Earthworm cast production as a new behavioural biomarker for toxicity testing

There is currently a lack of ecotoxicity tests adapted to earthworm species of higher ecological relevance and whose endpoints could be directly related to their ecological role in the soil. We propose a new and relatively simple ecotoxicity test based on the estimation of cast production (CP) by Lumbricus terrestris under laboratory conditions. CP was found to be linearly correlated to earthworm biomass and to be greatly influenced by soil water content. Azinphos-methyl had no effect on CP at all the concentrations tested. Significant decreases were observed at the normal application rate for other pesticides with (imidacloprid, carbaryl, methomyl) or without (ethyl-parathion and chlorpyrifos-ethyl) a clear concentration-effect response. For the highest concentration tested, reduction in CP varied between 35 and 67%. CP is straightforward and rapidly measured and ecologically meaningful. We thus believe it to be of great use as an endpoint in ecotoxicity testing.     

Cytotoxicity and DNA damage of five organophosphorus pesticides mediated by oxidative stress in PC12 cells and protection by vitamin E

Previous studies have demonstrated that pesticides could induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vivo and in vitro, and that oxidative stress may be an important factor involved. However, investigations comparing the capability of different organophosphorous (OP) compounds to induce cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress are limited. Hence, the aim of this paper was to access the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of five OPs or metabolites, Acephate (ACE), Methamidophos (MET), Chloramidophos (CHL), Malathion (MAT) and Malaoxon (MAO), and to clarify the role of oxidative stress, using PC12 cells. The results demonstrated that MET, MAT and MAO caused significant inhibition of cell viability and increased DNA damage in PC12 cells at 40 mg L^?1. MAO was more toxic than the other OPs. ACE, MET, MAT and MAO increased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) at 20 mg L^?1 and 40 mg L^?1 to different degrees. Pre-treatment with vitamin E(600 μM)caused a significant attenuation in the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect; pre-treatment reversed subsequent OP-induced elevation of peroxidation products and the decline of anti-oxidant enzyme activities. These results indicate that oxidative damage is likely to be an initiating event that contributes to the OP-induced cytotoxicity.     

CONCENTRATIONS OF POLLUTANTS IN AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF1

ABSTRACT. .Eighteen rural lakes in Lubbock County were sampled on a routine basis following runoff-producing rainfall for a period of approximately eighteen months to determine whether or not runoff from intensively farmed agricultural areas contained significant concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, herbicides, or insecticides. An additional fifteen lakes lying within a triangle bounded by the cities of Plainview, Canyon, and Hereford, Texas, were sampled one time during the summer of 1969 to provide additional data regarding the nature and extent of the potential problem in an area with a different soil type and a slightly different cropping pattern. Based on results of detailed analyses of approximately two hundred samples of water collected from the lakes and an equal number of sediment samples collected from the same lakes at the same time, it appears that the concentrations of all chemical pollutants in runoff from agricultural lands in the High Plains are well below the allowable concentrations for drinking water.     

METABOLIC RESPONSES OF AQUATIC BACTERIAL POPULATIONS TO SELECTED INSECTICIDES1

ABSTRACT: Indigenous bacterial populations from a fresh water reservoir were treated by adding five mg/1 Sevin or Malathion to the water at 23, 28, and 33 C. The degradation of Sevin was evidenced by the increased uptake of O₂ as measured by Warburg manometry. The principal degradation product of Sevin, 1-naphthol, appeared to stimulate metabolic activity of these populations to the same extent as the parent compound. The addition of Malathion to this system appeared, on the other hand, to suppress metabolic activity to some degree. Warburg manometry was shown to be a useful, rapid method for detecting effects of insecticides on aquatic microbial populations.     

A field study on residues of four insecticides used in strawberry protection

Abstract

In 1986 strawberry plots were treated with dimethoate, malathion, permethrin and cypermethrin at 80% bloom of primary flowers. In 1987 the plots were sprayed with dimethoate, malathion and permethrin at 30% bloom. Residue analysis of these insecticides on the flowers were analyzed using solvent extraction and gas liquid chromatography. Residue analysis at 0 to 18 days on flowers and fruit showed an exponential decrease. Organophosphates tended to degrade more quickly than synthetic pyrethroids. The results are discussed in the context of an integrated pest management program.     

Acetylcholinesterase activity in the terrestrial snail Xeropicta derbentina transplanted in apple orchards with different pesticide management strategies

Apple orchards are highly manipulated crops in which large amounts of pesticides are used. Some of these pesticides lack target specificity and can cause adverse effects in non-target organisms. In order to evaluate the environmental risk of these products, the use of transplanted sentinel organisms avoids side-effects from past events and facilitate comparison of multiple sites in a short time. We released specimens of the terrestrial snail Xeropicta derbentina in each 5 of two kinds of apple orchards with either conventional or organic management strategies plus in a single abandoned orchard. After one month, individuals were retrieved in order to measure acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Mean values of AChE activity were significantly reduced in all conventional apple orchards compared to the others. Results show that the measurement of biomarkers such as AChE inhibition in transplated X. derbentina could be useful in the environmental risk assessment of post-authorized pesticides.     

Sorption‐desorption kinetics of some organochlorine insecticides in silt‐water suspensions

Kinetic (batch) sorption and desorption experiments for some organochlorine insecticides in silt‐water suspensions are described. The effect of possible experimental artifacts on the results is examined. The influence of the silt/water ratio on the linear sorption coefficient and on the “nonextractable”; solute fraction is determined. The sorption process is described in terms of some kinetic models.     

气相色谱法测定蔬菜中多种有机磷农药

探讨同时测定蔬菜中多种有机磷农药残留量的方法.蔬菜样品经前处理后用气相色谱仪测定甲胺磷、敌敌畏、乙酸甲胺磷、氧化乐果、甲拌磷、乐果、马拉硫磷和对硫磷等8 种有机磷农药残留量,测定了方法的回收率和精密度,分析了干扰情况.上述8 种农药的平均回收率分别为99.0%,96.0%,130.4%,101.3%,95.9%,99.4%,92.4%,91.0%,变异系数分别为6.91%,6.09%,9.23%,9.63%,9.18%,7.01%,6.82%,7.50%.该方法操作简便,回收率和精密度较好,干扰少.     

原生质体转化构建有机磷农药降解工程菌

降解有机磷农药甲胺磷、敌敌畏和对硫磷的菌株地衣芽孢杆菌 Ｐ１２（ Ｂａｃｉｌｌｕｓｌｉｃｈｅｎｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ） 经溶菌酶处理获得原生质体,加入降解乐果的供体菌 Ｇ１ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ,经ρ（ Ｐ Ｅ Ｇ６ ０００） ＝ ３００ ｇ Ｌ－ １ 诱导,在液体再生培养基中振荡培养ｔ＝ ２０ ｈ ,使其恢复细胞壁后,离心收集菌体,涂布于含乐果的基础培养基上,经筛选得一转化子 Ｊ Ｐ Ｚ．其菌落形态明显不同于出发菌株,乐果平板连续传代１０ 次,性状保持稳定．在θ＝ ３０ ℃,１００ ｒ／ｍｉｎ 的培养条件下,３ ｄ 内对ρ（ 甲胺磷） ＝ ０ ．５ ｇ Ｌ－ １ ,ρ（ 敌敌畏） ＝ ０ ．２ ｇ Ｌ－ １ ,ρ（ 对硫磷） ＝ ０ ．１ ｇ Ｌ－ １ ,ρ（ 乐果） ＝ ０ ．３ ｇ Ｌ－ １ 的降解率分别为 Ｒｄ ＝ ７９ ．１ ％ ,４６ ．７ ％ ,２９ ．４ ％ 和４６ ．４ ％ ．     

2,2-二氯乙烯基二甲基磷酸酯在TiO2/H2O界面上光催化降解

实验研究了２,２－二氯乙烯基二甲基磷酸酯在ＴｉＯ２／Ｈ２Ｏ界面上光催化降解的最适空气通入量,初始ＰＨ值, 不同浓度的调变性助催经剂Ｆｅ＾３＋、Ａｇ＾＋在供Ｏ２条件下对ＴｉＯ２光催化降解有机磷速率的影响。