Evaluation of the fish short term reproduction assay for detecting endocrine disrupters

In a fish testing strategy, positive results of the fish short term reproduction assay (FSTR), often trigger a definitive test like the fish sexual development test (FSDT) or the fish full life cycle test (FFLC), entailing ethical and economic problems. This study analysed 137 studies encompassing 35 chemicals with different modes of actions (MOAs). Variability is quantified for MOA endpoints vitellogenin (VTG) and secondary sex characteristics (SSCs) as well as for apical endpoints. Two MOA endpoints could indicate estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities. Great variability, however, has been observed for chemicals with anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities, suggesting that TG229/230 may not be sensitive enough to detect these types of chemicals and may produce false negatives. Changes in apical endpoints like fecundity are not limited to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Non-EDCs could induce the similar effects on these apical endpoints. If elucidating MOA is needed, targeted in vitro MOA tests are suggested. Positive in vitro MOA results trigger a definitive test, which could be used for confirmation of the MOA in vivo and for deriving a no observed effect concentration (NOEC). Based on positive MOA results of TG229, a definitive test such as the FSDT or the FFLC is still needed, because the current TG229 has limitation on the derivation of a NOEC. An extended TG229 with more power to detect reproduction effects, as recently proposed in the OECD test guideline program, would improve the possibility to derive a NOEC and increase its usefulness in risk assessment.     

In vivo and in vitro metabolism of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica

Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for human health, and many studies were conducted to investigate its adverse effects on humans and other mammals. However, since large amounts of cigarette products are produced and consumed, it is possible that tobacco chemicals can end up in aquatic environments through several routes, thus influencing aquatic organisms. In this study, the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in aquatic environment was demonstrated. Since toxic effects on and distribution patterns of tobacco chemicals in aquatic organisms were rarely studied, after results of an acute toxicity pretest were obtained, experiment was conducted to investigate the bioaccumulation pattern of NNK and distribution patterns of its metabolites, mainly 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), in NNK-treated freshwater planarians, Dugesia japonica. Results from in vivo and in vitro studies showed that NNK was readily converted to NNAL through the carbonyl reduction in bodies of NNK-treated planarians. Tissue concentrations of both chemicals increased in time- and dose-dependent manners. Furthermore, we examined the end products of NNK/NNAL α-hydroxylation in NNK-treated planarians, but only 1-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-butanediol was detected, suggesting that NNK metabolism in planarians partially differs from that in mammalian systems. This is the first report on NNK metabolism in an aquatic organism and can be used as a foundation for developing freshwater planarians as a new in vivo model for the study of NNK toxicology in the future.     

高频脉冲介质阻挡放电去除水中17β-雌二醇

实验采用高频脉冲介质阻挡放电工艺处理水体中的17β-雌二醇（E2）。结果表明,该工艺可以有效地降解水中的E2,E2的降解过程符合一级反应动力学模型。当体系脉冲峰-峰电压为24kV,初始浓度为100μg／L的E2在超纯水中的降解一级反应速率常数为0．1314min^-1。E2的降解速率常数随脉冲峰-峰电压的增大而升高,随E2初始浓度和溶液初始pH增加而降低,溶液初始电导率对E2的降解影响不大。     

Selective separation of deltamethrin by molecularly imprinted polymers using a β-cyclodextrin derivative as the functional monomer

A deltamethrin-imprinted polymer (MIP₁) was prepared using bis(-6-O-butanediacid monoester)-β-cyclodextrin (BBA-β-CD) as the functional monomer and toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) as the cross-linker. In comparison to the molecularly imprinted polymer where β-CD was applied as the functional monomer (MIP₂), MIP₁ showed a higher specific binding capacity (ΔC_P) and an improved imprinting factor (IF) for deltamethrin. The selective recognition experiments demonstrated that compared to MIP₂, MIP₁ could better recognize its template over other substrates that had similar chemical structures. The solid phase extraction (SPE) of deltamethrin using MIP₁ as the adsorbent was further investigated. The recoveries of the molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) column for deltamethrin were 83.2–93.4% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 2.03–6.19%. The method has been successfully applied to the enrichment of trace deltamethrin from real water samples.     

Overlooked biodiversity loss in tropical smallholder agriculture

Smallholder agriculture is the main driver of deforestation in the western Amazon, where terrestrial biodiversity reaches its global maximum. Understanding the biodiversity value of the resulting mosaics of cultivated and secondary forest is therefore crucial for conservation planning. However, Amazonian communities are organized across multiple forest types that support distinct species assemblages, and little is known about smallholder impacts across the range of forest types that are essential for sustaining biodiversity. We addressed this issue with a large-scale field inventory of birds (point counts) and trees (transects) in primary forest and smallholder agriculture in northern Peru across 3 forest types that are key for Amazonian biodiversity. For birds smallholder agriculture supported species richness comparable to primary forest within each forest type, but biotic homogenization across forest types resulted in substantial losses of biodiversity overall. These overall losses are invisible to studies that focus solely on upland (terra firma) forest. For trees biodiversity losses in upland forests dominated the signal across all habitats combined and homogenization across habitats did not exacerbate biodiversity loss. Proximity to forest strongly predicted the persistence of forest-associated bird and tree species in the smallholder mosaic, and because intact forest is ubiquitous in our study area, our results probably represent a best-case scenario for biodiversity in Amazonian agriculture. Land-use planning inside and outside protected areas should recognize that tropical smallholder agriculture has pervasive biodiversity impacts that are not apparent in typical studies that cover a single forest type. The full range of forest types must be surveyed to accurately assess biodiversity losses, and primary forests must be protected to prevent landscape-scale biodiversity loss.     

邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯(DEHP)对THP-1细胞IL-1β和MMP-8表达及ROS的影响

为探讨邻苯二甲酸二乙基己酯((DEHP)的细胞免疫毒性作用与机制,采用RT-PCR和ELISA方法,考察了0.05～1μmol·L-1浓度范围内的DEHP对THP-1细胞白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)及基质金属蛋白酶-8(MMP-8)基因和蛋白表达的影响;采用免疫印迹WesternBlot方法检测DE-HP对ERK1/2磷酸化水平的影响;以2,'7-'二氯荧光素二乙酸酯(DCFH-DA)为荧光探针检测1～50μmol·L-1DEHP对细胞内活性氧(ROS)产生的影响。结果显示,0.05和0.2μmol·L-1DEHP在6h内显著诱导IL-1β和MMP-8基因表达(P<0.05或0.01);0.05～1μmol·L-1DEHP刺激细胞48h,可诱导IL-1β蛋白表达,并表现出明显的剂量-效应关系,线性拟合的确定系数为0.937;0.05μmol·L-1DEHP刺激细胞6或12h,显著诱导MMP-8蛋白表达(P<0.05);0.2μmol·L-1DEHP在15～30min内快速诱导ERK1/2磷酸化;1～50μmol·L-1DEHP浓度依赖性刺激细胞中ROS的产生;ERK/MAPK抑制剂PD98059显著抑制DEHP诱导的MMP-8分泌,但对IL-1β分泌未表现出抑制作用。研究表明,DEHP可能是经ERK/MAPK信号路径诱导MMP-8基因和蛋白的表达,经其他路径诱导IL-1β基因和蛋白的表达,诱导细胞内ROS的产生,从而激发炎症反应,进而损害免疫系统功能引发哮喘等炎症性疾病。此研究结果可为DEHP的暴露风险评估提供参考。     

Antibiotic removal from water: Elimination of amoxicillin and ampicillin by microscale and nanoscale iron particles

Zerovalent iron powder (ZVI or Fe⁰) and nanoparticulate ZVI (nZVI or nFe⁰) are proposed as cost-effective materials for the removal of aqueous antibiotics. Results showed complete removal of Amoxicillin (AMX) and Ampicillin (AMP) upon contact with Fe⁰ and nFe⁰. Antibiotics removal was attributed to three different mechanisms: (i) a rapid rupture of the β-lactam ring (reduction), (ii) an adsorption of AMX and AMP onto iron corrosion products and (iii) sequestration of AMX and AMP in the matrix of precipitating iron hydroxides (co-precipitation with iron corrosion products). Kinetic studies demonstrated that AMP and AMX (20 mg L⁻¹) undergo first-order decay with half-lives of about 60.3 ± 3.1 and 43.5 ± 2.1 min respectively after contact with ZVI under oxic conditions. In contrast, reactions under anoxic conditions demonstrated better degradation with t_1/2 of about 11.5 ± 0.6 and 11.2 ± 0.6 min for AMP and AMX respectively. NaCl additions accelerated Fe⁰ consumption, shortening the service life of Fe⁰ treatment systems.     

KH-560交联壳聚糖固载β-环糊精薄膜对硝基苯酚的吸附行为

研究了KH-560交联壳聚糖固载β-环糊精薄膜对4-硝基苯酚、2,4-二硝基苯酚和2,4,6-三硝基苯酚的吸附行为,测定了吸附质浓度、pH、温度和吸附时间对其吸附性能的影响,并进行了热力学拟合。研究结果表明,在中性条件下,298K下吸附4-硝基苯酚在40min时可以达到平衡;随着硝基数目的增加,吸附量增大;随着温度的升高,吸附量减小;吸附过程用Langmuir模型描述更合适。     

17β3-雌二醇对西伯利亚鲟幼鱼的雌激素效应

为了研究以及评估在利用17β-雌二醇(estradiol-17β,E2)混饲投喂进行人工诱导西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)性别逆转过程中,外源雌激素处理对西伯利亚鲟幼鱼的雌激素效应以及激素残留风险.实验选取健康的2月龄西伯利亚鲟840尾,设置E2在饲料中的投喂剂量为1 mg·1kg-1(C组)和10 m...     

NLRP3 inflammasome activation determines the fibrogenic potential of PM2.5 air pollution particles in the lung

Airborne fine particulate matter(PM_2.5) is known to cause respiratory inflammation such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung fibrosis. NLRP3 inflammasome activation has been implicated in these diseases; however, due to the complexity in PM_2.5compositions, it is difficult to differentiate the roles of the components in triggering this pathway. We collected eight real-life PM_2.5samples for a comparative analysis of their effects on NLRP3 inflammasome ...