Chlorpyrifos acute exposure induces hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in rats

In this study we evaluated the hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic effects of chlorpyrifos (CPF) after an acute exposure in rats. The mechanisms involved in hyperglycemia induced by CPF were studied. A single dose of CPF (50 mg kg⁻¹, subcutaneous, s.c.) was administered to overnight-fasted rats. Glucose and corticosterone levels, lipid status and paraoxonase (PON1) activity were determined in plasma of rats. Cardiovascular risk factors and the atherogenic index were calculated. Glycogen levels, tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activities were determined in livers of rats. Cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was also determined. CPF caused an increase in glucose and glycogen levels as well as in TAT and G6Pase activities. The CPF exposure caused an increase in corticosterone levels, an inhibition of AChE activity and a reduction of PON1 activity. Regarding the lipid status, CPF induced an increase in triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) levels and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels associated with an increase of cardiovascular risk factors and the atherogenic index. The present study demonstrated that a single CPF administration caused hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in rats. The activation of the gluconeogenesis pathway, probably elicited by hypercorticosteronemia, is involved in the hyperglycemic effect of CPF in rats.     

Effects of impervious cover on the surface water quality and aquatic ecosystem of the Kyeongan stream in South Korea

The extent of impervious cover in a watershed has been linked to the quality of an urban aquatic environment. The Kyeongan watershed in South Korea was investigated to evaluate the relationship between the total impervious area (TIA) and the aquatic ecosystem of the watershed, including water quality and aquatic life using a relatively high-resolution (0.4 m) image. The TIA was found to be approximately 12% of the watershed, which indicates that the quality of its environment was being adversely affected by it. For water quality, Pearson correlation analyses showed that all water quality parameters studied were found to be positively correlated with TIA at p < 0.01, except for nitrate (NO3-). In addition, the zone with a higher TIA was found to have worse water quality. Some water quality parameters, such as nitrite (NO2-), total phosphorus, and phosphate (PO4(3-)) were highly affected by discharges from wastewater treatment plants. Water quality data suggest that TIA could be used to predict the water quality of streams. For ecological parameters, the diatom index for organic pollution and trophic diatom index were found to be highly correlated with TIA, whereas physical habitat and benthic macroinvertebrates were poorly correlated with TIA. However, the results indicate that the extent of impervious cover can be a useful indicator for predicting the status of specific ecosystem of streams.     

Diphenyl diselenide attenuates hepatic and hematologic toxicity induced by chlorpyrifos acute exposure in rats

Purpose

In this study, we investigated the effect of diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)₂] on chlorpyrifos (CPF)-induced hepatic and hematologic toxicity in rats.

Methods

Rats were pre-treated with (PhSe)₂ (5?mg/kg) via the oral route (oral gavage) once a day for 7?days. On the eighth and ninth days, rats were treated with (PhSe)₂ (5?mg/kg) 30?min prior to CPF (50?mg/kg, by subcutaneous route). The aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities were determined in plasma of rats. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, and non-protein thiol levels as well as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and gluthatione S-transferase activities were determined in livers of rats. Hematological parameters were also determined.

Results

The results showed that CPF caused hepatic oxidative damage, as demonstrated by an increase in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl levels which was associated with a decrease in antioxidant defenses. CPF exposure caused a reduction in the leukocyte, indicating hematologic toxicity. (PhSe)₂ was effective in attenuating these toxic effects caused by CPF exposure in rats.

Conclusions

The results indicated that (PhSe)₂ was effective in protecting the hepatic and hematologic toxicity induced by acute CPF exposure in rats.     

Conductive-diamond electrochemical oxidation of chlorpyrifos in wastewater and identification of its main degradation products by LC-TOFMS

The electrochemical transformation of the organophosphorous insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) was investigated in wastewater. The oxidation of CPF was carried out in a single-compartment electrochemical flow cell working under batch operation mode, using diamond-based material as anode and stainless steel as cathode. In order to evaluate its persistence and degradation pathway, two different concentration levels (1.0 mg L⁻¹ and 0.1 mg L⁻¹) were studied. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used for evaluation of the initial and electrolyzed solutions. The identification of CPF transformation products was performed by liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOFMS). Results showed that CPF is completely removed at the end of treatment time. Analysis by LC-TOFMS allowed the identification of six degradation products (with Mw 154, 170, 197, 305 321 and 333). Three of the identified intermediates (Mw 170, 305 and 321) were completely removed at the end of electrolysis time. Interestingly, the formation of diethyl 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2yl phosphate (chlorpyrifos oxon) and 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol was also found in previous reported degradation pathways using different degradation technologies.     

Pesticide residues in Portuguese strawberries grown in 2009–2010 using integrated pest management and organic farming

Pesticides are among the most widely used chemicals in the world. Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets. Scientists do not yet have a total understanding of the health effects of these pesticide residues. This work aims to determine differences in terms of pesticide residue content in Portuguese strawberries grown using different agriculture practices. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe sample preparation method was conducted and shown to have good performance for multiclass pesticides extraction in strawberries. The screening of 25 pesticides residue was performed by gas chromatography?Ctandem mass spectrometry. In quantitative validation, acceptable performances were achieved with recoveries of 70?C120 and <12?% residual standard deviation for 25 pesticides. Good linearity was obtained for all the target compounds, with highly satisfactory repeatability. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.1?C28???g/kg. The method was applied to analyze strawberry samples from organic and integrated pest management (IPM) practices harvested in 2009?C2010. The results showed the presence of fludioxonil, bifenthrin, mepanipyrim, tolylfluanid, cyprodinil, tetraconazole, and malathion when using IPM below the maximum residue levels.     

The bioaccumulation and translocation of Fe,Zn, and Cu in species of mushrooms from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Russula</Emphasis> genus

Introduction  

Many previous studies revealed a high ability of mushrooms to accumulate heavy metals from environment. This paper concerns the capacity of some wild macromycetes belonging to Russula genus to accumulate heavy metals in natural condition of pH (between 6.5 and 6.8) and the pattern of metal translocation in the fruiting body.     

Phosphorus effect on Zn adsorption-desorption kinetics in acid soils

The adsorption-desorption kinetics of Zn in the absence and presence of P was studied by using the stirred flow chamber technique. The results thus obtained were compared with those previously obtained for Cu. As with copper, the simultaneous addition of P and Zn in a 1:1 mole ratio to soil was found to significantly increased Zn adsorption relative to the absence of P. Unlike Cu, however, Zn was only adsorbed at fast adsorption sites in the absence of P. In any case, the increased adsorption of Zn in the presence of P was largely due to slow adsorption sites, where Zn²⁺ ion acted as a bridging element between P and organic matter. Following adsorption in both the presence and absence of P, Zn was desorbed to a much higher extent than was Cu. However, the proportion of Zn desorbed after adsorption in the presence of P was significantly lower than in the absence of P. This indicates that Zn binds more strongly to adsorbing surfaces in the presence of P than in its absence.     

Lichens as an integrating tool for monitoring PAH atmospheric deposition: A comparison with soil, air and pine needles

The aim of this study was to validate lichens as biomonitors of PAH atmospheric deposition; for that, an inter-comparison between the PAH profile and concentrations intercepted in lichens with those of air, soil and pine needles was performed. The study was conducted in a petro-industrial area and the results showed that PAH profiles in lichens were similar to those of the air and pine needles, but completely different from those of soils. Lichens accumulated higher PAH concentrations when compared to the other environmental compartments and its concentrations were significantly and linearly correlated with concentrations of PAHs in soil; we showed that a translation of the lichen PAHs concentrations into regulatory standards is possible, fulfilling one of the most important requirements of using lichens as biomonitors. With lichens we were then able to characterize the air PAHs profile of urban, petro-industrial and background areas.     

Esterase inhibition in tadpoles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scinax fuscovarius</Emphasis> (Anura,Hylidae) as a biomarker for exposure to organophosphate pesticides

Purpose  

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are among the most used insecticides in agriculture, causing the inhibition of esterases like acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE). Pesticides can reach the aquatic environment, posing risks to non-target organisms, including tadpoles.     

Effects of tertiary treatment by fungi on organic compounds in a kraft pulp mill effluent

Background, aim and scope  

Pulp and paper mills generate a plethora of pollutants depending upon the type of pulping process. Efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of such effluents have been made by developing more effective biological treatment systems in terms of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, colour and lignin content. This study is the first that reports an evaluation of the effects of a tertiary treatment by fungi (Pleurotus sajor caju, Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Rhizopus oryzae) on individual organic compounds of a Eucalyptus globulus bleached kraft pulp and paper mill final effluent after secondary treatment (final effluent).