Levels of plasma B-esterases and glutathione-S-transferase activities in three South American toad species

We determined the normal levels of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carboxylesterase (CbE), and glutathione S-transferases (GST) activities in three South American toad species in order to establish reference values for field pesticide monitoring purposes. Interspecies variations in B-esterase and GST activities were examined according to body mass. In addition, comparative inhibition of BChE and CbE activities using malaoxon, and chemical reactivation of malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity using pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM) were investigated. Bufo fernandezae had average activity values for BChE: 17.31 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 621.49 nmol min^?1 ml^?1 and GST: 1.94 mmol min^?1 ml^?1 while B. arenarum enzymatic average activities were BChE: 9.51 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 270.07 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.59 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; finally Bufo schneideri had enzymatic mean values of BChE: 2.08 mmol min^?1 ml^?1; CbE: 301.95 nmol min^?1 ml^?1, and GST: 1.60 mmol min^?1 ml^?1. Moreover, we found an allometric relationship between plasma BChE and CbE activities and body size for the three toad species. We suggest that B. fernandezae would be the species with a higher tolerance capacity to organophosphorous insecticides compared to the other toad species, while B. schneideri may be the most vulnerable toad species to field pesticide exposure, although some other factors (e.g., brain AChE sensitivity or pesticide metabolism by phosphotriesterases) should be also taken into account. The malaoxon-inhibited BChE activity of the three toad species was reactivated in the presence of 2-PAM, and it is recommended as a specific and sensitive methodology in the assessment of field exposure to OP insecticides together to compare BChE activity levels between OP-exposed and nonexposed individuals.     

Shiny cowbirds share foster mothers but not true mothers in multiply parasitized mockingbird nests

Obligate brood parasitic birds, such as cowbirds, evade parental care duties by laying their eggs in the nests of other species. Cowbirds are assumed to avoid laying repeatedly in the same nest so as to prevent intrabrood competition between their offspring. However, because searching for host nests requires time and energy, laying more than one egg per nest might be favoured where hosts are large and can readily rear multiple parasites per brood. Such ‘repeat parasitism’ by females would have important consequences for parasite evolution because young parasites would then incur indirect fitness costs from behaving selfishly. We investigated shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) parasitism of a large host, the chalk-browed mockingbird (Mimus saturninus), in a population where over 70 % of the parasitized mockingbird nests receive multiple cowbird eggs. We assessed egg maternity directly, using cameras at nests to film the laying of individually-marked females. We also supplemented video data with evidence from egg morphology, after confirming that each female lays eggs of a consistent appearance. From 133 eggs laid, we found that less than 5 % were followed by the same female visiting the nest to lay again or to puncture eggs. Multiple eggs in mockingbird nests were instead the result of different females, with up to eight individuals parasitizing a single brood. Thus, while cowbird chicks regularly share mockingbird nests with conspecifics, these are unlikely to be their maternal siblings. Our results are consistent with shiny cowbird females following a one-egg-per-nest rule, even where hosts can rear multiple parasitic young.     

Biocompatible self-healing hydrogels based on boronic acid-functionalized polymer and laponite nanocomposite for water pollutant removal

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Global water pollution by organic dyes and metals may be solved by adsorption. In particular, hydrogel adsorbents display unique...     

Hydraulic jumps with low inflow Froude numbers: air–water surface patterns and transverse distributions of two-phase flow properties

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Hydraulic jumps are commonly employed as energy dissipators to guarantee long-term operation of hydraulic structures. A comprehensive and in-depth understanding of...     

Research progress on distribution,sources, identification,toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics in the ocean,freshwater, and soil environment

• Microplastics are widely found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. • Cleaning products and discarded plastic waste are primary sources of microplastics. • Microplastics have apparent toxic effects on the growth of fish and soil plants. • Multiple strains of biodegradable microplastics have been isolated. Microplastics (MPs) are distributed in the oceans, freshwater, and soil environment and have become major pollutants. MPs are generally referred to as plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter. They consist of primary microplastics synthesized in microscopic size manufactured production and secondary microplastics generated by physical and environmental degradation. Plastic particles are long-lived pollutants that are highly resistant to environmental degradation. In this review, the distribution and possible sources of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments are described. Moreover, the adverse effects of MPs on natural creatures due to ingestion have been discussed. We also have summarized identification methods based on MPs particle size and chemical bond. To control the pollution of MPs, the biodegradation of MPs under the action of different microbes has also been reviewed in this work. This review will contribute to a better understanding of MPs pollution in the environment, as well as their identification, toxicity, and biodegradation in the ocean, freshwater, and soil, and the assessment and control of microplastics exposure.     

Worldwide cases of water pollution by emerging contaminants: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Water contamination by emerging contaminants is increasing in the context of rising urbanization, industrialization, and agriculture production. Emerging...     

天津市地表水体与沉积物中7种高关注酚类化合物的污染特征与生态风险分析

为探究地表水体与沉积物中酚类化合物的污染分布特征和生态风险,选择天津市3个水源地与6条主要河流,采集了26个地表水样与6个沉积物样品,利用固相萃取与超声萃取、高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(HPLC-MS/MS)测定了水样及沉积物中1-萘酚(1-naphthol)、壬基酚(nonylphenol, NP)、双酚A(bisphenol A, BPA)、2-苯基苯酚(biphenyl-2-ol)、3,4-二氯酚(3,4-dichlorophenol)、四溴双酚A(tetrabromobisphenol A, TBBPA)和对叔丁基苯酚(p-tert-butylphenol, PTBP)等7种高关注酚类化合物的浓度水平,并应用物种敏感性分布(species sensitivity distribution, SSD)法和熵值法(ecological risk quotient, RQ)评估7种酚类化合物水环境和沉积物的生态风险。结果表明,地表水样中7种酚类化合物均全部检出;其中壬基酚的检出浓度最高,其次为四溴双酚A、对叔丁基苯酚、1-萘酚、2-苯基苯酚、3,4-二氯酚和双酚A。沉积物中酚类化合物的污染分布规律与水样相似,除双酚A外的目标物全部检出。其中,壬基酚浓度比其他物质浓度高2个数量级。风险评估结果显示,壬基酚对水环境与沉积物存在不可接受的风险;而四溴双酚A、对叔丁基苯酚、1-萘酚、2-苯基苯酚、3,4-二氯酚和双酚A则对环境具有较低风险或者存在一定的风险。     

山东省农田土壤中拟除虫菊酯类农药污染特征与风险评价

在山东省范围内采集农田表层土壤样品91个,采用气相色谱法分析了7种拟除虫菊酯类农药(SPs)的含量和组成,分析了其分布特征,比较了大田土壤和大棚土壤中该类农药含量的差异,并评价了其生态风险.结果表明,7种拟除虫菊酯类农药总含量(∑_7SPs)范围在0.01—88.51μg·kg~(-1)之间,均值为5.65μg·kg~(-1).与国内其他地区农田土壤相比,山东省农田土壤中拟除虫菊酯含量处于中等偏低水平.山东省各地区的拟除虫菊酯含量存在差异,但组成相近,均是高效氯氟氰菊酯、联苯菊酯和氯氰菊酯的比例较高.部分地区大棚土壤中的含量高于大田土壤.风险评价结果表明,山东省农田土壤个别采样点中甲氰菊酯和高效氯氟氰菊酯具有生态风险,三分之一的采样点存在潜在生态风险,其余采样点不存在生态风险.     

煤炭生物脱硫正交实验研究

通过对取自城门山,杨桃坞,德兴和云南的嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans)的生理活性的研究比较,选取了氧化活性较好的德兴菌种做正交试验.应用正交试验的方法研究了浸出时间,煤浆质量分数,pH值和接种量这4个因素的组合作用对煤炭生物脱硫效果的影响.对试验结果进行极差分析和方差分析,结果表明各因素对脱硫效果的影响有很大差异.在所研究因素的水平范围内,浸出时间对煤脱硫效率的影响最为显著,影响率达到74.21%;pH值对煤脱硫效率的影响也很显著,影响率为16.80%;接种量对煤脱硫效率的影响较为显著的,其影响率仅为5.27%;煤浆质量分数对脱硫效率的影响率最低,仅为1.78%.通过对正交试验的实验结果的直接观察,极差分析和方差分析,获得了三个可能的最优方案.其中通过实验结果直接观察得到的最优方案的脱硫率可达63.80%.