Mechanism of concentration addition toxicity: they are different for nonpolar narcotic chemicals, polar narcotic chemicals and reactive chemicals

According to the toxicity mechanism of the individual chemicals, the concentration addition toxicity mechanism is revealed for nonpolar-narcotic-chemical mixtures, polar-narcotic-chemical mixtures and reactive-chemical mixtures, respectively. For nonpolar-narcotic-chemical mixtures, the partitioning of individual chemicals from water to biophase was determined, and the result shows that their concentration additive effect results from no competitive partitioning among individual chemicals. For polar-narcotic-chemical mixtures, their toxicity are contributed by two factors (the total baseline toxicity and the hydrogen bond donor activity of individual chemicals), and it is the concentration additive effect for either of these two factors that leads to their concentration addition toxicity. In addition, the interactions between the reactive chemicals and the biological macromolecules are discussed thoroughly. The results suggest that the net effect of these interactions is zero, and it is this zero net effect that leads to the concentration addition toxicity mechanism for reactive-chemical mixtures.     

H NMR-based metabolomics investigation of Daphnia magna responses to sub-lethal exposure to arsenic,copper and lithium

Metal and metalloid contamination constitutes a major concern in aquatic ecosystems. Thus it is important to find rapid and reliable indicators of metal stress to aquatic organisms. In this study, we tested the use of ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) – based metabolomics to examine the response of Daphnia magna neonates after a 48 h exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of arsenic (49 μg L⁻¹), copper (12.4 μg L⁻¹) or lithium (1150 μg L⁻¹). Metabolomic responses for all conditions were compared to a control using principal component analysis (PCA) and metabolites that contributed to the variation between the exposures and the control condition were identified and quantified. The PCA showed that copper and lithium exposures result in statistically significant metabolite variations from the control. Contributing to this variation was a number of amino acids such as: phenylalanine, leucine, lysine, glutamine, glycine, alanine, methionine and glutamine as well as the nucleobase uracil and osmolyte glycerophosphocholine. The similarities in metabolome changes suggest that lithium has an analogous mode of toxicity to that of copper, and may be impairing energy production and ionoregulation. The PCA also showed that arsenic exposure resulted in a metabolic shift in comparison to the control population but this change was not statistically significant. However, significant changes in specific metabolites such as alanine and lysine were observed, suggesting that energy metabolism is indeed disrupted. This research demonstrates that ¹H NMR-based metabolomics is a viable platform for discerning metabolomic changes and mode of toxicity of D. magna in response to metal stressors in the environment.     

Influence of environmental factors on the response of a natural population of Daphnia magna (Crustacea: Cladocera) to spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in Mediterranean coastal wetlands

The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of a candidate mosquito larvicide, spinosad (8, 17 and 33 μg L⁻¹) on a field population of Daphnia magna under natural variations of water temperature and salinity, using Bti (0.16 and 0.50 μL L⁻¹) as the reference larvicide. Microcosms (125 L) were placed in a shallow temporary marsh where D. magna was naturally present. The peak of salinity observed during the 21-day observation period may have been partly responsible for the decrease of daphnid population density in all the microcosms. It is also probably responsible for the absence of recovery in the microcosms treated with spinosad which caused a sharp decrease of D. magna abundance within the first two days following treatment whereas Bti had no effect. These results suggest that it may be difficult for a field population of daphnids to cope simultaneously with natural (water salinity and temperature) and anthropogenic (larvicides) stressors.     

The toxicity of copper, cadmium and zinc to four different Hydra (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa)

An acute toxicity study of three metals to Hydra species carried out using two different assessment methods, (i) determination of the LC50 and (ii) measurement of progressive morphological changes, demonstrated that relative toxicity decreased from copper to cadmium with zinc the least toxic for all species. The latter method revealed more details of the effect on Hydra in terms of physical damage to the polyp but both methods indicated that H. viridissima was more sensitive to copper and cadmium than H. vulgaris¹ (Zurich strain, male clone), H. vulgaris² (a dioecious strain reproducing sexually and asexually) and H. oligactis (dioecious, reproducing sexually and asexually). The responses to zinc were similar for all Hydra. The possible role of metabolic interactions between H. viridissima and its symbiotic green algae in contributing to the greater sensitivity of this polyp is discussed.     

The effect of calcium and pH on nickel accumulation in and rhizotoxicity to pea (Pisum sativum L.) root-empirical relationships and modeling

The accumulation and rhizotoxicity of Ni to pea were investigated. Calcium, H, and Ni competed for root-binding sites with high pH and low Ca favoring more Ni accumulation. At low pH, Ca accumulation is the key factor determining root growth, while at medium to high pH, root elongation is more sensitive to Ni concentration. The tissue concentration of Ni and Ca ([Ni]t or [Ca]t, μmol g⁻¹ dry root) can be predicted from total dissolved Ni ([Ni]_T, μM), pH, and total dissolved Ca ([Ca]_T, mM) by two approaches. Approach 1 is the empirical equations [Ni]t = (0.361 pH-0.695[Ca]_T)*[Ni]_T and [Ca]t = 8.29 pH + 10.8 [Ca]_T. The second approach involves a two-step model. The surface-bound Ni and Ca are estimated from a surface adsorption model with binding constants derived from independent ion adsorption experiments. Then transfer functions are used to predict internal root Ni and Ca accumulation.     

Acute and chronic toxicity of Roundup Weathermax and Ignite 280 SL to larval Spea multiplicata and S. bombifrons from the Southern High Plains, USA

Pesticides have been implicated in widespread amphibian declines. We assessed acute and chronic toxicity of two widely used herbicides to larval New Mexico (Spea multiplicata) and Plains (S. bombifrons) spadefoots from cropland and native grassland playas. Roundup WeatherMAX^® (WM) toxicity estimates (48- and 216-h LC₅₀; 48-h LC₁) for both species were similar to environmental concentrations expected from accidental overspray. Chronic (30-day) exposure to WM at predicted environmental concentrations (2.0 and 2.8 mg glyphosate acid equivalents/L) reduced survival of both species. Ignite^® 280 SL (IG) toxicity estimates (48-h LC₅₀ and LC₁) for both species were above predicted environmental concentrations of 1.0 mg glufosinate/L. Chronic exposure to predicted environmental concentrations of IG did not reduce survival of either species. Toxicity test results suggest that at predicted environmental concentrations IG would not cause extensive mortalities among larval New Mexico and Plains spadefoots. However, WM may cause extensive mortality among larvae of these species.     

Altered toxicity of organic pollutants in water originated from simultaneous exposure to UV photolysis and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

The paper reports unforeseen results of increased toxicity of water, subsequent to interactions between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), phenol and toluene under UV irradiation. The consistent pattern of changes in measured toxicity (TU) was observed and correlated with degradation of phenol and/or toluene. Spearman rank coefficients (SRCs) for data pairs sum-parameters vs. TU were calculated. The highest correlation between toxicity and degradation by-products was observed for hydroquinone (0.86) and catechol (0.89). The presence of QDs in tested concentration range in the absence of UV has shown low toxicity and no interactions with phenol and/or toluene. The leak of constituent core and shell metal ions was observed. The minor differences in physical characteristics of tested QDs of the same chemical composition led to rather different degradation patterns of phenol and toluene, and the amount of leak of the metal ions as well.     

Canine toys and training devices as sources of exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A: Quantitation of chemicals in leachate and in vitro screening for endocrine activity

Chewing and mouthing behaviors exhibited by pet dogs are likely to lead to oral exposures to a variety of environmental chemicals. Products intended for chewing and mouthing uses include toys and training devices that are often made of plastics. The goal of the current study was to determine if a subset of phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), endocrine disrupting chemicals commonly found in plastics, leach out of dog toys and training devices (bumpers) into synthetic canine saliva. In vitro assays were used to screen leachates for endocrine activity. Bumper leachates were dominated by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and BPA, with concentrations reaching low μg mL⁻¹ following short immersions in synthetic saliva. Simulated chewing of bumpers during immersion in synthetic saliva increased concentrations of phthalates and BPA as compared to new bumpers, while outdoor storage had variable effects on concentrations (increased DEHP; decreased BPA). Toys leached substantially lower concentrations of phthalates and BPA, with the exception of one toy which leached considerable amounts of diethyl phthalate. In vitro assays indicated anti-androgenic activity of bumper leachates, and estrogenic activity of both bumper and toy leachates. These results confirm that toys and training devices are potential sources of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in pet dogs.     

The role of hydrostatic pressure on developmental stages of Pomatoceros lamarcki (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) exposed to water accommodated fractions of crude oil and positive genotoxins at simulated depths of 1000-3000 m

The effect of high hydrostatic pressures on the ecotoxicological profile of pollutants is an unexplored research area. Using Pomatoceros lamarcki as a surrogate organism for this eco-barotoxicological study, it was found that in a 48 h larval bioassay with water accommodated fractions (WAF) of crude oil of up to 15.1 mg L⁻¹ (total hydrocarbon content) and hydrostatic pressures up to 300 bar (3000 m), an additive response was found (p < 0.001) rather than any synergism (p = 0.881). Comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of 6-h (15 °C) embryos exposed to WAF (0.19 mg L⁻¹) at 100 bar showed no effects on mitotic fidelity or cell division rate over the 1 bar treatment. However, embryo's treated with the clastogen mitomycin-c at 100 bar exhibited a significant increase in mitotic aberrations over 1 bar treated as was the case with hypo/hypersaline treatments (p < 0.05). Conversely, an increase in hydrostatic pressure actually reduced the effects of spindle inhibition by the aneugen colchicine (p < 0.05).     

New cytochrome P450 1B1, 1C1, 2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K genes from Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus): Molecular characterization,basal expression and response of rare minnow CYP1s and CYP2s mRNA exposed to the AHR agonist benzo[a]pyrene

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genes play an important role in catalyzing oxidative metabolism of toxicants. Recently, CYP1 subfamily were discovered and reported in fish, however, little is known regarding the CYP2 isoforms in fish. In the present study, the cDNA fragments of CYP 1B1 and 1C1 and CYP2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K of rare minnow were cloned and exhibited a high amino acid sequence identity compared with their zebrafish orthologs. Basal expression showed CYP1C1 and CYP 2Aa expression were observed in all eight tissues analyzed (liver, gill, intestine, kidney, spleen, brain, skin, and muscle). CYP 1A, and 1B1 expression was found in all tissues except for muscle and skin. However, CYP 2Y3 was expressed in liver, spleen, intestine and muscle whereas CYP 2 K in liver, kidney and intestine. 4 and 100 μg L⁻¹ Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induced patterns showed that CYP 1A, 1B1 and 1C1 expression in liver, gill, and intestine was strongly up-regulated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CYP 2Y3 was strongly induced in liver from BaP treatments (p < 0.05). The high induction on mRNA level of CYP1s and CYP 2Y3 by BaP could be associated with catalyzing detoxification and indicated that CYP2s may also be potential biomarker to screen AHR agonist. The high responsiveness of CYP1 and 2 genes suggested Chinese rare minnow is feasible to screen and assess pollution with AHR agonist.