Heavy metal and Pb isotopic compositions of aquatic organisms in the Pearl River Estuary, South China

The accumulation of trace metals in aquatic organisms may lead to serious health problems through the food chain. The present research project aims to study the accumulation and potential sources of trace metals in aquatic organisms of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Four groups of aquatic organisms, including fish, crab, shrimp, and shellfish, were collected in the PRE for trace metal and Pb isotopic analyses. The trace metal concentrations in the aquatic organism samples ranged from 0.01 to 2.10 mg/kg Cd, 0.02 to 4.33 mg/kg Co, 0.08 to 4.27 mg/kg Cr, 0.15 to 77.8 mg/kg Cu, 0.17 to 31.0 mg/kg Ni, 0.04 to 30.7 mg/kg Pb, and 8.78 to 86.3 mg/kg Zn (wet weight). High concentrations of Cd were found in crab, shrimp and shellfish samples, while high concentration of Pb was found in fish. In comparison with the baseline reference values in other parts of the world, fish in the PRE had the highest elevated trace metals. The results of Pb isotopic compositions indicated that the bioaccumulation of Pb in fish come from a wide variety of food sources and/or exposure pathways, particularly the anthropogenic inputs.     

Applicability of Fenton and H2O2/UV reactions in the treatment of tannery wastewaters

In this paper we evaluated the H2O2/UV and the Fenton's oxidation processes for the treatment of tannery wastewater under different experimental conditions. Efficiencies were judged by the amounts of organic substances degraded or eliminated under these treatment techniques. Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri were used to monitor toxicity. Organic compounds contained in the untreated and treated tannery wastewater were determined and identified using substance specific techniques. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in positive electron impact (EI(+)) mode was applied to determine volatile organics. Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) coupled with flow injection analysis (FIA) or liquid chromatography (LC) were used to detect or identify polar organic pollutants. The experimental results indicated that both oxidation processes--H2O2/UV at pH 3 and Fenton at pH 3.5--are able to reduce TOC content by mineralisation of the organic compounds.     

Metal accumulation in sediments and benthic invertebrates in lakes of Latvia

The concentrations of cadmium, lead, nickel and copper in waters, sediments (total metal concentrations and their speciation forms) and benthic macroinvertebrates in 11 lakes of Latvia were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Metal concentrations in lake waters, sediments and biota were compared with water chemistry. Compared to total concentrations, metal speciation forms in sediments were better correlated with respective metal concentrations in invertebrates. Therefore, the evaluation of potential metal bioaccumulation should consider metal speciation. The mean concentrations of trace metals in benthic invertebrates in Latvia were much lower than in other countries, which can be explained by comparatively lower anthropogenic loads. However, local areas of anthropogenic impacts were evident.     

Characterization of three major toxaphene congeners in arctic ringed seal by electron ionization and electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry

Three environmentally significant chlorinated bomane (CHB) congeners were extracted from Arviat ringed seal blubber and identified by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRECNIMS (CH₄), low resolution EIMS, and linked field scanning). They are referred to as TS2 (Parlar#39, B8-531) [2-exo,3-endo,5-exo,6,6,8b,9c,10c (or 10a)-octachlorobonane], TS3 (Parlar#40, B8-1414) [2-endo,3-exo,5-endo,6-exo,8c,9b,10a,10c (or 10b)-octachlorobornane] and TS4 (Parlar#42, Toxicant A, B8-806/809) [2-exo,3-endo,6,6,8b,8c,9c,10c (or 10a)-octachlorobonane/2-exo,3-endo,6,6,8b,9b,9c,10a (or 10b)-octachlorobonane]. This is the first time Toxicant A, known to be the most toxic CHB congener in technical toxaphene, has been found in any significant concentration in a marine mammal.     

Germination and seedling development of switchgrass and smooth bromegrass exposed to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

It is estimated that explosives contaminate approximately 0.82 million cubic metres of soil at former military installations throughout the US; major contaminants often include 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and its degradation products. At some sites, phytoremediation may be a viable option to incineration or other costly remediation treatments. Grasses may be particularly suited for remediation because of their growth habit and adaptability to a wide range of soil and climate conditions. We characterized the effects of TNT on germination and early seedling development of switchgrass and smooth bromegrass to evaluate their potential use on contaminated sites. Switchgrass and smooth bromegrass seeds were germinated in nutrient-free agar containing 0 to 60 mg TNT litre(-1). Smooth bromegrass germination decreased as TNT concentration increased, while switchgrass germination was unaffected by TNT. Concentrations up to 15 mg TNT litre(-1) did not affect switchgrass root growth rate, but bromegrass root growth was reduced at TNT concentrations above 7.5 mg litre(-1). At 7.5 mg TNT litre(-1), however, shoot growth rate was reduced in both species. Examination at 20-fold magnification revealed switchgrass radicles were unaffected by TNT, while smooth bromegrass radicles appeared slightly swollen. Results indicate switchgrass is more tolerant of TNT than smooth bromegrass, but the establishment of both species may be limited to soil containing less than 50 mg kg(-1) of extractable TNT.     

Plant uptake of radionuclides in lysimeter experiments

The results of seven years lysimeter experiments to determine the uptake of 60Co, 137Cs and 226Ra into agricultural crops (endive, maize, wheat, mustard, sugarbeet, potato, Faba bean, rye grass) are described. The lysimeter consists of twelve monolithic soil profiles (four soil types and three replicates) and is located in Seibersdorf/Austria, a region with a pannonian climate (pronounced differences between hot and semi-arid summers and humid winter conditions, annual mean of precipitation: 517 mm, mean annual temperature: 9.8 degrees C). Besides soil-to-plant transfer factors (TF), fluxes were calculated taking into account biomass production and growth time. Total median values of TF's (dry matter basis) for the three radionuclides decreased from 226Ra (0.068 kg kg(-1)) to 137Cs (0.043 kg kg(-1)) and 60Co (0.018 kg kg(-1)); flux values exhibited the same ranking. The varying physical and chemical properties of the four experimental soils resulted in statistically significant differences in transfer factors or fluxes between the investigated soils for 137Cs and 226Ra, but not for 60Co. Differences in transfer between plant species and plant parts are distinct, with graminaceous species showing, on average, TF values 5.8 and 15 times lower than dicotyledonous species for 137Cs and 60Co, respectively. This pattern was not found for 226Ra. It can be concluded that 137Cs transfer is heavily influenced by soil characteristics, whilst the plant-specific factors are the main source of TF variability for 60Co. The variability of 226Ra transfer originates both from soil properties and plant species behaviour.     

Effects of dietary and gaseous fluoride on the aphid Aphis fabae

A large proportion of leaf fluoride consists of surface deposits and a sucking herbivore would be expected to take in a smaller load of fluoride in its food than a chewing herbivore. In these experiments, fluoride was applied aerially, through the leaves, and systemically, via the roots, to compare uptake by aphids and effects on their fecundity. Fluoride applied via roots was taken up by both the plants and the aphids, but at high treatment rates the aphids had much lower concentrations than the foliage. When the plants and aphids were fumigated with HF the aphids had much greater loads than the plant shoots, which was due to deposition of F on the insect surfaces. There were no effects of the treatments on aphid reproduction or development time. The aphids obtained some fluoride through their diet which suggests that fluoride is present in the phloem sap, previously thought to be of minor importance.     

Imposex in the commercial snail Bolinus brandaris in the northwestern Mediterranean

A survey of the degree of imposex in populations of the commercial muricid Bolinus brandaris (L.) was carried out at six locations along the Catalan Coast (NW Mediterranean). Imposex was found to be a widespread phenomenon; the occurrence of a penis was observed in all females studied with the exception of those from St. Carles (South of Catalunya) where only 37% were affected. Other indices such as Relative Penis Length (RPL) and Vas Deferens Sequence (VDS) were applied; RPL varied from 4.5% in St. Carles--the least affected area--to 29.8% in the vicinity of Barcelona; similar results were obtained for VDS. Tissue organotin residues ranged from 6 to 140 ng g(-1) w.w. as Sn. Despite legislation restricting the use of tributyltin (TBT) in antifouling paints, this paper evidences the occurrence of organotin pollution far from the source, with levels of both TBT and triphenyltin (TPhT) high enough to cause environmental concern.     

Identification of a multixenobiotic resistance mechanism in Xenopus laevis embryos

In the '90's a membrane-associated transport protein, discovered in aquatic organisms, was considered to be expressed in response to environmental xenobiotics. Like the multidrug resistance protein found in mammalian tumor cell lines, this protein confers resistance in organisms in polluted areas by binding xenobiotics and transporting them out of the cells in an energy-dependent manner.This study investigates the expression and the activity of a P-glycoprotein (Pgp) involved in a multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXRW) during the early developmental stages and in tissues of adult Xenopus laevis.     

Sediment ecological risk assessment: In situ and laboratory toxicity testing of Lake Orta sediments

Specifically designed benthic chambers have been used to test whether the exposure for 48 hrs to polluted Lake Orta sediments could affect survival and reproduction behaviour of Daphnia obtusa and Echinogammarus stammeri. In situ results have been coupled to lab testing with Microtox, seed germination and root elongation (Lactuca sativa, Cucunris sativus, Lepidium sativum), and invertebrates (Daphnia obtusa, D. magna, E,. stammeri) acute toxicity tests.The technique and results here reported indicate the utility of in situ testing and suggest that under certain conditions this kind of test may be more realistic (avoiding sample manipulation in the lab) than traditional laboratory toxicity tests.