Elevated water temperature reduces the acute toxicity of the widely used herbicide diuron to a green alga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

In the actual environment, temperatures fluctuate drastically through season or global warming and are thought to affects risk of pollutants for aquatic biota; however, there is no report about the effect of water temperature on toxicity of widely used herbicide diuron to fresh water microalgae. The present research investigated inhibitory effect of diuron on growth and photosynthetic activity of a green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata at five different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) for 144 h of exposure. As a result, effective diuron concentrations at which a 50 % decrease in algal growth occurred was increased with increasing water temperature ranging from 9.2 to 20.1 μg L^–1 for 72 h and 9.4–28.5 μg L^–1 for 144 h. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F _v/F _m ratio) was significantly reduced at all temperatures by diuron exposure at 32 μg L^–1 after 72 h. Inhibition rates was significantly increased with decreased water temperature (P?<?0.01). Intracellular H₂O₂ levels as an indicator of oxidative stress were also decreased with increasing temperature in both control and diuron treatment groups and were about 2.5 times higher in diuron treatment groups than that of controls (P?<?0.01). Our results suggest water temperatures may affect the toxicokinetics of diuron in freshwater and should therefore be considered in environmental risk assessment.     

Bulk deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an industrial site of Turkey

Ambient air and deposition samples were collected in the period of July 2004-May 2005 in an industrial district of Bursa, Turkey and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds. The overall average of fourteen bulk deposition fluxes for PAHs was 3300+/-5100 ng m(-2) d(-1). PAH depositions showed a seasonal variation and they were higher in winter months. This was probably due to increases in residential heating activities and decreases in atmospheric mixing layer levels. Ambient air samples, measured with a high volume air sampler, were collected from the same site. The average total concentration including gas and particulate phase was about 300+/-420 ng m(-3) and it was in the range of previously reported values. Some of the ambient air and bulk deposition samples were collected simultaneously in dry periods. Both concurrently measured values were used to calculate the dry deposition velocities whose overall average value was 0.45+/-0.35 cm s(-1).     

Hepatoprotective potential of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil against hexavalent chromium-induced hematotoxicity,biochemical, histological,and immunohistochemical changes in male rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) is widely known as a potential hepatotoxic in humans and animals and its toxicity is associated with oxidative stress. So,...     

Alteration of male reproductive system in rats fed on red or white meat from tuna fish caught in the Gulf of Gab��s in Tunisian coast

Fish, a widely claimed healthy food for humans, could also pose problems to health due to (1) accumulation of pollutants, especially heavy metals, (2) presence of marine toxins such as tetrodotoxin, ciguatoxin or okadaic acid and (3) metabolic production of large amount of uric acid which may crystallize in kidney or in articulations. As tuna fish represents a large part of the traditional food in some countries, the possible impact of its consumption on public health was investigated, with special attention to biochemical and histological alterations related to the genital function. For that purpose, white or red muscle from tuna fish was added for 60 days to the diet of male rats, and attention was paid to biochemical and histological alterations related to the genital function. Feeding rats with white muscle, and much more markedly with red muscle known to be more metabolically active, resulted in (1) an elevated uric acid level in blood, (2) an increase in lead level in testis, (3) an atrophy of the genital tract, including testes, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles, (4) a lowering of plasma testosterone level, (5) a decrease in spermatozoids number and motility, (6) an oxidative stress in testes including an increase in lipids peroxidation level and enhanced superoxide-dismutase, catalase and glutathione-peroxidase activities. We conclude that consumption of tuna fish meat, especially the dark one, should be reduced.     

Fate and effect of 2,4-dichlorophenol on biological treatment processes

The fate and effect of continuous feeding of increasing doses of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) were investigated. At the beginning of each run, a drop in the efficiency of the system was recorded, after which a steady state was obtained. Continuous feeding of DCP up to a concentration of 50 mg L^?1 reduced BOD₅ and COD removal rates by 27% and 29%, respectively. Application of shock doses of DCP showed that adaptation increases the capacity of biological systems for removing toxic chemicals.     

Interactions of zinc and cadmium toxicity in their effects on growth and in antioxidative systems in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum)

The interaction between zinc and cadmium was investigated in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). Ten-day-old seedlings were treated with 10 μmol/L CDC12 associated to different concentrations of ZnC12 (10, 50, 100, and 150 μmol/L). Zn supply clearly reduced Cd accumulation in leaves and simultaneously increased Zn concentration. Cd induced oxidative stress in leaves as indicated by an increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level and chlorophyll breakdown. Furthermore, compared with control, Cdtreate plants had significantly higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), whereas, catalase (CAT, EC 1.111.1.6),ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) activities were significantly suppressed by Cd addition. Zn supplementation, at low level, restored and enhanced the functional activity of these enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and GR) as compared to Cd-alone-treated plants. The beneficial effect of adequate Zn level on Cd toxicity was confirmed by a significant decrease in TBARS level and restoration of chlorophyll content. However, when Zn was added at high level in combination with Cd there was an accumulation of oxidative stress, which was higher than that for Cd or excess Zn alone treatments. These results suggested that higher Zn concentrations and Cd are synergistic in their effect on plant growth parameters and oxidative stress.     

Spongy Ni/Fe carbonate-fluorapatite catalyst for efficient conversion of cooking oil waste into biodiesel

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Biodiesel produced from animal and plant fat oils is sustainable, but there is a need for efficient heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of crude oils...     

Interactions of zinc and cadmium toxicity in their effects on growth and in antioxidative systems in tomato plants （Solanum lycopersicum）

The interaction between zinc and cadmium was investigated in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). Ten-day-old seedlings were treated with 10 mol/L CdCl2 associated to di erent concentrations of ZnCl2 (10, 50, 100, and 150 mol/L). Zn supply clearly reduced Cd accumulation in leaves and simultaneously increased Zn concentration. Cd induced oxidative stress in leaves as indicated by an increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level and chlorophyll breakdown. Furthermore, compared with control, Cdtreated plants had significantly higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), whereas, catalase (CAT, EC 1.111.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) activities were significantly suppressed by Cd addition. Zn supplementation, at low level, restored and enhanced the functional activity of these enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and GR) as compared to Cd-alone-treated plants. The beneficial e ect of adequate Zn level on Cd toxicity was confirmed by a significant decrease in TBARS level and restoration of chlorophyll content. However, when Zn was added at high level in combination with Cd there was an accumulation of oxidative stress, which was higher than that for Cd or excess Zn alone treatments. These results suggested that higher Zn concentrations and Cd are synergistic in their e ect on plant growth parameters and oxidative stress.     

Metal uptake capability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyperus articulatus</Emphasis> L. and its role in mitigating heavy metals from contaminated wetlands

Wetland plants are biological filters that play an important role in maintaining aquatic ecosystem and can take up toxic metals from sediments and water. The present study investigated the seasonal variation in the accumulation potential of heavy metals by Cyperus articulatus in contaminated watercourses. Forty quadrats, distributed equally in 8 sites (six contaminated sites along Ismailia canal and two uncontaminated sites along the River Nile), were selected seasonally for sediment, water, and plant investigations. Autumn was the flourishing season of C. articulatus with the highest shoot density, length, and diameter as well as aboveground biomass, while summer showed the least growth performance. The photosynthetic pigments were markedly reduced under contamination stress. C. articulatus plants accumulated concentrations of most heavy metals, except Pb, in their roots higher than the shoots. The plant tissues accumulated the highest concentrations of Fe, Cd, Ni, and Zn during autumn, while Cu and Mn during spring, and Cr and Co during winter. It was found that Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Co had seasonal bioaccumulation factor (BF) > 1 with the highest BF for Cd, Ni, and Zn during autumn, Co, Cu, and Pb in winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The translocation factor of most heavy metals, except Pb in spring, was <1 indicating potential phytostabilization of these metals. In conclusion, autumn is an ideal season for harvesting C. articulatus in order to monitor pollution in contaminated wetlands.