A modified toxicity testing method using tropical marine microalgae

Toxicity testing of four heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Mn and As) using four species of tropicalmarine phytoplankton, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis tetrahele and Tetraselmis sp., was carried out in multiwellplates with test volumes of 2 mL and the resultscompared to those of standard, large volume,shake-flasks. IC₅₀ values (concentrations of metalsestimated to inhibit 50% growth relative to thecontrol) were determined after 96 hours based onautomated O.D. readings measured in Elisa microplatesby a Multiskan spectrophotometer. Good agreement wasachieved between O.D. readings and cell countsindicating that this new method is a simple,economical, practical and rapid technique for toxicitytesting, and provides good reproducibility of IC₅₀ values. Results of the toxicity testsindicate that Cu was the most toxic metal (averageIC₅₀ values ranging from 0.04 to 0.37 mg L^-1), followed by Cd (0.06–5.7 mg L^-1), Mn (7.2–21.4 mg L^-1) and As (33.9–319.3 mg L^-1).Test species had different degrees of sensitivity tothe metals tested, with I.galbana and C. calcitrans the mostsensitive to Cu, Cd and Mn. Based on these findingsit is recommended that the existing Malaysian InterimStandards for Marine Water Quality for Cd and Cu be reviewed.     

Application of enrichment factor,geoaccumulation index,and ecological risk index in assessing the elemental pollution status of surface sediments

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Sediment can accumulate trace elements in the environment. This study profiled the magnitude of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn pollution in...     

Efficient removal of heavy metals from electroplating wastewater using polymer ligands

Poly(hydroxamic acid)-poly(amidoxime) chelating ligands were synthesized from poly(methyl acrylate-co-acrylonitrile) grafted acacia cellulose for removing toxic metal ions from industrial wastewaters. These ligands showed higher adsorption capacity to copper (2.80 mmol?g⁻¹) at pH 6. In addition, sorption capacities to other metal ions such as iron, zinc, chromium, and nickel were also found high at pH 6. The metal ions sorption rate (t_1/2) was very fast. The rate of adsorption of copper, iron, zinc, chromium, nickel, cobalt, cadmium and lead were 4, 5, 7, 5, 5, 8, 9 and 11 min, respectively. Therefore, these ligands have an advantage to the metal ions removal using the column technique. We have successfully investigated the known concentration of metal ions using various parameters, which is essential for designing a fixed bed column with ligands. The wastewater from electroplating plants used in this study, having chromium, zinc, nickel, copper and iron, etc. For chromium wastewater, ICP analysis showed that the Cr removal was 99.8% and other metal ions such as Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, Co and Mn removal were 94.7%, 99.2%, 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.5%, 99.9%, 95.6% and 97.6%, respectively. In case of cyanide wastewater, the metal removal, especially Ni and Zn removal were 96.5 and 95.2% at higher initial concentration. For acid/alkali wastewater, metal ions removing for Cd, Cr and Fe were 99.2%, 99.5% and 99.9%, respectively. Overall, these ligands are useful for metal removal by column method from industrial wastewater especially plating wastewater.     

Thermodynamics of metal cation binding by a solid soil-derived humic acid: binding of Fe(III), Pb(II), and Cu(II)

Metal binding and release by solid humic acids (HAs) in soils and sediments can affect metal mobility and bioavailability. Isotherms for tight binding of Fe(III), Pb(II) and Cu(II) by a solid humic acid at pH2.0 fit the Langmuir binding model. Low pH was chosen to protonate the HA carboxylate groups and avoid metal cation hydrolysis. Binding of Fe(III), Pb(II) and Cu(II) occurs in one detectable step labeled A. Site capacities nu(A) are temperature-independent from 10.0 to 40.0 degrees C and point to binding by charge-neutralization to form solid complexes M(OOC-R)(n)(s), where n appears to be 2 for Pb(II) and 3 for Fe(III). Thermodynamic data pairs (DeltaH(A), DeltaS(A)) for metal binding are linearly correlated with previous data for Ca(II), Co(II) and Mg(II) binding by solid HAs.     

Heavy metal depuration in flat tree oysters isognomon alatus under field and laboratory conditions

Oysters Isognomon alatus containing high concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were collected from the Sepang Besar River, and transferred to the Sepang Kecil River where the native oysters contain low metal concentrations. Concentrations of heavy metals in oysters were measured monthly over six months. The concentrations of all metals decreased significantly (p<0.05) for Cd 87%, Pb 83%, Cu 78%, and Zn 59%. In addition, metal depuration in oysters was investigated under laboratory conditions. Oysters were exposed to 100?µg?g^?1 of metals for two weeks followed by one week of depuration. Our studies suggest that metals in oysters tend to be lost in the order, Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn. A comparison between laboratory and field data showed that depuration of metals under the laboratory conditions is significantly faster than in the field.     

The role of thymoquinone as antioxidant protection on oxidative stress induced by imidacloprid in male and female Swiss albino mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ), an antioxidant agent, against imidacloprid (IMI)-induced oxidative stress in male and female mice. In total, 48 Swiss Albino male and female mice were fed a standard rodent diet and divided into 3 equal groups: the animals in the control group (vehicle treated) were given corn oil, the second group were orally administered 15 mg/kg/day IMI alone, and the third group were orally administered 15 mg/kg/day IMI and with TQ at 10 mg/kg/day for 21 days. During the experimental period, there were no significant changes between initial body weights and final body weights of IMI treated male and female mice. IMI produced significant increase in blood, liver, kidney, and heart malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in blood and liver glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, IMI treatment decreased erythrocyte, liver, and kidney superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in male mice and decreased erythrocyte and liver SOD activity in female mice. Erythrocyte catalase (CAT) activities were found to be low in male and female mice. However, treatment with TQ reversed IMI-induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, TQ exhibited protective action against the IMI-induced histopathological changes in tissues of male and female mice. In conclusion, TQ was found to be effective in protecting mice against IMI-induced oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms.     

Concentration of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rain,soil and ground water around Ismailia,Egypt

Residues of acenaphthylene, fluorene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene were monitored in rain, soil and groundwater around Ismailia, in northeast Egypt. Residues detected in rain water in 1995 and 1996 were mainly of relatively low molecular weight. Both acenaphthylene and fluorene were detected in rain for the two consecutive years. Top soil has shown a wider spectrum and higher concentrations of (PAHs) than those detected in deep soil, rain and ground water. Only three compounds, acenaphthylene, fluorene and anthracene were detected in samples collected at 50 cm depth. While no traces of PAHs were detected at 1 m depth detectable concentrations of fluorene and anthracene were monitored in groundwater.     

Chorioallantoic membrane as a non-lethal sampling method for polychlorinated biphenyls analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are documented endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study examined the bioaccumulation of PCBs and the utility of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a non-lethal sampling technique for PCB analysis in the northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), a species endemic to US East Coast salt marshes. To determine the viability of the CAM as a surrogate for PCB burdens within this species, maternal transfer of PCBs to CAM and egg samples was studied. Egg and CAM samples were collected from populations in Cape May County, NJ and Jamaica Bay, NY; liver samples were collected only from NJ terrapins. PCB congeners were detected in all sample types, but less-chlorinated congeners preferentially partitioned in the CAM. Liver and egg sample PCB concentrations were strongly correlated (p=0.002, r _s=0.883), but PCB concentrations of CAM were not strongly correlated to liver (p=0.035, r _s=0.733) and egg samples (p=0.036, r _s=0.484). Examination of homologue groups indicated a strong correlation between penta- and hexachlorinated biphenyls for all sample types. This study shows that maternal transfer of PCB contaminants occurs with selective partitioning of congeners into the CAM, and that analysis of the CAM alone may not reflect total PCB body burdens in this species.     

The effects of application of agricultural wastes to firing range soil on metal accumulation in Ipomoea aquatica and soil metal bioavailability

The immobilisation of heavy metals in the soil of a 25-year-old active firing range using durian (Durio zibethinus L.) tree sawdust (DTS), coconut coir (CC) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was investigated. The immobilisation effects were evaluated in terms of metal accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and soil metal bioavailability. A pot experiment was conducted by amending the firing range soil with DTS, CC and EFB at application rates of 0%, 1% and 3% (w/w), respectively. All amendments increased the biomass yield and reduced the uptake of heavy metals in the plant tissue. Zn had the highest values of Bioconcentration Factor (BCF: 0.301–0.865) and Translocation Factor (TF: 1.056–1.883). Pb was the least-accumulated and transported metal in the plant tissues, with the BCF and TF values of 0.019–0.048 and 0.038–0.116, respectively. The bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in the firing range soil decreased following the application of the three agricultural wastes studied. DTS, CC and EFB did not cause toxicity symptoms in the water spinach over the pot experiment. Therefore, DTS, CC and EFB are considered promising immobilising agents for the remediation of metal-contaminated land.