Disposition of bisphenol A in pregnant mice and fetuses after a single and repeated oral administration

The risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) on the development of offspring of humans is an important issue. There have been some reports on the fate of BPA in rodents, but information on the BPA level in fetal organs essential for the extrapolation to humans is inadequate. In the present study, we investigated the distribution pattern of ¹⁴C-BPA-derived radioactivity in fetal tissues following administration of 10?mg/kg ¹⁴C-BPA to the pregnant mice. The radioactivity was rapidly transferred through placenta and distributed to all fetal organs including reproductive organs and brains in a similar level. The concentration declined slowly compared with dams. Analysis of metabolites in fetuses showed that a fraction of BPA was unexpectedly large compared to the maternal blood. There was no clear effect of the fetal position in a uterus to influence the radioactivity concentration in whole fetuses. The dose dependence of pharmacokinetics should be recognized to extrapolate the pharmacokinetic result from animal experiments at high doses to humans at low doses. Similar experiments were conducted with an addition of two doses, 1 and 100?mg/kg, respectively. The pharmacokinetics seemed to be linear between 1 and 10?mg/kg, although at 100?mg/kg BPA was absorbed slowly and the radioactivity concentrations in fetuses were much higher than expected based on the linear dose dependence. Repeated doses were administered to pregnant mice since humans are exposed to BPA chronically. Radioactivity level in most of the fetal tissues on repeated administration was higher than single administration.     

Degradation of bisphenol A by photo-fenton processes

The photo-Fenton reactions, which could yield hydroxyl radicals via the catalytic degradation of H₂O₂ by Fe(II), were focused as one of the abiotic degradation processes of bisphenol A (BPA) in surface waters. At pH 6, in the presence of H₂O₂ only, 32% of BPA was degraded after 120?min of irradiation. However, 97% of BPA was degraded in the presence of both H₂O₂ and Fe(II). Without light irradiation, no BPA degradation was observed even in the presence of Fe(II) and H₂O₂. These results show that photo-Fenton processes are effective in the natural attenuation of BPA in surface water. In addition, the presence of humic acids (HAs), which were of more aliphatic nature, resulted in enhancing BPA degradation via the photo-Fenton processes. Therefore, HAs can be one of the important factors in enhancing the degradation of BPA in surface water via the photo-Fenton processes.     

Proteomics analysis of zebrafish brain following chronically exposed to bisphenol A

Bisphenol A, a plastic monomer and plasticizer, is a well-known endocrine disrupter, widely present in the aquatic environment, but little is known regarding its neurotoxicity in fish. Herein, we investigated its effects on male zebrafish brain. Zebrafish were exposed to 10 µg/L BPA for 45 days. An isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation approach coupled with nano high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was employed to detect and identify differentially expressed proteins. A total of 46 proteins was identified and categorized into functional classes that mostly included metabolism and transport, cytoplasm and organelle, ion and nucleotide binding, indicating that bisphenol A toxicity in fish brain is complex. The biological pathways of starch and sucrose metabolism, calcium signaling, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were also induced. Proteomic analyses add new perspectives to bisphenol A neurotoxicity in aquatic organisms.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bisphenol A: Assay optimization and its application for surface water analysis

A range of ELISAs in indirect and direct formats for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. Bisphenol A carboxymethyl ether (BPA-CME), (BPA-CPE) and 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid were coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) (immunogens for the production of polyclonal antibodies), ovalbumin (OVA) and horseradish peroxidase. In general, the indirect assay was more sensitive and specific than the direct one. Using heterologous combinations of immunoreagents in the indirect assay allowed to increase assay sensitivity and specificity. The highest sensitivity was obtained for the antibodies produced against a conjugate of BPA-CPE with BSA and a conjugate of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid with OVA. The detection limit of BPA in phosphate buffer was 0.03?ng?mL^?1. The assay developed was also the most specific towards BPA. Maximum cross-reactivity values did not exceed 11% for 4-cumylphenol, 5% for bisphenol E and 2% for bisphenol S. Finally, the developed assay was used to analyze surface water samples spiked with known amount of BPA. The assay showed good recovery values (85–109%) for surface water with mineralization level lower than 500?mg?L^?1.     

Electro-conductive crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanofiltration membrane for electro-enhanced removal of bisphenol A

● A crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube NF membrane was fabricated. ● Electro-assistance enhanced the removal rate of the NF membrane for bisphenol A. ● Intermittent voltage-assistance can achieve nearly 100% removal of bisphenol A. ● Membrane adsorption–electro-oxidation process is feasible for micropollutant removal. Nanofiltration (NF) has attracted increasing attention for wastewater treatment and potable water purification. However, the high-efficiency removal of micropollutants by NF membranes is a critical challenge. Owing to the adsorption and subsequent diffusion, some weakly charged or uncharged micropollutants, such as bisphenol A (BPA), can pass through NF membranes, resulting in low removal rates. Herein, an effective strategy is proposed to enhance the BPA removal efficiency of a crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube NF membrane by coupling the membrane with electro-assistance. The membrane exhibited a 31.9% removal rate for 5 mg/L BPA with a permeance of 6.8 L/(m²·h·bar), while the removal rate was significantly improved to 98.1% after applying a voltage of 2.0 V to the membrane. Furthermore, when BPA coexisted with humic acid, the membrane maintained 94% removal of total organic carbon and nearly 100% removal of BPA at 2.0 V over the entire filtration period. Compared to continuous voltage applied to the membrane, an intermittent voltage (2.0 V for 0.5 h with an interval of 3.5 h) could achieve comparable BPA removal efficiency, because of the combined effect of membrane adsorption and subsequent electrochemical oxidation. Density functional theory calculations and BPA oxidation process analyses suggested that BPA was adsorbed by two main interactions: π–π and hydrogen-bond interactions. The adsorbed BPA was further electro-degraded into small organic acids or mineralized to CO₂ and H₂O. This work demonstrates that NF membranes coupled with electro-assistance are feasible for improving the removal of weakly charged or uncharged micropollutants.     

Occurrence of bisphenol A in surface and drinking waters and its physicochemical removal technologies

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting compound, has caused wide public concerns due to its wide occurrence in environment and harmful effects. BPA has been detected in many surface waters and drinking water with the maximum concentrations up to tens of μg·L^-1. The physicochemical technology options in eliminating BPA can be divided into four categories: oxidation, advanced oxidation, adsorption and membrane filtration. Each removal option has its own limitation and merits in removing BPA. Oxidation and advanced oxidation generally can remove BPA efficiently while they also have some drawbacks, such as high cost, the generation of a variety of transformation products that are even more toxic than the parent compound and difficult to be mineralized. Only few advanced oxidation methods have been reported to be able to mineralize BPA completely. Therefore, it is important not only to identify the major initial transformation products but also to assess their estrogenic activity relative to the parent compounds when oxidation methods are employed to remove BPA. Without formation of harmful by-products, physical separation methods such as activated carbon adsorption and membrane processes are able to remove BPA in water effluents and thus have potential as BPA removal technologies. However, the necessary regeneration of activated carbon and the low BPA removal efficiency when the membrane became saturated may limit the application of activated carbon adsorption and membrane processes for BPA removal. Hybrid processes, e.g. combining adsorption and biologic process or combining membrane and oxidation process, which can achieve simultaneous physical separation and degradation of BPA, will be highly preferred in future.     

水动力与表面活性剂协同作用对双酚A在沉积物上吸附的影响

选择太湖梅梁湾的表层沉积物作为实验对象,研究了水动力与表面活性剂协同作用下,双酚A吸附行为的变化特征.结果表明,当CTMAB(十六烷基三甲基溴化铵)浓度在1.0倍临界胶束浓度(CMC)以下时,切应力的改变对双酚A在沉积物上的吸附量基本无影响;其吸附量随CTMAB浓度的增大而增大,0.1倍CMC、0.5倍CMC和1.0倍CMC的CTMAB条件下,双酚A的吸附量较0 CMC分别增大了0.18倍、0.54倍和0.62倍;相对于Freundich模型,其吸附等温线更符合线性模型.当CTMAB浓度高于CMC时,双酚A在沉积物上的吸附量和吸附平衡时间均随切应力的增加而减小,在切应力和低浓度CTMAB共同作用时,以切应力促进吸附平衡作用为主;而当切应力和高浓度CTMAB共同作用时,以CTMAB的作用为主.水动力和CTMAB共同作用下的双酚A的吸附过程满足准二级吸附动力学方程.     

电子垃圾拆解地区人体双酚A内暴露及与氧化应激效应的关联研究

中国已成为全球电子垃圾的主要回收地之一,电子垃圾拆解造成的污染物人体暴露及健康效应备受关注。尤其是在粗放的拆解方式下,释放的双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)等污染物暴露以及对拆解地区人群的健康影响是重要的科学问题。选取中国北方某电子垃圾拆解地区(即暴露地区)人群为研究对象(包括29名电子垃圾拆解从业者和24名当地居民),以40 km外无电子垃圾拆解地区的人群(N=53)作为参照。暴露地区人群尿液中BPA浓度(中值:10.7μg·g-1肌酐)显著高于参照地区人群(中值:0.66μg·g-1肌酐;P0.01),提示电子垃圾拆解活动可能造成当地人群对BPA的高暴露。暴露地区人群的尿液8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OHd G;中值:236μg·g-1肌酐)高于参照人群(中值:142μg·g-1肌酐),统计结果接近显著(P=0.055)。暴露地区人群血清中谷胱甘肽S转移酶(GSH-ST)与铜/锌-超氧化物歧化酶(Cu/Zn-SOD)含量较参照组显著降低;而谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)显著高于参照组(P0.01)。BPA与8-OHd G显著正相关(P0.05)、与GSH-ST负相关(P0.01);多元回归结果显示,尿液中BPA浓度每上升1倍,8-OHd G升高34.9%(95%CI:19.4%~52.3%),而GSH-ST下降5.46%(95%CI:1.17%~9.56%)。本研究显示,电子垃圾拆解可导致该地区人群对BPA的高暴露,这种暴露可导致氧化应激包括对DNA的氧化损伤。     

Optimisation of bisphenol A removal from water using chemically modified pine bark and almond shell

The ability of pine bark and almond shells to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. Samples of these traditional agro-forestry by-products were milled, sieved into different particle size fractions (0.10–0.15 and 1.5–2.0 mm) and submitted to two different types of treatment. Sorption experiments were conducted in a batch system at room temperature and natural pH. Sorption equilibrium was attained after 48 h for all systems under study. Bisphenol A was adsorbed more effectively on the smaller particles of the sorbents. Pine bark and almond shell pretreated with formaldehyde presented higher sorption efficiency (95%), followed by almond shell (87%) and pine bark (82%) washed with hot water. All the sorption isotherms were found to fit a Freundlich equation, with correlation coefficients (R ²) between 0.823 and 0.989. The sorption coefficient (K _F) ranged from 0.06 to 0.74 (mg^1?1/n ·L ^1/n ·g ^?1). These results indicate that utilisation of both materials as an alternative sorbent for the removal of bisphenol A from contaminated waters is promising because they are available in large amounts and have an acceptable cost–efficiency ratio when compared with traditional adsorbents.     

Responses of oxidative stress,genotoxicity and immunotoxicity as biomarkers in Theba pisana snails dietary exposed to silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are now being of a great interest by ecotoxicological researchers. Their potential hazards to humans and other non-target organisms had led to crucial concerns. In this research, white radish leaf extract was used for the green synthesis of AgNPs. UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been utilised to characterise the biosynthesised AgNPs. Furthermore, the present study aimed to investigate the ecotoxicological effects of 1?mM biosynthesised AgNPs on the land snail, Theba pisana after two weeks of exposure and one week recovery with respect to oxidative stress parameters; lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), cytogenetic parameters; DNA content and micronucleus test, as well as immunological parameters; cell death, phagocytosis, lysosomal membrane stability (LMS), lectins, superoxide anion (O₂^?) generation, phenoloxidase (PO), peroxidase (POD) and haemocyanin (Hc) were examined. AgNPs have been biosynthesised successfully; the UV–vis spectrum exhibited a single and broad absorption band located between 375 and 415?nm, TEM image shows AgNPs formed were nearly spherical in shape with a mean size of 2.18–19.87?nm and the crystalline nature of nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD. After two weeks exposure, the result showed that AgNPs significantly increased LPO level as well as CAT and GST activities, cell death, cell abnormalities and Hc level, whereas, significant decline was found in DNA and GSH contents, phagocytic activity, LMS, lectins, O₂^? generation, POD and PO activities compared to the controls. After a week of recovery, most of the tested biomarkers in AgNP-exposed snails did not completely return to the control levels. The multiple measured parameters could be effectively used as sensitive biomarkers in the risk assessment of contaminants in the terrestrial ecosystem.     

Biochemical biomarkers and overall health status of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to nickel and chromium

This study examined the effects of nickel and chromium exposure on two biochemical biomarkers, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), in parallel with an indicator of overall health, Scope for Growth (SFG), in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to evaluate their ecological relevance and to assess their potential use as biomarkers of Ni and Cr pollution. SFG integrates major physiological responses into an index that represents the energy status of the animals and is considered an ecologically relevant biomarker. Following exposure to a range of Ni and Cr concentrations effects of Ni and Cr were evident on GPX and SFG but not on ACHE. Accumulation in the mussels’ tissues increased according to exposure concentrations. Adverse effects on the energy status and induction of GPX were found at the higher exposure concentrations while possible hormetic effects on the energy status and moderate GPX suppression were associated with lower exposure concentrations. Nevertheless GPX was negatively correlated with SFG suggesting that GPX responses reflect the overall health of the organisms and thus show potential as an early warning signal of population level effects of Ni and Cr. On the other hand, our results indicate that ACHE is not a suitable biomarker for Ni and Cr pollution.     

苯酚胁迫下罗非鱼组织中过氧化氢酶与谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶的动态变化

以奥尼杂交罗非鱼(Oreochromisaureus♂×Oreochromisniloticus♀)为试验鱼类,研究了其暴露于不同质量浓度苯酚后组织中过氧化氢酶CAT和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶GST活性的动态变化。结果表明,罗非鱼肌肉和肝脏组织中的CAT正常值分别为8.56±0.2U·mg-1和15.48±0.1U·mg-1,GST的正常值分别为4.39±0.20U·mg-1和13.30±0.31U·mg-1,均是肝脏组织高于肌肉组织。采用不同质量浓度的苯酚处理罗非鱼25d,除了0.002mg·L-1质量浓度组罗非鱼体内CAT和GST与对照组相比无显著差异外,其余各质量浓度组的CAT和GST均发生了明显的变化,两者的变化趋势相近。CAT的变化规律为低质量浓度组先升高后降低,高质量浓度组不断下降。即低质量浓度苯酚对罗非鱼体内的CAT具有一定的诱导作用,而高质量浓度表现为抑制作用,可使鱼体内的CAT失活,且这种变化幅度肝脏比肌肉大。GST的变化规律为先升高后降低,即苯酚对罗非鱼体内的GST具有先诱导后抑制的作用。研究表明,0.002mg·L-1质量浓度以下的苯酚对罗非鱼没有生化毒性影响,罗非鱼组织中的CAT和GST可作为生物标志物来评价酚类污染物对鱼类的生化毒性。     

Effects of bisphenol A on Gammarus fossarum and Lumbriculus variegatus in artificial indoor streams

The impact of bisphenol A (BPA) on Gammarus fossarum and Lumbriculus variegatus was studied in four artificial indoor streams (0, 5, 50 and 500?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal) over 103 days in a pulse–dose exposure scenario (weekly BPA application). For G. fossarum populations at day 103, the proportions of juveniles and of breeding females from the highest BPA treatment were in tendency reduced. For individually exposed gammarid pairs an EC₁₀ of 17?µg?L^?1 BPA (nominal) for the proportion of reproductive females in the fourth brood was determined. During the first three broods, the largest brood size occurred at the highest BPA concentration, whereas in the fourth brood it decreased concentration-dependently (fourth brood EC₁₀?=?5?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal). Effects on L. variegatus were a reduced population growth (103?d-EC₁₀ of 2?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal) and an increase in dry weight and the number of segments in large, complete worms.     

Oxidative stress and changes in locomotor behavior and gill morphology of Gambusia affinis exposed to chromium

Sublethal effects of chromium trioxide on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, were carried out for 28 days on day 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28. The sublethal effects of chromium (LC₁₀, 77.62?mg?L^?1) on antioxidant enzymes, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), locomotor behavior, and gill morphology were studied. The antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were induced throughout the exposure span of 28 days. Percent induction was also increase with the days of exposure. Lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde was enhanced in the viscera tissue of chromium-exposed fish. Perturbation of locomotor behavior like decrease in distance travelled (m?min^?1) and in swimming speed (cm?s^?1) was observed in exposed fish. Chromium toxicity caused alterations in gill morphology like hypertrophy and hyperplasia in secondary lamellae followed by detached epithelium with severe necrosis. It can be concluded from the results that Cr intoxication in Gambusia fish, caused induction in antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation, plus changes in gill morphology and locomotor behavior.     

The effects of bisphenol A on sex hormone levels of F0 female rats and F1 male rats during weaning period

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) were examined on sex hormones of F1 generation male rats during weaning period. Female rats were exposed to BPA from day 0 after pregnancy to the weaning period at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg^?1. The sex hormone levels of F1 generation male rats were determined. This study shows that F0 generation female rats fed with 200 mg kg^?1 BPA had a significantly higher serum prolactin (PRL) levels at the end of weaning. Significantly higher levels of serum estradiol (E₂) were also found in female rats fed 100 or 200 mg kg^?1 BPA. Serum levels of E₂ in F1 male generation rats were higher in treatment groups compared to control groups while serum testosterone (T) levels were lower. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in F1 generation rats fed 200 mg kg^?1 was markedly decreased. The relative testicular weights were significantly less in 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 BPA groups. BPA was found to alter the sex hormone levels in F1 male rats during weaning period and thus disrupted endocrine functions.     

Cr6+和Cr3+对水花生几种生理生化指标的影响比较

通过Cr6 和Cr3 对水花生 (Alternantheraphiloxeroides)的叶及根的某些生理生化指标影响的对比研究发现 ,Cr6 和Cr3 均能对水花生产生毒害 ;铬污染后 ,水花生的叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、过氧化物酶 (POD)、过氧化氢酶 (CAT)活性和可溶性蛋白含量 5项重要生理生化指标发生相应变化 ;Cr6 的毒性明显大于Cr3 ,根的受害程度比叶严重。     

A simulation model to explore the response of the Gulf of Maine food web to large-scale environmental and ecological changes

A dynamic simulation model was constructed using outputs from a balanced Gulf of Maine (GOM) energy budget model as the initial parameter set. The model was structured to provide a recipient control set of dynamics, largely based off of flows to and from different biological groups. The model was used to produce Monte Carlo simulations that were compared (percent change in biomass) with basecase simulations for a variety of scenarios. Changes in primary production, large increases in pelagic and demersal fish biomass, increases in fishing mortality, and large increases in top predators such as baleen whales and pinnepids were simulated. These scenarios roughly simulated the potential impacts of climate change, altered fishing pressure, additional protected species mitigations, and combinations thereof. Results suggest that the GOM system is primarily influenced by bottom-up processes involving phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacterial biomass. Pelagic and demersal fish were important in determining trends in some of the scenarios. Marine mammals, large pelagic fish, and seabirds have a minor role in the GOM system in terms of biomass flows among the ecosystem components. The system is resilient to large-scale change due, in part to many predator–prey linkages. However, major alterations could occur from sustained climate change, high fishing rates, and by combinations of these types of external forcing mechanisms.     

四溴双酚A对太平洋真宽水蚤的急性毒性及氧化胁迫

为了研究四溴双酚A(tetrabromobis-phenol A,TBBPA)对海洋桡足类的急性毒性和氧化胁迫效应,以太平洋真宽水蚤为受试生物,测定了TBBPA对其96 h急性毒性和对其体内抗氧化防御系统的影响。结果表明,TBBPA对太平洋真宽水蚤的96 h半数致死浓度(96 h-LC50)为178μg·L~(-1),95%可信区间为91~306μg·L~(-1),表现为极毒。亚致死浓度下,TBBPA能够不同程度影响太平洋真宽水蚤的抗氧化防御酶活力以及非酶物质含量。其中SOD和GST活性的变化趋势较为一致,暴露初期SOD和GST活性显著上升(P0.05),随暴露时间延长酶活性有所下降,最终趋向对照组水平;GPx活性水平始终维持在对照组以上并且差异显著(P0.05);暴露初期,GSH含量受轻微氧化压力而轻微升高,暴露48 h后GSH含量急剧下降并显著低于对照组(P0.05)。太平洋真宽水蚤体内SOD、GST、GPx活性和GSH含量对TBBPA暴露均十分敏感,能够为海洋环境的TBBPA监测提供生化指标参考。     

四溴双酚A对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性及抗氧化防御系统酶的影响

以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)为研究对象,根据OECD指南中的滤纸接触法和人工土壤法研究了四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的急性毒性和对蚯蚓体内抗氧化防御系统酶的影响.结果表明,滤纸接触法和人工土壤法检测TBBPA对蚯蚓的半致死浓度LC50分别为4.90mg·L-(148h)和16.7mg·kg-(114d),TBBPA对蚯蚓具有低等毒性.当TBBPA的浓度在0.05和0.1mg·kg-1时对蚯蚓超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)产生显著诱导;在0.05mg·kg-1时,对过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)也产生显著诱导;脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)随TBBPA浓度的升高逐渐增加,呈良好的剂量效应关系(R2=0.97,p<0.01).SOD、CAT、GST和MDA可以作为土壤生态早期预警中潜在的敏感的生物标志物.