Tributyltin causes abnormal development in embryos of medaka, Oryzias latipes

We examined the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on embryonic development, hatching success and sexual differentiation in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Embryos (within 8h after fertilization) were exposed to TBT in ovo via nanoinjection at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.16, 0.80, 3.96, 19.2 and 82.1 ng/egg. Embryonic survival, development and hatching were observed. Hatched fry were reared until 60 days when they sexually matured, and sexual differentiation was also examined by accordance of genetic and phenotypic sex, based on existence of DMY (a male determining gene in medaka) and secondary sex characteristics. As results, TBT caused a concentration-dependent mortality and impaired the embryonic development. However, no masculinization was detected at 60 dph medaka adults. Lowest observed effective concentration for inducing abnormal embryonic development was estimated to 0.16 ng/egg (ca. 160 ng/g egg).     

Unusual arsenic speciation in sea anemones

Nine species of sea anemones (Anthopleura asiatica, Actinia equina, Actinodendron arboreum, Phymanthus loligo, Entacmaea actinostoloides, Stichodactyla gigantea, S. haddoni, S. mertensii and Metridium senile) contained arsenic in the range of 1.6-7.0microg As g(-1) (wet mass basis). Irrespective of the species, water-soluble arsenic compounds accounted for more than 80% of the total arsenic. Analysis of water-soluble arsenic compounds by LC/ESI-MS revealed that four arsenicals, arsenobetaine (AB), trimethylarsoniopropionate, arsenocholine (AC) and tetramethylarsonium ion (TEMA), are contained in most species but arsenate, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid and trimethylarsine oxide are absent in all species. Interestingly, compositional patterns of the four arsenicals greatly differed from species to species. Only three species (S. gigantea, S. haddoni and M. senile) contained AB at the highest proportions, similar to the majority of marine animals. However, the remaining six species showed unusual compositional patterns of arsenic compounds; AC was most predominant in A. arboreum and P. loligo and TEMA in A. asiatica, A. equina, E. actinostoloides and S. mertensii. On the whole, high proportions (24.6-87.1% of the water-soluble arsenic) of TEMA appear to be a peculiar characteristic of many species of sea anemones. Thus, sea anemones are an important animal group in the arsenic cycling, especially in that they may be donors of TEMA to predators.     

Pharyngeal aspiration of single-wall carbon nanotubes aggravates allergic reaction to inhaled ovalbumin in mice

Single-wall carbon nanotubes are a major type of nano-objects that have industrial applications such as fuel cells. In this study, four types of single-wall carbon nanotubes and their abilities to aggravate allergic reactions were examined: those containing Fe, those containing Ni, and the corresponding purified metal-free ones. These were administered to mice via pharyngeal aspiration. Subsequently, the mice inhaled ovalbumin a total of eight times over three weeks. After inhalation of ovalbumin, the concentrations of total immunoglobulin E and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E in serum increased in mice treated with purified metal-free and Fe containing single-wall carbon nanotubes while those containing Ni did not affect total and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E levels. Additionally, the purified metal-free and Fe containing nanotubes caused the gene expression of heme oxygenase-1, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2, and tumor necrosis factor-α, suggesting that some kinds of single-wall carbon nanotubes have the potential to aggravate allergic reactions via oxidative stress and inflammation. Incorporated metals do not seem to be involved in the aggravation of allergic reactions. Other physical properties, such as fiber length and aggregation state, may be involved in enhancing allergic reactions.     

Transformation of diphenylarsinic acid in agricultural soils

We investigated the transformation and fate of diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) during incubation in two types of soils (Entisol and Andisol) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions only, DPAA was transformed into methyldiphenylarsine oxide by methylation. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, DPAA was degraded to phenylarsonic acid by dephenylation, and phenylarsonic acid was subsequently methylated to form methylphenylarsinic acid and dimethylphenylarsine oxide. The degradation of DPAA in the Andisol was less extensive than in the Entisol. In autoclaved soil under anaerobic conditions, DPAA underwent little degradation during the 24-wk incubation. In unautoclaved soils, the concentration of DPAA in soil clearly decreased after 24 wk of incubation, indicating that DPAA degradation was driven by microbial activity.     

N2O Emissions at Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Osaka City

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a trace gas contributing to stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming. Although a large quantity of information exists about N₂O emissions from various ecosystems, this study was initiated to demonstrate the features of N₂O emissions from sea-based waste disposal sites in Osaka City in relation to CH₄ emissions.

Average N₂O emissions at an active landfill (S-Site) were several times higher than those at a closed landfill (N Site). Average CH₄ emissions were also much greater at the S-Site. Regarding the nature of N₂O emissions, remarkable emissions often were observed with aerobic waste layers at the N-Site, suggesting almost inversely related N₂O emissions with CH₄ production at the N-Site. However, at the S-Site a few exceptionally high N₂O emissions were noted in cases of high CH₄ emissions.     

Effect of 17beta-estradiol on the reproduction of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Estrogenic compounds such as 17beta-estradiol (E2) and its analogs are present in the aquatic environment and can adversely affect the reproductive systems of aquatic organisms. Although E2 has been detected at a maximum concentration of 64 ng/l in effluents of sewage treatment works (STWs), few reports address the associated effects on reproduction in fish. Therefore, we exposed adult medaka (Oryzias latipes) to mean measured E2 concentrations of 29.3, 55.7, 116, 227, and 463 ng/l for 21 d and assessed the effects on the egg number and fertility of paired medaka during the exposure period. In addition, we determined the hepatic vitellogenin (Vtg) concentration and histologically assessed the gonads of these fish. The number of egg produced and fertility of the paired medaka exposed to 463 ng/l E2 were significantly less compared with those of the control fish. Males in all treatment groups had developed testis-ova. Males treated with E2 concentrations = 55.7 ng/l contained relating great concentrations of hepatic Vtg. Therefore, although only the greatest E2 concentration tested in our study affected fecundity and fertility, effects of E2 were observed on induction of Vtg and testis-ova in male medaka exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of E2.     

Synthesis and characterization of m- and p-methylbenzyl-mercapturic acids derived from m- and p-xylenes

Chemical synthesis and physical properties of two mercapturic acids suggested as urinary metabolites of m- and p-xylenes ace described. These compounds may be used for the identification and quantivative determination by high-performance liquid chromatography of the corresponding mercapturic acids in urine.     

水体氮磷浓度对两种沉水植物上附着藻类的影响

为了了解富营养化进程中湖泊水体氮、磷浓度升高对不同沉水植物上附着藻类的影响,通过室内模拟实验,设置3组不同氮磷浓度,研究了常见的沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria natans(Lour.)Hara)和狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum L.)上附着藻类生物量及其种群组成.结果表明,附着藻类生物量随水体氮、磷浓度的升高呈显著增加的趋势;狐尾藻上附着藻类生物量均高于苦草,且随富营养化水体氮、磷浓度升高差距越来越大.不同沉水植物上藻类群落组成均以硅藻门、蓝藻门及绿藻门占优势,但优势藻组成和优势藻数量存在差异.研究结果不仅丰富了淡水水体附着藻类生态学的理论知识,也可为富营养化湖泊生态修复过程中沉水植物群落的构建提供一定的理论依据.     

硅肥施用对重金属污染土壤甘蔗镉吸收的影响研究初探

长期采用受铁矿尾矿水污染的河水进行灌溉的农田,其土壤存在一定重金属镉污染,且土壤酸化严重,有效硅活性低。甘蔗是需硅量较大的植物,因此在甘蔗种植过程中施用碱性硅肥既可补充硅营养又可通过硅肥控制镉的吸收。本试验通过硅肥不同施用量及基肥、基肥＋追肥的施用方式的比较,结果表明：在甘蔗种植中一次性施用硅肥1500 kg·hm-2,可以使土壤中活性较高的弱酸提取态镉占镉总量的比例从38.45%下降到32.51%,而甘蔗不能利用的残渣态镉的占比从11.19%提高到14.78%;硅肥分为基肥与追肥两次施用的方式,其对土壤镉的形态的影响也存在相似的规律,且变化趋势更加显著,弱酸提取态镉占比从40.93%下降到35.47%,降幅更加显著;同样残渣态镉则随着硅肥施用量的增加而增加,其占比从16.26%增加到22.66%;施用硅肥能有效降低甘蔗汁中镉的含量,从一次性作为基肥施用的结果来看,每公顷施用375~1500 kg硅肥,其蔗汁中镉含量随施肥量增加而下降,从168.54μg·L-1降至57.87μg·L-1,降幅为28.26%~60.30%;蔗渣中镉含量也有相似的变化趋势,从468.36μg·kg-1降至377.77μg·kg-1,降幅为7.86%~19.34%;采用基肥＋追肥施用硅肥,无论是蔗汁还是蔗渣,其镉的含量同样随硅肥施用量的增加而下降,蔗汁镉含量的降幅更大,最高可降81.18%,从而达到降低甘蔗汁及蔗渣中镉含量水平的目的。     

水分管理对重金属在水稻根区及在水稻中积累的影响

选取了酸性矿山废水污灌区重金属污染水稻土,通过盆栽试验,研究了不同水分管理条件（60%最大田间持水量,80%最大田间持水量,最大田间持水量,前期淹水＋抽穗扬花期烤田,全生育期淹水）下水稻根际土壤及其不同器官（稻根、茎叶和籽粒）中As、Cd、Cu和Zn的含量变化。结果表明：土壤水分含量对水稻根际土壤中As、Cu和Zn的含量影响不大。但显著影响水稻不同器官对这3种元素的吸收积累。随着土壤水分含量的增加,水稻根、茎叶和籽粒中As的含量都显著增加;Cu的含量则逐渐减少;水稻茎叶中Zn含量也逐渐减少,但水稻根和籽粒中Zn含量则变化不明显。抽穗扬花期拷田能显著降低As在水稻中的积累,显著增加水稻茎叶中Zn的积累;但不影响水稻各器官中Cu,以及水稻根和籽粒中Zn的含量。此外,虽然这3种重金属在土壤中含量均超标,但在水稻籽粒中含量只有Zn全部超标,而Cu则都不超标,因此,农作物的超标情况并不直接与土壤的重金属超标相联系。