The Influence of Varying Planktonic and Periphytic Algal Biomass On Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Mesocosms

Algal populations, either suspended in the water column (planktonic) or present on the walls of an enclosure (periphytic), develop differently depending upon the physical scale of the system. This study determined whether these variations altered the speciation and therefore exposure of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in estuarine mesocosms. Exposure was defined as the fraction of applied contaminant taken up by plankton after two hours. Using a three phase equilibrium model, the partitioning of a suite of PCBs within variously-sized mesocosms was predicted using laboratory derived distribution coefficients and measured levels of planktonic and periphytic algal biomass. in mesocosms having large wall surface area to volume ratios, sorption of hydrophobic PCBs to periphyton significantly decreased contaminant exposure. However, within the range of planktonic algal biomasses observed in this study, the regulation of PCB exposure was relatively invariant between variously-sized mesocosms. to minimize sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to periphyton and reduce artefacts inherent with this partitioning, we suggest using mesocosms with low wall surface area to volume ratios (less than or equal to 1). in addition, periphytic biomass should be quantified regularly and a three-phase equilibrium approach used to predict the actual exposure concentrations.     

Variation in Population Parameters: Adaptation to Toxic Environmental Factors

Some mechanisms of adaptation of natural populations to toxic environmental factors are discussed. The dandelion and hole-nesting birds are used as examples for demonstrating that an increase in the variation of reproductive parameters upon chemical environmental pollution favors the survival of those individuals in the populations that are better adapted to changes in the climate and other environmental conditions. The increased variation in reproductive parameters may promote the elimination of less fit individuals from populations. The ensuing energy loss is the cost of maintaining the population size in the chemically degraded environment.     

The Effect of Estrogens,River Water,and Treated Wastewater on Vitellogenin Induction of Japanese Medaka1

Abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of estrogens on fish endocrine disruption in river water and treated wastewater. Endogenous estrogen estrone (E1), 17β‐estradiol (E2), river water, and treated wastewater were used for exposure tests on male Japanese medaka. Vitellogenin induction in male medaka was regarded as the endpoint of endocrine disruption. The effective concentrations of E1 and E2 on vitellogenin induction in medaka were evaluated by breeding medaka for 14 days in tanks with various concentrations of E1 or E2. Vitellogenin induction increased with elapse of time during exposure, with higher estrogen concentrations causing greater vitellogenin induction. According to the test results, the lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) of E1 and E2 were estimated to be 31.6 and 5.0 ng/l, respectively; and the E2 equivalent (EEQ) LOEC value of E1 was 5.2 ng‐E2/l, derived by multiplying the relative potency of E1 by that of E2 as estimated in this study. In continuous exposure tests using river water or treated wastewater, the estrogenic activity, an index of total estrogenic potential measured by yeast screen assay and expressed as EEQ, varied widely during the exposure tests, and significant vitellogenin induction was observed after several days of high levels of estrogenic activity in water. Vitellogenin concentration tended to significantly increase if EEQ exceeded the level of 5 ng‐E2/l. The threshold value was substantially the same as the results for E1 and E2 exposure tests of medaka. Consequently, EEQ over 5 ng‐E2/l was revealed to have the potential to cause endocrine disruption of male medaka. As estrogenic activity exceeding 5 ng‐E2/l was observed in some rivers in Japan, total estrogenic potential needs to be further decreased at wastewater treatment plants to prevent fish endocrine disruption.     

纳米材料的水生态毒理学研究进展

纳米材料特殊的理化特性,使它们被广泛地应用到各个生活领域中,但纳米材料给人们生活带来巨大改变的同时,其对水环境引起的负面效应也引起了人们广泛的关注.纳米材料可通过多种途径进入水体,对水生生物产生毒理效应,其生态学影响不可忽视.目前,还很缺乏对纳米材料的水生态毒理学研究,众多不确定的生态安全性问题还有待更深入的研究.总结了国内外现有的相关研究,简要综述了纳米材料的水环境行为、水生态毒理学研究现状,分析了该研究领域的未来需要.     

Single and Joint Effects of Acetochlor and Urea on Earthworm Esisenia Foelide Populations in Phaiozem

Much attention is paid to soil health and environmental safety. Earthworms are an important indicator of soil ecosystem health and safety. Ecological toxicity of acetochlor and excessive urea, in both their single and joint effects, on earthworm Esisenia foelide was thus studied using the soil-culture method. Acetochlor had an enhanced toxicity from low concentration to high concentration. The mortality of earthworms after a 6-day exposure was changed from 0 to 86.7%, and the weight change rate ranged from 7.86 to –30.43%, when the concentration of acetochlor was increased from 164 to 730 mg kg^–1. Urea expressed its positive and beneficial effects on earthworms when its concentration was lower than 500 mg kg^–1. Strongly toxic effects took place when the concentration of urea was higher than 1000 mg kg^–1. The mortality of earthworms exposed to urea reached 100% when its concentration was more than 1500 mg kg^–1. When the concentration of urea was lower than 500 mg kg^–1, there were antagonistic effects between the two agrochemicals on earthworms; when the concentration of urea was higher than 500 mg kg^–1, joint toxic effects of acetochlor and excessive urea on earthworms were synergic. In any case, excessive urea application is very harmful to the health of soil ecosystems.     

锌离子胁迫下溴氰菊酯对麦穗鱼的急性毒性

以麦穗鱼(Pseudorasbora parva)为试验材料,研究了在一定环境条件下锌离子的胁迫对溴氰菊酯急性毒性的影响.结果表明,水温为(28.5±0.5) ℃时,锌离子对麦穗鱼24～96 h 的LC50值为3.2～13.4 mg/L,溴氰菊酯对麦穗鱼24～96 h 的LC50值为7.2～13.4 μg/L;而水温为(15.5±0.5) ℃时,锌离子对麦穗鱼24～96 h 的LC50值为18.0 mg/L以上,溴氰菊酯对麦穗鱼24～96 h的LC50值为5.6～10.0 μg/L.水温的升高将明显地提高锌离子对鱼类的急性毒性,并降低溴氰菊酯对鱼类的急性毒性.研究同时发现,锌离子在酸性水质中对溴氰菊酯的急性毒性有增强的作用,且这种作用效果随着水温和锌离子质量浓度的上升而更为显著.但在中性及碱性水体中的效果不明显.在急性毒性试验96 h后,锌离子在中、酸性水质中的质量浓度比较稳定,在碱性水质中有一部分损失,表明水中重金属的质量浓度变化比较稳定,主要受水质pH值影响,与温度无关.而溴氰菊酯的质量浓度下降明显,高温高pH值条件下的降解幅度尤为显著,说明水中溴氰菊酯的降解主要受水质pH值与温度的影响.研究显示,锌离子在一定条件下可增强溴氰菊酯的毒性作用,必须在实际生产中注意其联合污染效应.     

Risk Assessment and Management of Contamination of Eels (Anguilla Spp.) By Persistent Xenobiotic Organochlorine Compounds

Contaimination of anguillid eels by organochlorine pesticides and PCBs is reviewed using a risk assessment-management approach. Quantitative structure-activity relationships, biomonitoring of body residues and field and laboratory studies demonstrate hazards and risks of persistence; organic carbon binding, sediment transport and sinks; volatility, aerial transport and deposition; hydrophobicity/lipophilicity, bioaccumulation, bioconcentration and dietary biomangification. Risks of acute narcotic toxicity are generally lower than those of chornic effects. Cause-effect relationships and critical loadings are, however, unclear. Critical environmental and body residue levels to protect eels and animal and humans consumption must be formulated and interpreted with caution. Risks for eels at different life-stages and in different habitats are compared with respect to routes of uptake, elimination, bioaccumulation and biomagnification. It is concluded that organochlorine contamination has not been a major cause of recent declines in eel recruitment. the use of eels in biomonitoring and biomarker studies are recommended. Appropriate methodologies and uses in risk assessment and management are discussed.     

Toxic effects of acetochlor and methamidophos on earthworm Eisenia fetida in phaiozem, northeast China

Introduction W ith the increase in types and am ount of pollutants releasing into soil ecosystem s, research on the joint effects of m ore than one pollutant in soil-plant, soil-anim al and soil-m icroorganism system s is increasingly concerned (Zhou and …     

4种石油化工污染物对15种水生动物急性毒性效应

采用１５种试验生物测试了硫氰酸钠、二甲基甲酰胺、乙腈和丙烯腈等４种石油化工废水中常见污染物对水生生物的急性毒性．结果表明,４种石油化合物对１５种水生动物的ρ（ＬＣ５０）［或ρ（ＥＣ５０）］分别为４．２２～１６９１ｍｇ／Ｌ,２４００～２２６１９ｍｇ／Ｌ,４３４６～１６１９４ｍｇ／Ｌ和５．１６～１９．６４ｍｇ／Ｌ,说明丙烯腈为高毒污染物,乙腈和硫氰酸钠为中等毒性的污染物,而二甲基甲酰胺为低毒污染物;８种鱼类对试验污染物的敏感性基本接近,因而常用的毒性试验用鱼（鲢鱼和鲤鱼）可以较好地代表我国主要的淡水鱼类;中华大蟾蜍、黑斑蛙、盐水卤虫、摇蚊幼虫、折叠萝卜螺和霍甫氏水丝蚓等可以用来作为常用水生态毒理学试验生物的补充,以满足对污染物进行某些特殊的水生态毒理学研究和生物监测时的需要．