Estimating naphthenic acids concentrations in laboratory-exposed fish and in fish from the wild

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are the most water-soluble organic components found in the Athabasca oil sands in Alberta, Canada, and these acids are released into aqueous tailing waters as a result of bitumen extraction. Although the toxicity of NAs to fish is well known, there has been no method available to estimate NAs concentrations in fish. This paper describes a newly developed analytical method using single ion monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure NAs in fish, down to concentrations of approximately 0.1mgkg(-1) of fish flesh. This method was used to measure the uptake and depuration of commercial NAs in laboratory experiments. Exposure of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to 3mg NAsl(-1) for 9d gave a bioconcentration factor of approximately 2 at pH 8.2. Within 1d after the fish were transferred to NAs-free water, about 95% of the NAs were depurated. In addition, the analytical method was used to determine if NAs were present in four species of wild fish - northern pike (Esox lucius), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), walleye (Sander vitreus) - collected from near the oil sands. Flesh samples from 23 wild fish were analyzed, and 18 of these had no detectable NAs. Four fish (one of each species) contained NAs at concentrations from 0.2 to 2.8mgkg(-1). The GC-MS results from one wild fish presented a unique problem. However, with additional work it was concluded that the NAs concentration in this fish was <0.1mgkg(-1).     

Chloramphenicol influence on antioxidant enzymes with preliminary approach on microsomal CYP1A immunopositive-protein in Chamelea gallina

Chloramphenicol (CA) is a largely used antibiotic and it is an inhibitor of protein synthesis that also induces ROS production. In this work there were investigated activities and expressions in the Adriatic bivalve Chamelea gallina of some antioxidant and detoxification proteins like superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT) and Cytochrome P450 (CYP1A). Clams exposed to 5mgl(-1) of chloramphenicol were sampled 2, 4 and 8 days after treatment (CA2, CA4 and CA8). SODs, CAT, and CYP1A activity and/or expression were detected in pooled digestive glands by Western blotting and by spectrophotometrical analysis. Enzymes activities increase during the entire antibiotic exposure. With respect to the control Cu/Zn-SOD expression increases, while Mn-SOD expression decreases significantly after 4 days. Two CYP1A immunopositive-proteins (57.7 and 59.8kDa) were detected. The lower band significantly decreases in CA8, the upper one also in CA4 condition. High levels of Mn-SOD, CAT activity and Cu/Zn-SOD expression, indicate intense ROS production while Mn-SOD expression inhibition might be ascribable to mitochondrial alterations due to CA and indirectly to ROS. CYP1A1 action determines H(2)O(2) production that would contribute to a CYP1A1 gene promoter down regulation, a response to oxidative stress with the antioxidant enzymes activation as a final result. This study highlights the close association, in C. gallina, in presence of chloramphenicol, between SOD/CAT and CYP system, and it appear particularly interesting to the lack of similar researches on mollusc species.     

Characterization of demethylation of methylmercury in cultured astrocytes

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known neurotoxicant but its toxicity depends on the species present. A steady emergence of inorganic Hg in the brain following chronic and accidental exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) has suggested that MeHg can undergo demethylation. The objective of this study is to develop an in vitro model to study factors affecting Hg demethylation in the central nervous system. Astrocytes obtained from neonatal rat pups were cultured for 24h with 1 microM MeHg in the presence of two pro-oxidants, buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) and rotenone. The BSO treatment produced a 21% increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) content compared to the control (control vs. BSO; 100+/-1.35 vs. 121+/-1.52 relative fluorescence units (RFU)mg(-1) protein, p<0.001) but did not affect total Hg accumulation (control vs. BSO=86.5+/-4.14 ng mg(-1) vs. 95.7+/-9.26 ng mg(-1)). Rotenone increased ROS levels 107% (control vs. rotenone; 100%+/-1.35 vs. 207%+/-6.78RFU mg(-1)protein, p<0.001) and significantly increased the accumulation of total Hg (control vs. rotenone=86.5+/-4.14 ng mg(-1) vs. 124+/-3.80 ng mg(-1), p<0.001). There was no detectable demethylation in the control or BSO treated group, however, the rotenone treatment significantly increased the demethylation (control vs. rotenone=-1.86+/-5.57% vs. 16.3+/-2.68%, p<0.05). For the first time, we have demonstrated in an in vitro primary astrocyte culture model that MeHg can be converted to inorganic Hg and demethylation increases with oxidative stress. Our results provide a useful model to study demethylation of Hg in astrocytes and to explore potential ways to protect against Hg toxicity.     

Biodegradability of Poly (lactic acid), Preparation and Characterization of PLA/Gum Arabic Blends

In this study, the biodegradation of PLA films using microorganisms from Lake Bogoria (Kenya) were investigated. The biodegradation tests done using certain strains of thermophilic bacteria showed faster biodegradation rates and demonstrated temperature dependency. The biodegradation of the PLA films was studied using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and light microscopy. The biodegradation of PLA was demonstrated by decrease in molecular weight. The preparation and characterization of PLA/Gum Arabic blends were also investigated using DSC, TGA, TMA and NMR. In summary, the results obtained in this research show that PLA films undergo fast biodegradation using thermophiles isolated from Lake Bogoria. The PLA/GA blends studies show it is possible to prepare films of varying hydrophobic–hydrophilic properties for various applications.     

The impact of the 2004 tsunami on coastal Thai communities: assessing adaptive capacity

The suddenness and scale of the 26 December 2004 tsunami and the challenges posed to affected communities highlighted the benefits of their members having a capacity to confront and adapt to the consequences of such a disaster. Research into adaptive capacity or resilience has been conducted almost exclusively with Western populations. This paper describes an exploratory study of the potential of a measure of collective efficacy developed for Western populations to predict the capacity of members of a collective society, Thai citizens affected by the 2004 tsunami, to confront effectively the recovery demands associated with this disaster. Following a demonstration that this measure could predict adaptive capacity, the role of religious affiliation, ethnicity and place of residence in sustaining collective efficacy is discussed. The implications of the findings for future research on, and intervention to develop, adaptive capacity among Thai citizens in particular and collectivist societies in general are discussed.     

Mixing Processes in Geophysical and Astrophysical Flows – A Conference Report

The Third ERCOFTAC conference on `Mixing in Geophysical and Astrophysical Flows' was held at the University of Sheffield over the period 12–14 April 2000. The meeting attracted over forty participants from ten different countries. Some delegates had travelled from as far as U.S.A., Venezuela, Australia, Russia and Sweden to attend the conference. Nine invited papers were presented along with twenty-seven contributed oral presentations and six posters. The main topics discussed included stratified and rotating flows, gravity waves, turbulence and mixing. The presentations are summarised in this report, which aims to provide a broad account of current topics of interest related to mixing processes in geophysical and astrophysical flows.     

Avian Conservation under the Endangered Species Act: Expenditures versus Recovery Priorities

Abstract: Budget constraints require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prioritize species for recovery spending. Each listed species is ranked according to the degree of threat it faces, its recovery potential, and its taxonomic distinctness. We analyzed state and federal government expenditures for recovery of threatened and endangered birds ( n = 85 species) from 1992 to 1995 to determine if the priority system was being followed. Although recovery spending correlated with priority rank, priority rank explained <5% of the variation in spending. A small number of the same moderately ranked species dominated expenditures each year (41–79% of total annual budgets). Species with wide distributions, high recovery potential, and captive breeding programs received the most funding, and more funding than their priority ranks dictated. Island species received significantly less funding than expected based on priority rank. Twelve species, 10 of which resided on islands, received <$5000 at least once from 1992 to 1995. Recovery spending was unrelated to degree of threat, taxonomic distinctness, and migratory status. There also was no relationship between land-purchase expenditures and priority ranks. To improve the relationship between recovery spending on threatened and endangered birds and their priority rank, significant changes need to be made within the private sector ( less litigation and special-interest lobbying  ), U.S. Congress (increased budget and reduced earmarking  ), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (restructuring of regional offices and increased accountability).     

Environmental levels of sediment-associated tri-n-butyltin chloride (TBTCl) and ionic regulation in flounders during seawater adaptation

The effects of exposure to sediment-associated tri-n-butyltin chloride (TBTCl) were examined in the euryhaline European flounder, Platichthys flesus (L.). The effects were quantified by measuring the changes in sodium efflux; Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity; and the numbers, areas, and distribution of chloride cells in the gills of freshwater-adapted fish, following a rapid transfer to seawater. Following the transfer to seawater, the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity and the sodium efflux were significantly increased in the control group but remained unchanged in the TBTCl-exposed group. The normal morphological changes to the gill epithelium associated with seawater adaptation, which involve chloride cell distribution, took place in the control group but were significantly inhibited or delayed in the TBTCl group. The results presented in this study lead to the conclusion that environmental concentrations of tri-n-butyltin chloride in sediments are capable of significantly disrupting both the physiological and the morphological components of iono-regulatory functions of an estuarine flatfish.     

Foraging behavior of juvenile Carcinus maenas (L.) and Cancer pagurus L.

Information concerning the way juvenile crabs choose their diet from a variety of prey types can be useful for a better understanding of community dynamics, as well as for the adequate management of natural resources. Prey size and species selection by juvenile Carcinus maenas (15-35 mm carapace width, CW) and Cancer pagurus (20-40 mm CW) feeding on four bivalves of contrasting shell morphology were investigated. When offered a wide size range of Mytilus edulis, Ostrea edulis, Crassostrea gigas, and Cerastoderma edule presented individually, crabs generally showed evidence of size-selective predation. Cancer pagurus selected larger mussels relative to the size of their chelae (relative prey size, RPS) than did Carcinus maenas of similar and even larger carapace width. However, the RPS of selected O. edulis and Cerastoderma edule were similar for all crabs, suggesting that certain prey features constitute effective barriers even to the powerful chelae of Cancer pagurus. When offered a wide size range of mussels and oysters simultaneously, all crabs consistently selected mussels. When offered O. edulis and Crassostrea gigas, crabs consumed both these oyster species in similar numbers. Carcinus maenas consumed similar numbers of mussels and cockles; Cancer pagurus, however, showed no preference for either prey in the smaller size classes but selected more mussels than cockles as prey increased in size. Although previous studies report that adult Carcinus maenas select prey species according to their profitability (amount of food ingested per unit of handling time, milligrams per second), consumption rates of the size classes of prey selected by juvenile shore crabs did not always parallel prey value. Although variations in crab strength can account for many of the differences between the foraging strategy of juvenile and adult C. maenas, our results suggest that juvenile crabs are less species selective than adults as a result of the restrictions imposed on small individuals that have limited access to larger prey.