Comparing differential tolerance of native and non-indigenous marine species to metal pollution using novel assay techniques

Recent research suggests anthropogenic disturbance may disproportionately advantage non-indigenous species (NIS), aiding their establishment within impacted environments. This study used novel laboratory- and field-based toxicity testing to determine whether non-indigenous and native bryozoans (common within marine epibenthic communities worldwide) displayed differential tolerance to the common marine pollutant copper (Cu). In laboratory assays on adult colonies, NIS showed remarkable tolerance to Cu, with strong post-exposure recovery and growth. In contrast, native species displayed negative growth and reduced feeding efficiency across most exposure levels. Field transplant experiments supported laboratory findings, with NIS growing faster under Cu conditions. In field-based larval assays, NIS showed strong recruitment and growth in the presence of Cu relative to the native species. We suggest that strong selective pressures exerted by the toxic antifouling paints used on transport vectors (vessels), combined with metal contamination in estuarine environments, may result in metal tolerant NIS advantaged by anthropogenically modified selection regimes.     

Assessing the genotoxicity of urban air pollutants using two in situ plant bioassays

Genotoxicity of urban air has been analysed almost exclusively in airborne particulates. We monitored the genotoxic effects of airborne pollutants in the urban air of Perugia (Central Italy). Two plant bioindicators with different genetic endpoints were used: micronuclei in meiotic pollen mother cells using Tradescantia-micronucleus bioassay (Trad-MCN) and DNA damage in nuclei of Nicotiana tabacum leaves using comet assay (Nicotiana-comet). Buds of Tradescantia clone # 4430 and young N. tabacum cv. Xanthi plants were exposed for 24 h at three sites with different pollution levels. One control site (indoor control) was also used. The two bioassays showed different sensitivities toward urban pollutants: Trad-MCN assay was the most sensitive, but DNA damage in N. tabacum showed a better correlation with the pollutant concentrations. In situ biomonitoring of airborne genotoxins using higher plants combined with chemical analysis is thus recommended for characterizing genotoxicity of urban air.     

Development of an immunochromatographic assay for the rapid detection of bromoxynil in water

A rapid immunochromatographic one-step strip test was developed to specifically determine bromoxynil in surface and drinking water by competitive inhibition with the nano colloidal gold-conjugated monoclonal antibody (mAb). Bromoxynil standard samples of 0.01–10 mg L⁻¹ in water were tested by this method and the visual limit was 0.06 mg L⁻¹. The assay only required 5 min and one-step by dispensing a drop of sample solution onto a strip. Parallel analysis of water samples with bromoxynil showed comparable results from one-step strip test and ELISA. Therefore, the one-step strip test is very useful as a screening method for qualitative detection of bromoxynil in water.     

微波消解逐时络合光度法快速测定聚合铝溶液中的总铝含量

聚合铝中的3种铝形态及其总铝含量的传统测定方法分别为Al-Ferron逐时络合光度法和EDTA络合滴定法．这2种方法各自存在着许多不足之处．将微波消解技术应用于逐时络合比色法以便快速测定聚合铝溶液中的总铝含量．研究表明：（1）Ferron混合显色液配制好后存放与否对测定结果的影响很大,用微波辐射处理Ferron混合显色液30s后即可使用,克服了传统光度法中必须存放5d的缺点;（2）微波消解极大地缩短了聚合铝与Ferron之间的解聚／络合反应时间,聚合铝显色溶液微波消解2min即可方便地定量测定铝盐水处理剂中的总铝含量,克服了传统络合滴定法的不足和烦琐．同时用改进的Al-Ferron逐时络合比色法验证了这种总铝测定方法的可行性．     

酶联免疫吸附法测定水中异丙隆

建立了测定水中异丙隆的酶联免疫吸附法。灵敏度0.97μg/L，最低检出限0.03μg/L16种取代脲类除草剂的交叉反应率低于2.2%。水样可不经分离提取直接测定。10%甲醇、2%乙腈和2%乙醇不影响测定。比较了11种与异丙隆结构相近的半抗原的活性。     

络合剂对燃煤及木材飞灰生物氧化能力的影响

利用脱氧核糖氧化法考察了飞灰颗粒物,包括５种燃煤飞灰及一种燃木飞灰,生物氧化能力以及外加螯合剂的影响。结果证实,不同来源飞灰颗粒物氧化剂产生能力不同,且燃煤飞灰产生方式不同,催化氧化剂产生能力亦不同。     

蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)微板毒性分析方法优化

以蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa,CP)为指示生物,96孔微板为暴露载体,污染物对藻的72 h生长抑制率为毒性指标,通过系统地检测蛋白核小球藻的生长曲线和吸收光谱,确定藻细胞密度和683 nm波长处光密度(D₆₈₃)之间的线性关系,考察不同初始藻密度、照度、暴露时间和暴露体积对藻生长的影响,建立了蛋白核小球藻微板毒性分析方法(CP-MTA法).将CP-MTA法应用于重金属盐、除草剂、杀虫剂以及离子液体等8种化学品对蛋白核小球藻的生长抑制毒性测试,以pEC₅₀为毒性指标,毒性大小顺序为敌草快>CuSO₄·5H₂O≈CdCl₂·2.5H₂O>氯化1-甲基-3-辛基咪唑(［Omim］Cl)>草甘膦>氯化1-甲基-3-丁基咪唑(［Bmim］Cl)>敌敌畏>乐果,与文献结果一致.CP-MTA法由于以微板为反应载体,所需样品少,便于多次平行,数据重复性好.      

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Increases the Genotoxicity of Cyclophosphamide in the Micronucleus Assay with V79 Cells: Further Proof of Alterations in Cell Membrane Properties Caused by PFOS (3 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; C8F17SO3-) is a fully fluorinated organic compound which has been manufactured for decades and was used widely in industrial and commercial products. The recent toxicological knowledge of PFOS mainly concerns mono-substance exposures of PFOS to biological systems, leaving the potential interactive effects of PFOS with other compounds as an area where understanding is significantly lacking. However, a recent study, reported the potential of PFOS to enhance the toxicity of two compounds by increasing cell membrane permeability. This is of particular concern since PFOS has been reported to be widely distributed in the environment where contaminants are known to occur in complex mixtures. In this study, PFOS was evaluated alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide (CPP) to investigate whether a presence of PFOS leads to an increased genotoxic potential of CPP towards hamster lung V79 cells. Genotoxicity was investigated using the micronucleus (MN) assay according to the recent draft ISO/DIS 21427-2 method. PFOS alone demonstrated no genotoxicity up to a concentration of 12.5 mg/L. However, PFOS combined with two different concentrations of CPP, with metabolic activation, caused a significant increase in the number of micronucleated cells compared to treatments with CPP only. These results provide a first indication that PFOS has the potential to enhance the genotoxic action of CPP towards V79 cells, suggesting that together with the alterations in cell membrane properties shown previously, that genotoxicity of complex mixtures may be increased significantly by changes in chemical uptake. Together with an earlier study performed by the own working group it can be concluded that PFOS alone is not genotoxic in this bioassay using V79 cells up to 12.5 mg/L, but that further investigations are needed to assess the potential interaction between PFOS and other substances, in particular regarding the impact of membrane alterations on the uptake of toxic substances. Materials and Methods: - Results: - Discussion: - Conclusions: - Recommendations and Perspectives: -     

Bioconcentration and Phytotoxicity of Cd in Eichhornia crassipes

Plants of Eichhornia crassipes grown at various levels of cadmium ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg ml⁻¹ accumulated Cd in a concentration and duration dependent manner. At all levels, Cd accumulation by various plant tissues followed the order roots shoot leaves. Approximately 80% of total Cd was accumulated by plant at highest concentration (100 μg ml⁻¹) used in the experiment. Cadmium induced phytotoxicity appears at 25.0 μg ml⁻¹ resulting into reduced levels of chlorophyll, protein and in vivo nitrate reductase activity of the plant. However, a slight induction of these physiological variables was obtained at lowest Cd (0.1 μg ml⁻¹) concentration. In contrast, carotenoid content increased at highest Cd concentration i.e., 100 μg ml⁻¹. Similar effects at low and high levels of Cd was obtained with respect to mitotic index and micronuclei in root meristem of the plant. It could be inferred that Cd toxicity in plant is differential depending upon the low and high concentration of Cd in the medium.     

Phenolic content,antioxidant and antibacterial activity of selected natural sweeteners available on the Polish market

Seventeen natural sweeteners available on the Polish market were screened for total phenolic content, by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and for antioxidant activity, using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the 2,2′-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS^·+). In addition, we analyzed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains: both those susceptible and those resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The results of the study showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity differ widely among different samples of sweeteners. Phenolic content, expressed as a gallic acid equivalent, ranged from 0 mg kg^?1 in white, refined sugar, xylitol and wheat malt syrup to 11.4 g kg^?1 in sugarcane molasses. Antioxidant activity was lowest in refined white sugar, xylitol, brown beet sugar, liquid fructose, and rape honey; it was average in spelt syrup and corn syrup, and highest in sugar cane, beet molasses, date and barley syrups. Despite the great variety of sweeteners, a strong correlation was noted between the concentration of phenolics and antioxidant properties, as determined by the ABTS^·+ method (r = 0.97) and the FRAP assay (r = 0.77). The strongest antibacterial activity was observed in sugarcane molasses, which was lethal to S. aureus strains at 2 and 4% concentrations in medium for susceptible and MRSA strains respectively. Other sweeteners kill bacteria in 6–15% solutions, whereas some did not show any antibacterial activities against S. aureus strains, even at 20% concentrations. Due to their high antioxidant and antibacterial activities, some of the tested sweeteners have potential therapeutic value as supporting agents in antibiotic therapy.