Effects of nonylphenol on the brain cytochrome P450 gene expression in F1 generation rats

In order to explore the effects of nonylphenol (NP) on brain cytochrome P450 gene expression in F1 generation rats microarray analysis techniques were used. mRNA were extracted from the brain of 2-day-old F1 generation rats whose F0 male generation were treated with NP, then reversely transcribed to cDNA and labeled with cy5 and cy3 for fluorescence. Subsequently, the cDNA probes were hybridized to the mouse 40S cDNA microarray; and fluorescent signals produced by cy5 and cy3 were scanned and analyzed. Sixteen identified genes were found to be expressed differently from control, including three cytochrome P450 genes, in which two were up-regulated and one down-regulated. Data suggest that NP affects the expression of some cytochrome P450 genes in rat brain when administered perinatally.     

Acute toxicity of 353-nonylphenol and its metabolites for zebrafish embryos

Background, aim and scope  Nonylphenol (NP) can be detected in the aquatic environment all over the world. It is applied as a technical mixture of isomers of which 353-NP is the most relevant both in terms of abundance (about 20% of total mass) and endocrine potential. 353-NP is metabolised in sewage sludge. The aims of the present study were to determine and to compare the acute toxicity of t-NP, 353-NP and its metabolites as well as to discuss if the toxicity of 353-NP changes during degradation. Materials and methods  353-NP and two of its metabolites were synthesised. The zebrafish embryo test was performed according to standard protocols. Several lethal and non-lethal endpoints during embryonal development were reported. NOEL, LOEL and EC₅₀ were calculated. Results  All tested compounds caused lethal as well as non-lethal malformations during embryo development. 353-NP showed a higher toxicity (EC₅₀ for lethal endpoints 6.7 mg/L) compared to its metabolites 4-(3.5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-nitrophenol (EC₅₀ 13.3 mg/L) and 4-(3,5-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-2-bromophenol (EC₅₀ 27.1 mg/L). Discussion  In surface water, concentrations of NP are far below the NOEC identified by the zebrafish embryo test. However, in soils and sewage sludge, concentrations may reach or even exceed these concentrations. Therefore, sludge-treated sites close to surface waters should be analysed for NP and its metabolites in order to detect an unduly high contamination due to runoff events. Conclusions  The results of the present study point out that the toxicity of 353-NP probably declines during metabolisation in water, sediment and soil, but does not vanish since the major metabolites exhibit a clear toxic potential for zebrafish embryos. Recommendations and perspectives  Metabolites of environmental pollutants should be included in the ecotoxicological test strategy for a proper risk assessment. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Effects of activated carbon types and service life on removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals: amitrol, nonylphenol, and bisphenol-A

Removal performances of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) such as amitrol, nonylphenol, and bisphenol-A were evaluated in this study using granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption. This study found that GAC adsorption was effective in removal of EDCs with high K_ow value. Nonylphenol and bisphenol-A were effectively adsorbed onto all carbons (including the used carbons) tested in this study. As indicated by K_ow value, nonylphenol was more effectively adsorbed than bisphenol-A. The coal-based carbon was found more effective than other carbons in the adsorption of nonylphenol and bisphenol-A due to its larger pore volume. The adsorption capacity reduced with the operation year, and the extent of the reduction was different depending upon the carbon type and the operation year. Amitrol was effectively removed by biological degradation, but was poorly adsorbed. Since the microbes residing at the used carbons already accustomed to amitrol, the used carbons removed amitrol better than the virgin carbons. Although the coal-based carbon showed the best removal performance of amitrol, GAC adsorption could not be recommended for amitrol removal because considerable portion of incoming amitrol (9–87%) passed through GAC adsorption column. According to this study, pore volume mainly influenced the adsorption capacity, but the surface charge was also important due to electrical interaction. The adsorption parameters for nonylphenol and bisphenol-A provided by this study could be valuable when GAC adsorption was considered to handle an accidental spill of nonylphenol and bisphenol-A.     

Spatial-temporal distribution and potential ecological risk assessment of nonylphenol and octylphenol in riverine outlets of Pearl River Delta, China

The aquatic environments of the Pearl River Delta in Southern China are subjected to contamination with various industrial chemicals from local industries. In this paper, the occurrence, seasonal variation and spatial distribution of alkylphenol octylphenol （OP） and nonylphenol （NP） in fiver surface water and sediments in the runoff outlets of the Pearl River Delta were investigated. NP and OP were detected in all water and sediment samples and their mean concentrations in surface water during the dry season ranged from 810 to 3366 ng/L and 85.5 to 581 ng/L, respectively, and those in sediments ranged from 14.2 to 95.2 ng/g dw and 0.4 to 3.0 ng/g dw, respectively. In surface water, much higher concentrations were detected in the dry season than those in the wet season. In sediments, the concentrations in the dry season were also mostly higher. High concentrations of NP and OP were found in Humen outlet, likely due to high levels of domestic and industrial wastewater discharges. An ecological risk assessment with the use of hazard quotient （HQ） was also carried out and the HQvalues ranged from 3.6 × 10^-5 to 35 and 64% of samples gave a HQ 〉 1, indicating that the current levels of NP and OP pose a significant risk to the relevant aquatic organisms in the region.     

Synthesis of branched para-nonylphenol isomers: occurrence and quantification in two commercial mixtures

Eight tertiary nonanols were synthesized via Grignard reaction and coupled by Friedel–Crafts alkylation with phenol to the corresponding nonylphenols. Six branched para-nonylphenols (NP) were obtained: 4-(3′-methyl-3′-octyl)phenol (33NP), 4-(2′-methyl-2′-octyl)phenol (22NP), 4-(2′,5′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)phenol (252NP), 4-(2′,5′,5′-trimethyl-2′-hexyl)phenol (2552NP), 4-(2′,4′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)phenol (242NP) and 4-(4′-ethyl-2′-methyl-2′-hexyl)phenol (4E22NP). Their structures were confirmed by GC–MS and NMR spectroscopy. These six isomers as well as the earlier synthesized 4-(3′,5′-dimethyl-3′-heptyl)phenol (353NP), 4-(3′,6′-dimethyl-3′-heptyl)phenol (363NP) and 4-(2′,6′-dimethyl-2′-heptyl)phenol (262NP) were compared with commercial NP mixtures purchased from Acros and Fluka by GC–MS (equipped with a 100 m polysiloxane column). The analyses revealed that all obtained isomers are occurring in different quantities in both commercial NP mixtures.     

Biodegradation of nonylphenol in sewage sludge

We investigated the effects of various factors on the aerobic degradation of nonylphenol (NP) in sewage sludge. NP (5 mg/kg) degradation rate constants (k₁) calculated were 0.148 and 0.224 day⁻¹ for the batch experiment and the bioreactor experiment, respectively, and half-lives (t_1/2) were 4.7 and 3.1 days, respectively. The optimal pH value for NP degradation in sludge was 7.0 and the degradation rate was enhanced when the temperature was increased and when yeast extract (5 mg/l) and surfactants such as brij 30 or brij 35 (55 or 91 μM) were added. The addition of aluminum sulfate (200 mg/l) and hydrogen peroxide (1 mg/l) inhibited NP degradation within 28 days of incubation. Of the microorganism strains isolated from the sludge samples, we found that strain CT7 (identified as Bacillus sphaericus) manifested the best degrading ability.     

Effect of Nonylphenol on Steroidogenesis of Rat Leydig Cells

Nonylphenol is the primary final biodegradation product of nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPE), a non-ionic surfactant that is frequently incorporated into pesticide and detergent formulation. Recent researchers have hypothesized that environmental/ occupational exposure to nonylphenol poses adverse effects on reproductive system of humans and wildlife species. During our study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to examine the effect of nonylphenol on testosterone biosynthesis of rat Leydig cells. In experiment in vivo, serum testosterone (T) as well as luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were detected after animals had been treated with different doses (0 mg/kg/day, 125 mg/kg/day, and 250 mg/kg/day) of nonylphenol for 50 days by gavage, and the final result revealed that testosterone level dramatically declined at the dose of 250 mg/kg/day, while LH level ascended at the dose of 125 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day. In experiment in vitro, primary cultured Leydig cells were exposed to nonylphenol for 48 h, including low concentrations (0 mg/L, 0.0011 mg/L, 0.0033 mg/L, 0.0055 mg/L, 0.011 mg/L, 0.022 mg/L) and higher concentrations (0.11 mg/L, 0.55 mg/L, 1.1 mg/L, 1.65 mg/L, 2.2 mg/L, 2.75 mg/L, 3.3 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L). Increase of testosterone levels was observed at low concentrations of nonylphenol while reduction was detected at higher concentrations.     

NPEOs及其代谢产物在城市污水处理厂中的归趋分析

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚(NPEOs)是一种常见的表面活性剂,但其代谢产物壬基酚(NP)等具有内分泌干扰特性,因此引起了人们的广泛关注.以NPEOs及其代谢产物作为研究对象,综述了它们在城市污水处理厂中的浓度水平和迁移转化规律,并探讨了城市污水处理厂中影响NPEOs及其代谢产物去除效率的因素.结果表明,NPEOs及其代谢产物在污水处理厂的进水中普遍存在,其浓度水平与季节、地理位置、生活习惯等有关;在污水处理过程中,NPEOs及其代谢产物的去除效率与工艺及运行参数有关.NPEOs及其代谢产物的归趋包括生物降解、被污泥吸附和存留在出水中,内分泌干扰物质(如NP和NPECs等)在污水处理过程中被生成,并随出水和污泥进入环境,可为城市污水处理厂构建安全转化的控制技术系统提供科学依据.     

Seasonal variations in the concentration and removal of nonylphenol ethoxylates from the wastewater of a sewage treatment plant

In this study, we investigated the occurrence and fate of nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO) in a full scale sewage treatment plant, which applied an Anaerobic/Oxic process. Concentrations of NP, NP1EO and NP2EO in the wastewater were measured during the period spanning a whole year. The results showed remarkable seasonal variation in the concentrations of the compounds. The NPnEO compounds were most abundant in winter, with the total concentrations of influent NP, NP1EO and NP2EO ranging from 3900 to 7000 ng/L, 4000 to 4800 ng/L and 5200 to 7200 ng/L, respectively. Regarding the total removal efficiencies of the three types of short-chain NPnEO compounds, different trends were exhibited according to different seasons. The average removal efficiency of NP for the different seasons ranked as follows: winter > summer > autumn > spring; NP2EO concentrations decreased as follows: summer > autumn > winter > spring, while NP1EO concentrations reduced according to: spring > summer > autumn > winter. We also investigated the contribution ratio of individual treatment units in the A/O process, with the findings suggesting that the anaerobic treatment unit plays an important role in the elimination of short-chain NPnEOs from the wastewater.     

Effect of sludge treatment on the bioaccumulation of nonylphenol in grass grown on sludge-amended soil

We studied the accumulation of p353-nonylphenol residues in the biomass of grass grown in soil amended with sewage sludge submitted to various conditioning/dewatering treatments. Incubation experiments were conducted growing Poa pratensis in sludge-amended soils and applying one ¹⁴C-labelled isomer of nonylphenol in the different systems. More metabolites than parent compounds were recovered in both roots and leaves of the grass. The type of sludge conditioning and dewatering treatment had a slight effect on the bioaccumulation of nonylphenol and its metabolites. When the grass was cultivated in soils amended with dewatered sludge without conditioning pretreatment, an increased accumulation was observed in the roots, while the final biomass of the grass was lower.