Mutagenicity of anaerobic fenitrothion metabolites after aerobic biodegradation

Previous studies have revealed that the mutagenicity of fenitrothion increases during anaerobic biodegradation, suggesting that this insecticide's mutagenicity could effectively increase after it pollutes anaerobic environments such as lake sediments. To investigate possible changes to the mutagenicity of fenitrothion under aerobic conditions after it had already been increased by anaerobic biodegradation, batch incubation cultures were maintained under aerobic conditions. The mutagenicity, which had increased during anaerobic biodegradation, decreased under aerobic conditions with aerobic or facultative bacteria, but did not disappear completely in 22 days. In contrast, it did not change under aerobic conditions without bacteria or under continued anaerobic conditions. These observations suggest that the mutagenicity of anaerobically metabolized fenitrothion would not necessarily decrease after it arrives in an aerobic environment: this would depend on the presence of suitable bacteria. Therefore, fenitrothion-derived mutagenic compounds may pollute the water environment, including our drinking water sources, after accidental pollution of aerobic waters. Although amino-fenitrothion generated during anaerobic biodegradation of fenitrothion was the principal mutagen, non-trivial contributions of other, unidentified metabolites to the mutagenicity were also observed.     

Relationships between the abnormalities of the male reproductive organs and the accumulation of phenol compounds in the striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius, inhabiting Korea

The relationships between the abnormalities of the male reproductive organs in striped field mice and the accumulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals were assessed. Most mice collected at three areas were contaminated with phenol or organotin compounds. Fourteen to 42% of the mice at each area had abnormally shrunken reproductive organs, and some of them were contaminated with high levels of phenol compounds. Moreover, all the shrunken reproductive organs were damaged in the histological structure. The damage was observed also from several mice accumulating a high level of phenol compounds even though they had normally developed reproductive organs, although no damage was found in the mice accumulating a high level of organotin compounds. Collectively, the abnormalities of the reproductive organs in the mice seemed to be related to the accumulation of phenol compounds rather than of organotin compounds.     

Triterpenoid and caffeic acid derivatives in the leaves of ragweed, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia artemisiifolia</Emphasis> L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), as feeding stimulants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophraella communa</Emphasis> LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary. The leaf beetle Ophraella communa infests almost exclusively Ambrosia artemisiifolia in the fields of Japan, even though it normally feeds on several Asteraceous plants. A filter paper bioassay showed that the feeding of O. communa is strongly stimulated by methanolic extracts of A. artemisiifolia. The feeding stimulants for O. communa have been isolated from methanolic extracts of A. artemisiifolia. -Amyrin acetate, -amyrin acetate, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid from A. artemisiifolia have been identified as feeding stimulants for O. communa. Triterpenoid derivatives (-amyrin acetate or -amyrin acetate) and caffeic acid derivatives (3, 5-dicaffoylquinic acid or 5-caffeoylquinic acid) showed feeding stimulant activity when mixed together.     

The distribution of molybdenum in the tissues of wild ducks

The Mo contents and the relations between Mo and Cu or Crcontents were investigated in the organs of Japanese wild ducks(spotbill duck, pintail, wigeon, scaup and tufted duck). Thehighest Mo content in kidney and liver of the dabbling duckswere more than 30 g g^-1 dry weight (g g^-1 d.wt.), though that of diving ducks were less than 11 gg^-1 d. wt. The contents were lower in the ducks migratingwithin Japan, Eurasia and North America than those in the birdsmigrating between Japan and Eurasia. The contents of liver inall species were more than 50 and less than 5 g g^-1 d.wt. for Cu and Cr, respectively. Significant correlations werefound between Mo and both elements in pintail and scaup, and Moand Cr in tufted duck. These results suggest that thecontamination of wild ducks reflects the reproductive area, andnot the collected area. Mo contents closely correlated with theCu and/or Cr contaminations.     

Recovery of gold by chicken egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads

We have successfully prepared a bead-type adsorbent from two materials with different adsorption characteristics. Heavy metals were removed by greatly swollen egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads. The egg shell membrane accumulated and removed precious metal ions from a dilute aqueous solution with a high affinity in a short contact time. Experiments suggested that chitosan beads could take up gold ions with great capacity and selectivity by conjugation with egg shell membrane. Under certain conditions, the selective removal of gold and copper in a mixture of gold and copper ions by egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads was 100% and 2%, respectively. Egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads can be seen as a promising material to recover gold in wastewater from various industries, such as electroplating.     

Eco-friendly recovery process of lithium from reduction roasting residue powder based on hydrothermal extraction

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - To cater to the increasing demand for secondary lithium-ion batteries, the recovery of valuable metal species in spent batteries is increasingly...     

Behavioral and electroantennographic responsiveness of adult butterflies of six nymphalid species to food-derived volatiles

While adults of most species of butterflies visit flowers for food (nectar), those of certain species can feed on rotting food (e.g., exuded tree sap and rotting fruits). These food sources considerably differ in odor; flowers emit species-specific scents and rotting-food odors are characterized by fermentation products. To determine whether adult butterflies have different olfactory performances adaptive to their food selections, we examined the following responses of naïve adults of six nymphalid species, namely, Nymphalis xanthomelas, Kaniska canace, Vanessa indica, Cynthia cardui, Hypolimnas bolina, and Argyreus hyperbius: the proboscis extension reflex (PER) was evaluated as the behavioral criterion of preference for scent compounds, and the electroantennographic (EAG) response was assessed as the sensory criterion of antennal perception. All of these species are nectarivorous, but N. xanthomelas, K. canace, and V. indica also forage rotting food. The PERs to 52 tested compounds were in good agreement with the food habits of these butterflies. The six species showed high PERs to several aromatic compounds widely found in flower scents. Fermentation products such as ethanol and acetic acid elicited intermediate to high responses from the three species feeding on rotting foods. The other three species showed low PERs to these compounds, and acetic acid strongly inhibited the PER-eliciting activities of the other compounds. These results demonstrate that the olfactory preference for fermentation products is a characteristic of the rotting-food feeders. The spectrum of EAG responses to 37 tested compounds was relatively similar among the six species. Particular acyclic aliphatic compounds, including green leaf volatiles, elicited high EAG responses from all the species. Despite a high PER-eliciting activity, most aromatic compounds induced intermediate EAG responses; however, ethanol and acetic acid evoked very weak responses. The results suggest that in food selection, adult butterflies use a specific olfactory system to perceive these major food-derived volatiles.