Effects of natural and chemical stressors on Enchytraeus albidus: Can oxidative stress parameters be used as fast screening tools for the assessment of different stress impacts in soils?

Enchytraeids are important organisms of the soil biocenosis. They improve the soil pore structure and the degradation of organic matter. These organisms are used in standardized testing, using survival and reproduction (6 weeks) as endpoints. The use of biomarkers, linked to ecologically relevant alterations at higher levels of biological organization, is a promising tool for Environmental Risk Assessment. Here, enchytraeids were exposed for different time periods (two days and three weeks) to different soils (OECD artificial soil, different compositions in its organic matter, clay or pH value, and LUFA 2.2 natural soil) and different chemicals (Phenmedipham and copper). The main question addressed in the present study was if the effects of chemicals and different soil properties are preceded by alterations at the sub-cellular level, and if these endpoints may be used reliantly as faster screening tools for the assessment of different stress conditions in soils. The parameters measured in E. albidus whole body were: lipid peroxidation (LPO), total glutathione (TG), as well as the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The results showed that biomarker responses in E. albidus were significantly affected by the soil type (GST, CAT, GPx, GR and LPO) and the duration of exposure in OECD artificial soil (GST, GPx, GR, CAT and LPO) but not in LUFA 2.2 natural soil. For the abiotic factors studied, after 2 days, low pH decreased significantly the TG levels and the activities of CAT and GR,and low OM also significantly decreased CAT and GR activities. After 3 weeks, differences in soil properties caused a decrease in GR and GPx activities, whereas increased GST activity was observed due to low organic matter and pH. Copper significantly increased the activities of CAT, GPx and GR, and decreased the activity of GST after 2 days as well as inscreasing LPO levels after 3 weeks. Phenmedipham increased LPO levels, associated with increased levels of TG as well as increased activities of CAT and GPx and decreased GST activity after 3 weeks exposure. This study shows that both abiotic and chemical stresses could be followed through biomarker analysis and that some of these determinations are potential endpoints in a quick soil contamination assessment procedure.     

Workplace and organisational factors in accident analysis within the Food Industry

This paper focuses on the causes of accidents at work in the Food Industry Sector and it covers both immediate and systemic causation factors, using data collected in Portugal. In the first part, accident data is analysed by looking at harmonised variables within the Eurostat recording system, allowing a portrait of the accidents occurred and their immediate causes. To complement the study, a second part was designed to deepen the insight into underlying factors, as well as the relevant organisational conditions; this complementary part comprised an in-depth analysis of 30 accidents, carried out in the field by visiting several enterprises of the sector and conducting interviews with the injured people and their managers. For eliciting and analysing this information, the WAIT method was applied together with its classification schemes. The results are presented and discussed, showing the usefulness of certain new Eurostat variables, such as the deviation and the contact. However, they also demonstrate that the current variables are not yet sufficient to clarify accident mechanisms on which to build up knowledge and develop better prevention strategies. The authors argue for the need of more detailed information and propose an additional variable, associated with the deviation, aimed at promoting the inclusion of specific underlying factors within the local workplace environment.     

Lactate dehydrogenase activity as an effect criterion in toxicity tests with Daphnia magna straus.

Activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was used as an effect criterion in toxicity tests with Daphnia magna. In the first part of the work, the conditions for the use of LDH activity in toxicity tests with juveniles and adults of D. magna, were optimized. The influence of parameters such as the number of animals per sample, nutritional status, age and the presence of eggs in the brood chamber were investigated. In the second part of the study, both in vivo and in vitro tests based on the alteration of LDH activity of D. magna were developed and tested using zinc chloride as test substance. The results obtained indicate that LDH activity of D. magna may be used as an indicative parameter in aquatic toxicity tests.     

Inhibition of Alternaria stem canker on tomato by essential oils from Baccharis species

Abstract

The toxicity of four essential oils extracted from Baccharis articulata, Baccharis ochracea, Baccharis psiadioides and Baccharis trimera was tested against the phytopathogen Alternaria alternata, which causes Alternaria stem canker on tomatoes. Diseases caused by Alternaria fungi are responsible for great economic losses in terms of production and are controlled by synthetic fungicides; however, essential oils offer an alternative, since they have been proven to be effective for controlling against various plant pathogens. In this way, the antifungal activity of Baccharis essential oils was tested using potato dextrose agar medium with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 20.0?µL mL^?1. Baccharis trimera and Baccharis ochracea essential oils presented 100% mycelial growth inhibition of A. alternata and were also able to control Alternaria stem canker disease under greenhouse conditions. Tomato plants treated with these essential oils exhibited area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values of 230.10 and 241.42, differing from the control condition, which showed an AUDPC value of 268.92. The essential oils of B. trimera and B. ochracea can be an alternative for controlling Alternaria stem canker disease of tomatoes and should be formulated as a potential fungicide against the A. alternata pathogen.     

The use of a lacertid lizard as a model for reptile ecotoxicology studies--part 1 field demographics and morphology

At the European level, lacertid lizards have been proposed as potential model species for reptile ecotoxicology. We studied demographic and morphological aspects of natural field subpopulations of Podarcis bocagei inhabiting similar agricultural habitats which were either regularly exposed to pesticides, or not. Parameters examined in this study included population size and density, sex ratio, adult body size, fluctuating asymmetry in femoral pores and parasite prevalence. In general, we detected few statistically significant differences between the exposed and reference subpopulations. Although field situations are ecologically complex and factors other than pesticides may be acting, the absence of observable effects on field subpopulations is probably indicative that lizards are coping or compensating for this level of exposure.     

Synergistic effects caused by atrazine and terbuthylazine on chlorpyrifos toxicity to early-life stages of the zebrafish Danio rerio

This study examined the effects of three widely used pesticides that have been previously detected in aquatic systems neighbouring agricultural fields on the early-life stages of the zebrafish Danio rerio. Tests involving single exposures and binary combinations of the s-triazine herbicides (atrazine and terbuthylazine) and the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos were performed. Several endpoints, such as swimming behaviour, morphological abnormalities and mortality, were studied. In addition, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was investigated in order to evaluate the mode of action and toxicity of chlorpyrifos in the presence of these herbicides. Results indicate that both binary mixtures elicited synergistic responses on the swimming behaviour of zebrafish larvae. Moreover, although the herbicides were not effective inhibitors of the AChE on their own, a synergistic inhibition of the enzyme activity was obtained by exposure to mixtures with chlorpyrifos. We observed a correlation between impairment of swimming behaviour of the larvae and inhibition of AChE activity. This study supports previous studies concerning the risk assessment of mixtures since the toxicity may be underestimated when looking only at the single toxicants and not their mixtures.     

Energy budget in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia magna</Emphasis> exposed to natural stressors

Background, aim, and scope  

Climate changes are nowadays an important issue of concern, and it is expected that in the near future it will be intensified, leading to extreme environmental conditions. These changes are expected to originate additional sources of stress; therefore, the exposure of organisms to natural stressors is receiving an increased importance in risk assessment. Organisms tend to avoid extremely environmental conditions looking for optimum conditions. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of natural stressors on the energetic reserves of Daphnia magna using the quantification of lipids, proteins, and sugars.     

Trends in anecdotal fox sightings in Tasmania accounted for by psychological factors

There has been little evaluation of anecdotal sightings as a means to confirm new incursions of invasive species. This paper explores the potential for equivocal information communicated by the media to account for patterns of anecdotal reports. In 2001, it was widely reported that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) had been deliberately released in the island state of Tasmania (Australia), although this claim was later revealed to be baseless. Regardless, by 2013 a total of 3153 anecdotal fox sightings had been reported by members of the public, which implied their distribution was wide. For each month in 2001–2003, we defined a monthly media index (MMI) of fox‐related media coverage, an index of their relative seasonal abundance (abundance), and a factor denoting claims of fox evidence (claimed evidence) regardless of its evidentiary quality. We fitted a generalized linear model with Poisson error for monthly totals of anecdotal sightings with factors of year and claimed evidence and covariates of MMI, abundance, and hours of darkness. The collective effect of psychological factors (MMI, claimed evidence, and year) relative to biophysical factors (photoperiod and abundance) was highly significant (χ² = 122.1, df = 6, p < 0.0001), whereas anticipated changes in abundance had no significant influence on reported sightings (p = 0.15). An annual index of fox media from 2001 to 2010 was strongly associated with the yearly tally of anecdotal sightings (p = 0.018). The odds ratio of sightings ranked as reliable by the fox eradication program in any year decreased exponentially at a rate of 0.00643 as the total number of sightings increased (p < 0.0001) and was indicative of an observer‐expectancy bias. Our results suggest anecdotal sightings are highly susceptible to cognitive biases and when used to qualify and quantify species presence can contribute to flawed risk assessments.     

Environmental monitoring of water resources around a municipal landfill of the Rio Grande do Sul state,Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In Brazil, landfills are commonly used as a method for the final disposal of waste that is compliant with the legislation. This technique, however,...