Evaluation of mitogen-induced responses in marine mammal and human lymphocytes by in-vitro exposure of butyltins and non-ortho coplanar PCBs

The effects of exposure to butyltin compounds (BTs: tributyltin; TBT, dibutyltin; DBT and monobutyltin; MBT) and non-ortho coplanar PCBs (IUPAC 77, 126 and 169) on marine mammals and human lymphocyte were evaluated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), a California sealion (Zalophus californianus), a larga seal (Phocoa largha) and humans (Homo sapiens) were exposed at varying concentrations of BTs and coplanar PCBs. Concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated mitogenesis found significantly suppressed (P<0.01) when the cells were exposed at 300 nM (89 ng/ml) of TBT and 330 nM of DBT (77 ng/ml), while MBT showed little cytotoxicity at treatment levels of up to 3,600 nM (620 ng/ml). BTs concentrations in the liver of Dall's porpoises from Japanese coastal waters ranged between 81-450 ng/g for TBT and 200-1,100 ng/g (wet wt.) for DBTs, which is greater than the cytotoxic levels registered in this study. In contrast, non-ortho coplanar PCBs did not suppress cell proliferation at concentrations of up to 30 nM (10 ng/ml). The residue levels of coplanar PCBs in the blubber of Dall's porpoises were 0.12-1.3 ng/g, which were one order of lower than those levels that do cell proliferation. When cells were exposed to a mixture of TBT/DBTand coplanar PCBs, the proliferation was significantly reduced to 33 nM DBT plus 34 nM CB-77 and 33 nM DBT plus 28 nM CB-169 mixtures, respectively. The investigations relating the contaminant-induced immunosuppression in marine mammals have been focused on persistent organochlorines such as PCBs. pesticides and dioxin compounds. However, this study suggested the possibility of BTs could also pose a serious threat to the immune functions in free-ranging marine mammals and humans.     

Immobilization of B,F, Cr,and As in alkaline coal fly ash through an aging process with water

Fourteen different alkaline coal fly ashes (CFAs) were used for the experiment, in which each sample was mixed with water to be 28.6 % of water content (wt/wt) and aged for 1–4 weeks at 10–30 °C. This simple treatment is advantageous for decreases in water-soluble B, F, Cr, and As. Compared to non-aged CFAs, their water-soluble fractions remained 0.56–88 %, 21–85 %, 0.37–93 % and 2.6–88 %, respectively, after aging for a week at 20 °C, although the amounts of Cr and As released from some CFA samples increased. Considering the significant decrease in elution of sulfate, Ca and Al after aging, the immobilization, namely prevention of toxic element elution, could be related to formation of secondary minerals such as portlandite, gypsum and ettringite. Immobilization of B and Cr tends to proceed preferentially under colder conditions. Aging at higher temperatures enhances the leachability of Cr in some CFA samples. Contrary to the behavior of B and Cr, water-soluble F effectively decreases under warmer conditions.     

17α-Ethinylestradiol in Lakes of Hanoi and its effect on seed germination

Abstract

The lakes of Hanoi are important water resources for urban agriculture. The concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol in the water of three major lakes were found to range from 0.1 to 9.1?ng/L, peaking during the rainy season. Effects at levels from 1?ng/L to 1?µg/L on the germination of mung bean (Vigna radiata) and bok choy (Brassica rapa) were studied. Soaking the seeds in solutions containing 17α-ethinylestradiol at 10?ng/L and higher increased the germination rate of mung bean but not of bok choy. For the latter, irrigation after sowing with solutions containing 17α-ethinylestradiol at 10?ng/L and higher accelerated germination.

Abbreviations: MNRE: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; PE₆₀: Population equivalent; USGS: U.S. Geological Survey; SPE: Solid phase extraction; EDTA: Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate; HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; DOM: Dissolved organic matter; EEQ: Estradiol equivalent     

Biodegradation of endosulfan by Mortieralla sp. strain W8 in soil: Influence of different substrates on biodegradation

To examine the bioremediation potential of Mortierella sp. strain W8 in endosulfan contaminated soil, the fungus was inoculated into sterilized and unsterilized soil spiked with endosulfan. Wheat bran and cane molasses were used as substrates to understand the influence of different organic materials on the degradation of endosulfan in soil. Strain W8 degraded α- and β-endosulfan in both sterilized and unsterilized soil. In unsterilized soil with wheat bran+W8, α- and β- endosulfan were degraded by approximately 80% and 50%, respectively after 28 d incubation against the initial endosulfan concentration (3 mg kg(-1) dw). The corresponding values for α- and β-endosulfan degradation with wheat bran only were 50% and 3%. Endosulfan diol metabolite was detected after 14 d incubation in wheat bran+W8 whereas it was not found with wheat bran only. Production of endosulfan sulfate, the main metabolite of endosulfan, was suppressed with wheat bran+W8 treatment compared with wheat bran only. It was demonstrated that wheat bran is a more suitable substrate for strain W8 than cane molasses. Wheat bran+W8 is a superior fungus and substrate mix for bioremediation in soil contaminated with endosulfan.     

Removal of estrogens by electrochemical oxidation process

Treatments of estrogens such as Estrone(E1), Estradiol(E2) and Ethinylestradiol(EE2) were conducted using an electrolytic reactor equipped with multi-packed granular glassy carbon electrodes.Experimental results showed that E1, E2 and EE2 were oxidized in the range of 0.45–0.85 V and were removed through electro-polymerization. Observed data from continuous experiments were in good agreement with calculated results by a mathematical model constructed based on mass transfer limitation. In continuous treatment of trace estrogens(1 μg/L), 98% of E1, E2 and EE2 were stably removed. At high loading rate(100 μg/L), removal efficiency of E1 was kept around 74%–88% for21 days, but removal efficiency reduced due to passivation of electrodes. However, removal efficiency was recovered after electrochemical regeneration of electrodes in presence of ozone. Electric energy consumption was observed in the range of 1–2 Wh/m3. From these results, we concluded that the present electrochemical process would be an alternative removal of estrogens.