小为DBPBPANP。在同样的氧化降解过程中显示出不同毒性变化规律,通过GC-MS分析,结果显示UV-Fenton过程中产生了大量的中间产物,这也是引起毒性变化的主要原因。实验结果也说明垃圾渗滤液细胞毒性可以通过UV-Fenton过程有效去除。