Acute and chronic ecotoxicity of carbaryl with a battery of aquatic bioassays

The ecotoxic effects of carbaryl (carbamate insecticide) were investigated with a battery of four aquatic bioassays. The nominal effective concentrations immobilizing 50% of Daphnia magna (EC50) after 24 and 48 h were 12.76 and 7.47 µg L^?1, respectively. After 21 days of exposure of D. magna, LOECs (lowest observed effect concentrations) for cumulative molts and the number of neonates per surviving adult were observed at carbaryl concentration of 0.4 µg L^?1. An increase of embryo deformities (curved or unextended shell spines) was observed at 1.8 and 3.7 µg L^?1, revealing that carbaryl could act as an endocrine disruptor in D. magna. Other bioassays of the tested battery were less sensitive: the IC50-72h and IC10-72h of the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata were 5.96 and 2.87 mg L^?1, respectively. The LC50-6d of the ostracod Heterocypris incongruens was 4.84 mg L^?1. A growth inhibition of H. incongruens was registered after carbaryl exposure and the IC20-6d was 1.29 mg L^?1. Our results suggest that the daphnid test sensitivity was better than other used tests. Moreover, carbaryl has harmful and toxic effects on tested species because it acts at low concentrations on diverse life history traits of species and induce embryo deformities in crustaceans.     

Diazinon Fate and Toxicity in the Tajan River (Iran) Ecosystem

Abstract This study surveyed the behavior of diazinon pesticide in the water column of the Tajan River and its potential effects on river biota. The Tajan River is located on the southern basin of the Caspian Sea in Iran and diazinon enters the river from rice fields almost every year between the months of June and October. The sampling plan of flowing water was plotted in a 3-week period on five sites along the river and also at the end of tributaries. Samples were collected seven times during a 6-month period; they were analyzed for diazinon residues and some physicochemical characteristics. Total diazinon concentration range was between 0.01 and 46.99?μg/L in sampling stations. The calibrated AQUATOX model was applied to simulate fate processes and ecotoxicity of diazinon in the Tajan River. The model demonstrated that the diazinon residues in the Tajan River reacted to three major degradation processes (microbial, hydrolysis, and photolysis) and sedimentation; however, the river discharge played the m...     

聚丁二酸丁二醇酯（PBS）生物降解过程对植物生长的影响评价

通过苏丹草（Sorghum sudanense Stapf）、籽粒笕（Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.）、豇豆（Vigna sesquipedalis Wight）种子的发芽试验及其盆栽试验,考察了PBS在土壤浸提液中的生物降解性能,探讨了PBS高聚物、低聚物和合成单体对植物的发芽和生长影响。研究结果表明：①在土壤浸提液中微生物对PBS有一定的降解作用,且在降解过程中,降解液的pH变化不明显;②PBS高聚物的降解产物对植物生长没有影响;③P BS低聚物在降解初期抑制部分植物的幼苗生长,后期对植物的生长没有影响;④当丁二酸的质量浓度低于200 mg.L^-1时,对植物种子的发芽和幼苗生长不会产生影响,当质量浓度高于500 mg.L^-1时,将抑制幼苗生长;当1,4-丁二醇的质量浓度低于2 000 mg.L-1时,对种子的发芽和生长没有影响。     

Multimedia fate modeling and comparative impact on freshwater ecosystems of pharmaceuticals from biosolids-amended soils

This study modeled the impact on freshwater ecosystems of pharmaceuticals detected in biosolids following application on agricultural soils. The detected sulfonamides and hydrochlorothiazide displayed comparatively moderate retention in solid matrices and, therefore, higher transfer fractions from biosolids to the freshwater compartment. However, the residence times of these pharmaceuticals in freshwater were estimated to be short due to abiotic degradation processes. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory mefenamic acid had the highest environmental impact on aquatic ecosystems and warrants further investigation. The estimation of the solid-water partitioning coefficient was generally the most influential parameter of the probabilistic comparative impact assessment. These results and the modeling approach used in this study serve to prioritize pharmaceuticals in the research effort to assess the risks and the environmental impacts on aquatic biota of these emerging pollutants.     

人工合成麝香对小麦种子发芽的生态毒性

采用土培实验,研究了佳乐麝香(HHCB)和吐纳麝香(AHTN)对小麦种子发芽的生态毒性,测定了这2种人工合成麝香对小麦种子发芽率、根伸长抑制率和芽伸长抑制率的影响.结果表明,小麦种子的发芽率与这2种人工合成麝香浓度之间剂量-效应关系不明显,低剂量条件下(佳乐麝香≤150 mg·kg-1,吐纳麝香≤200 mg·kg-1...     

水稻重金属生态毒性诊断研究进展

从植物生态毒理学的角度,结合国内外研究成果,阐述了单一重金属和复合重金属在水稻中的生态毒性诊断研究进展,提出今后可以考虑追踪重金属在水稻中的运动规律,探讨复合污染对水稻的生态毒性.     

持久性有机污染物(POPs)及其生态毒性的研究现状与展望

持久性有机污染物(POPs)是一类具有持久性、易于生物富集、对人和生物具有毒性的有机污染物质。POPs已成为全球关注的热点问题，它们对人和生物具有免疫毒性、内分泌毒性、生殖发育影响、致癌性以及其它一些毒性效应。因此应加强POPs生态毒性的研究。     

Implications of geographic variability on Comparative Toxicity Potentials of Cu, Ni and Zn in freshwaters of Canadian ecoregions

Current methods of estimating potential environmental impacts of metals in hazard and Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) do not consider differences in chemistry and landscape properties between geographic sites. Here, we developed and applied a model for regional aquatic impact characterization of metals using an updated method for estimating environmental fate factor (FF), bioavailability factor (BF) and aquatic ecotoxicity factor (EF). We applied the model to analyze differences in Comparative Toxicity Potentials (CTPs) of Cu, Ni and Zn for 24 Canadian ecoregions. The combined impacts of regional variability in ambient chemistry (in particular DOC, pH and hardness) and landscape properties (water residence time) can change the CTPs of these metals for freshwater by up to three orders of magnitude and change the relative ranking of metal hazard between ecoregions. Variation among Canadian freshwater chemistries and landscape characteristics influence the FFs within two orders of magnitude, BFs within two orders of magnitude for Ni and Zn and four orders of magnitude for Cu, and EFs within one order of magnitude. Sensitivity of metal FFs to environmental parameters alone spans three orders of magnitude when a constant water chemistry was used for all ecoregions. These results indicate that application of regionalised metal CTPs can have a significant influence in the analysis of ecotoxicological impacts in the life cycle assessment of products and processes.     

Ecotoxic Effect of Photocatalytic Active Nanoparticles (TiO2) on Algae and Daphnids (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Due to their large potential for manifold applications, the use of nanoparticles is of increasing importance. As large amounts of nanoparticles may reach the environment voluntarily or by accident, attention should be paid on the potential impacts on the environment. First studies on potential environmental effects of photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles have been performed on the basis of widely accepted, standardized test systems which originally had been developed for the characterization of chemicals. The methods were adapted to the special requirements of testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: Suspensions of two different nanoparticles were illuminated to induce their photocatalytic activity. For testing, the growth inhibition test with the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus and the immobilization test with the daphnid Daphnia magna were selected and performed following the relevant guidelines (algae: ISO 8692, OECD 201, DIN 38412-33; daphnids: ISO 6341, OECD 202, DIN 38412-30). The guidelines were adapted to meet the special requirements for testing photocatalytic nanoparticles. Results: The results indicate that it is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles. It was shown that nanoparticles may have ecotoxicological effects which depend on the nature of the particles. Both products tested differ in their toxicity. Product 1 shows a clear concentration-effect curve in the test with algae (EC50: 44 mg/L). It could be proven that the observed toxicity was not caused by accompanying contaminants, since the toxic effect was comparable for the cleaned and the commercially available product. For product 2, no toxic effects were determined (maximum concentration: 50 mg/L). In the tests with daphnids, toxicity was observed for both products, although the concentration effect-curves were less pronounced. The two products differed in their toxicity; moreover, there was a difference in the toxicity of illuminated and non-illuminated products. Discussion: Both products differ in size and crystalline form, so that these parameters are assumed to contribute to the different toxicities. The concentration-effect curves for daphnids, which are less-pronounced than the curves obtained for algae, may be due to the different test organisms and/or the differing test designs. The increased toxicity of pre-illuminated particles in the tests with daphnids demonstrates that the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a period of time. Conclusions: The following conclusions can be drawn from the test results: (I) It is principally possible to determine the ecotoxicity of (photocatalytic) nanoparticles. Therefore, they can be assessed using methods comparable to the procedures applied for assessing soluble chemicals. - (II) Nanoparticles may exert ecotoxicological effects, which depend on the specific nanoparticle. - (III) Comparable to traditional chemicals, the ecotoxicity depends on the test organisms and their physiology. - (IV) The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles lasts for a relevant period of time. Therefore, pre-illumination may be sufficient to detect a photocatalytic activity even by using test organisms which are not suitable for application in the pre-illumination-phase. Recommendations and Perspectives: First results are presented which indicate that the topic 'ecotoxicity and environmental effects of nanoparticles' should not be neglected. In testing photocatalytic nanoparticles, there are still many topics that need clarification or improvement, such as the cause for an observed toxicity, the improvement of the test design, the elaboration of a test battery and an assessment strategy. On the basis of optimized test systems, it will be possible to test nanoparticles systematically. If a potential risk by specific photocatalytic particles is known, a risk-benefit analysis can be performed and, if required, risk reducing measures can be taken.     

佳乐麝香对萝卜种子发芽及DNA损伤的生态毒理影响

由于佳乐麝香(HHCB)被广泛应用于日用化工产品中,被持续不断地释放到环境中,所产生的生态风险已引起越来越多的重视。为探究HHCB的生态毒性效应,在水培条件下考察了不同浓度HHCB对萝卜的表观生长指标(发芽率、根伸长抑制率、芽伸长抑制率)和基于随机引物扩增多态性(RAPD)图谱的根尖DNA损伤状况。研究结果显示:低剂量(≤25 mg·L~(-1))胁迫对萝卜发芽无显著影响(P0.05);高剂量(≥50 mg·L~(-1))胁迫可以显著抑制萝卜发芽率(P0.05)。萝卜的根长和芽长抑制率随HHCB浓度增加而呈上升趋势,且根伸长对HHCB胁迫较芽伸长更敏感,更适宜指示HHCB对植物的生态毒性效应。萝卜根尖基因组DNA的RAPD分析结果表明:大于或等于5 mg·L~(-1)的HHCB即可明显导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随着HHCB浓度的升高,根尖基因组DNA含量呈线性降低,DNA多态率增加,基因组模板稳定性(GTS)减小,遗传相似性变远。这表明较低剂量的HHCB胁迫就能够导致萝卜根尖基因组DNA损伤,且随浓度升高而损伤严重。因此,利用RAPD技术获得的萝卜DNA多态性变化可作为检测HHCB遗传毒性效应的敏感生物标记物,为化学品污染生态毒理早期诊断提供科学依据。