Accumulation of mercury and its effect on antioxidant enzymes in brain,liver, and kidneys of mice

Abstract

The effect of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on the activities of catalase, Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and its effect on glutathione (GSH) content were evaluated in different organs (liver, kidneys, and brain) of mice after administration at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/day for 14 days. The uptake of mercury shows that the kidneys accumulated the highest levels of mercury compare to brain and liver. The enzyme levels varied in mercury treated organs compare to control. A dose dependent increase of antioxidant enzymes occurred in the liver and kidneys. The increase in enzyme activities correlated with highest mercury accumulation in the kidneys and liver. Mercury is known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo and in vitro, therefore, it is likely that enzyme activities increased to scavenge ROS levels produced as a result of mercury accumulation. Glutathione content increased in liver and kidneys of mercury treated mice compare to control. The results showed that the highest oral dose of mercury significantly increased antioxidant enzymes in kidneys and liver. The increased antioxidant enzymes enhance the antioxidant potential of the organs to reduce oxidative stress.     

Impact of genetic diversity and inbreeding on the life-history of Chironomus midges over consecutive generations

We report results of a multigenerational experiment with Chironomus riparius. Two strains with a high and a low level of genetic variability were exposed to a low, environmentally relevant TBT concentration of 80 μg Sn kg⁻¹ sediment dw nominally (time weighted mean, based on measured concentrations: 4.5 μg Sn kg⁻¹ sediment dw), and various life history traits as well as genetic diversity were monitored for eleven consecutive generations. While TBT effects are hardly visible in the outbred and genetically diverse strain, the inbred and genetically impoverished strain shows a clearly reduced population growth rate compared to the control. Moreover, the impoverished strain shows an increase in fitness over time. Analyses of variation at five microsatellite loci revealed that the level of genetic variation is strongly reduced in the inbred compared to the outbred strain. Moreover, genetic diversity increases over time in the inbred strain. This finding explains the observed increase in fitness in both inbred lineages (control and TBT exposed). The results document that inbreeding and the level of genetic diversity might be of crucial importance in populations under pollution stress. Furthermore, ecotoxicological bioassays have to consider genetic diversity if results between laboratories should be comparable. Our data provides evidence that genetic diversity strongly contributes to the survival of a population exposed to chemical pollution.     

Influence of arsenic stress on synthesis and localization of low-molecular-weight thiols in Pteris vittata

The roles of low-molecular-weight thiols (LMWTs), such as glutathione and phytochelatins, in arsenic (As) tolerance and hyperaccumulation in Pteris vittata an As-hyperaccumulator fern remain to be better understood. This study aimed to thoroughly characterize LMWT synthesis in P. vittata to understand the roles played by LMWTs in As tolerance and hyperaccumulation. LMWT synthesis in P. vittata was induced directly by As, and not by As-mediated oxidative stress. Expression of PvECS2, one of the putative genes of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γECS), increases in P. vittata shoots at 48 h after the onset of As exposure, almost corresponding to the increase in the concentrations of γ-glutamylcysteine and glutathione. Furthermore, localization of As showed similar trends to those of LMWTs in fronds at both whole-frond and cellular levels. This study thus indicates the specific contribution of LMWTs to As tolerance in P. vittata. γECS may be responsible for the As-induced enhancement of LMWT synthesis.     

环境污染物导致氧化应激的关键信号通路及其检测方法

环境污染物能够以多种途径进入生物体内,在体内产生含氧自由基等活性氧物质,并通过多种信号通路及酶反应引起氧化应激,造成生物体内的脂质过氧化、蛋白质损伤、DNA表达改变、酶失活等,从而引发心血管疾病、风湿类疾病、感染及癌症等的发生。本文对环境污染物致氧化应激产生的原因、涉及的信号通路及酶反应、造成的危害,以及常见的基于细胞模型的氧化应激检测方法进行了综述,期望为评价环境污染物和检测氧化损伤提供参考。     

钙对李氏禾富集和耐受铬的调控作用

通过水培实验，研究钙对铬胁迫下李氏禾幼苗生理生化、草酸分泌及铬吸收量的影响，考察钙对李氏禾体内草酸合成的调控，进而促进李氏禾的铬耐性富集能力的作用。结果显示，不同浓度Cr³⁺胁迫下缺钙处理，李氏禾生长受抑制及质膜过氧化作用加剧，体内总草酸含量为对照处理的113%~169%，且主要表现为水溶性草酸含量显著高于对照，水溶性草酸含量为对照处理的135%~197%；高钙处理，李氏禾细胞膜透性、丙二醛（MDA）含量低于对照，李氏禾叶部总草酸含量为对照处理的125%~155%，且主要表现为不溶性草酸含量显著高于对照，其含量为对照处理的181%~270%。低浓度（0.2、0.4 mmol/L）铬胁迫下，高钙处理总铬含量分别为对照处理的175%和215%，高浓度（0.8、1.0 mmol/L）铬胁迫下，总铬含量与对照处理无显著差异（P>0.05）。可见，添加Ca²⁺能在一定Cr³⁺浓度胁迫下，有效缓解铬对李氏禾的毒害，且能通过提高植物体内不溶性草酸含量达到促进植物富集和耐受铬的能力。     

基于生态安全的DAT-IAT城市污水处理工艺改进研究

通过正交试验，得到了DAT-IAT工艺和A/DAT-IAT工艺处理城市污水的常规指标去除和生态毒理指标削减的最优运行条件。结果表明，在正交试验的同一工艺中，COD去除最优运行条件的出水COD值优于生态毒性削减最优运行条件的出水COD值，但前者出水的生态毒性较大。由于厌氧池的水解酸化作用，A/DAT-IAT工艺对COD和生态毒性的处理效果均优于DAT-IAT工艺，并且回流总能耗低于DAT-IAT工艺，但是出水COD仍不达标。为了降低进入工艺的COD的总量，以絮凝沉淀做为预处理工艺，并采用Al残留量最小的絮凝剂投药量以降低出水中残留Al带来的生态风险。结果表明，在COD去除最优运行条件下，具有絮凝预处理的工艺对COD的去除效果优于没有絮凝预处理的工艺。絮凝-A/DAT-IAT工艺在COD去除最优运行条件下出水COD为104.46 mg/L，满足排放标准。在毒性削减最优运行条件下，具有絮凝预处理的工艺的出水生态毒性有所上升，但是污染物的总量得到了大幅削减。絮凝-A/DAT-IAT工艺与DAT-IAT工艺相比，在污染物去除效率得到大幅增加的同时，生态毒性得到有效控制，生态安全得到了有效的保障。     

零价铁类Fenton试剂氧化降解废水中有机污染物的研究进展

综述了近年来国内外Fe0类Fenton试剂氧化反应降解废水中有机污染物的研究现状，介绍了Fe0-H2O2体系、紫外光-Fe0-H2O2体系和可见光-Fe0-H2O2体系处理有机污染物的机理、特点和效果，并对未来Fe0类Fenton试剂氧化反应体系处理有机污染物的发展前景进行了展望。     

Environmental Exposure of Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota to Triclosan and Triclocarban1

Abstract: The synthetic biocides triclosan (5‐chloro‐2‐(2,4‐dichlorophenoxy)phenol) and triclocarban (3,4,4′‐trichlorocarbanilide) are routinely added to a wide array of antimicrobial personal care products and consumer articles. Both compounds can persist in the environment and exhibit toxicity toward a number of biological receptors. Recent reports of toxicological effects in wildlife, human cell cultures, and laboratory animals have heightened the interest in the occurrence of these biocide and related toxic effects. The present study aimed to summarize published environmental concentrations of biocides and contrast them with toxicity threshold values of susceptible organisms. Environmental occurrences and toxicity threshold values span more than six orders of magnitude in concentration. The highest biocide levels, measured in the mid parts‐per‐million range, were determined to occur in aquatic sediments and in municipal biosolids destined for land application. Crustacea and algae were identified as the most sensitive species, susceptible to adverse effects from biocide exposures in the parts‐per‐trillion range. An overlap of environmental concentrations and toxicity threshold values was noted for these more sensitive organisms, suggesting potential adverse ecological effects in aquatic environments. Affirmative evidence for this is lacking, however, since studies examining environmental occurrences of biocides vis‐à‐vis the health and diversity of aquatic species have not yet been conducted.     

Short-term exposure of the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax to copper-based antifouling treated nets: Copper bioavailability and biomarkers responses

We studied if the levels of copper released from antifouling treated nets used in finfish mariculture could affect the immune defense mechanism and/or induce oxidative stress in Dicentrarchus labrax, after short term exposure in laboratory experiments. Dissolved copper concentration released from the treated nets, copper bioavailability and a set of biomarkers responses were measured. Biomarkers included hemoglobin concentration, activities of lysozyme, total complement, respiratory burst, glutathione S-transferase and acetycholinesterase and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Results indicated elevated copper concentration in seawater (184 μg L⁻¹) but low concentration in muscle (1.5 μg g⁻¹) and liver (117 μg g⁻¹). Copper bioavailability was independent of copper complexes with dissolved organic carbon. However, formation of copper complexes with other matrices could neither be excluded nor justified. The released copper from the treated nets did not induce oxidative stress but affected the immediate immune defense mechanism of the exposed fish making them more easily vulnerable to diseases. Consequently, copper-based antifouling treated nets could be a risk factor for D. labrax health.     

基于模糊层次分析法的应急能力评估方法探讨

对危险行业的安全生产事故应急能力进行安全评估，可以持续改进应急管理工作，提高事故应急能力的总体水平。作为综合性的安全评估方法，层次分析法在安全研究的多个领域中得到了应用。通过介绍安全生产事故应急管理能力及其评估要求，分析国内外应急能力评估的现状，提出了应急能力评估体系建立的总体思路。论述了事故应急能力评估指标集的建立方法和基于模糊层次综合评价法的评估模型构建方案，初步建立起事故应急管理能力评估方法。