Protective effect of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) extract against DNA damage induced by mercury chloride in marine fish

Marine organisms are continuously exposed to agents, both exogenous and endogenous, that damage DNA. Consequently, it is important to determine the ability of compounds to provide protection against damaging chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-genotoxic activity of crude aqueous extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyceae), collected from the Southeast coast of India. This study focused on possible anti-genotoxic potential of aqueous extract of K. alverazii to interfere with clastogenicity induced by mercury chloride (HgCl₂) in marine fish, Therapon jarbua as measured by cytogenetic endpoints such as cell viability and comet assay. In the first set of experiments, fish were exposed to a single treatment of Hg at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2?ppm along with controls. Mercury exposure produced significant DNA damage in all comet classes, maximum as >79% (Class 4) at 0.5, 1, and 2?ppm exposure in a time dependent manner. Algal extract did not induce genotoxicity when given alone and prevented Hg-induced genotoxicity. The algal extract reduction in genotoxicity was significant but not time- and concentration-dependent. Results suggested that under present experimental conditions, K. alvarezii extract exhibit potent anti-genotoxicity effects in this fish model; and thus these extracts may be recommended as a supplement in fish meal and may benefit humans ingesting Hg-contaminated fish.     

Application of electrochemical reactor divided by cellulosic membrane for optimized simultaneous removal of phenols,chromium, and ammonia from tannery effluents

The post treatment of simulated tannery wastewater was evaluated in an electrochemical oxidation process under galvanostatic conditions. A continuous flow reactor divided by a cellulosic membrane consisted of Ti/SnO₂–Sb anodes and iron cathodes was used. Central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to investigate the effects of six operational parameters, namely initial concentration of total phenols (TPh), total chromium (TCr), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), flow rate (Q), current intensity (I), and electrode surface area (A). Effectiveness of the innovative cellulosic membrane was proven by considerable pH variations in the anolyte and catholyte chambers. A faster removal rate was observed for TPh and TAN, followed by TCr. The treatment level was very sensitive to Q and I in the studied ranges. RSM showed the removal efficiencies of 78.14%, 63.42%, and 86.09% for TPh, TCr, and TAN, respectively, are achieved under optimal conditions with consumption of only 9.03 kWh m^?3 electrical energy. Chlorinated compounds such as chloroform, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and chlorobenzene were detected as the degradation intermediates. According to the obtained results, electrolysis in the divided cell with cellulosic membrane is a practical, cost-effective method for advanced treatment of tannery effluents.     

Comments on the Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of metals and their compounds†

The carcinogenicity of metals has received extensive study, both epidemiologically and in the laboratory. These have included case reports of occasional human occurrence or clusters of cancer cases as well as extensive epidemiologic studies; in addition, there has been significant laboratory research on the whole animals and in vitro systems. This body of information will be examined selectively.

I will not in this paper attempt a comprehensive review of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of metals and their compounds. Rather, I will attempt to set forth some historical perspectives, and to comment on some current gaps and needs.

Other papers in this workshop have presented thorough and very current reviews of most of the topics briefly noted in this presentation and do not require repetition here.

The cancer issue has been studied and reported on far more extensively than that relating to heritable mutations. There has been in recent years increasing interest in the use of short term tests for mutagenicity and cell transformation. These, however, are primarily with respect to their relationship to cancer production rather than to germ cell injury. Interest in cancer from metal compounds goes back a long time; in fact, one of the earliest reports was on the carcinogenicity of arsenic not many decades after the pioneering report of Sir Perceval Pott on cancer in chimney sweeps. Since then cancer has been definitely associated in humans with chromium compounds, nickel, and with less assurance but probably definitely with beryllium and cadmium. The confirmation of these findings in laboratory animals has been uneven. In the case of arsenic, for example, there has been only limited success in the production of cancer in laboratory animals with arsenic.

Many other metals have been found in laboratory studies to produce cancer, although with most of these, evidence of production of cancer in humans is either absent or extremely uncertain.

The extensive body of recent information relating to the testing of metals with a variety of short term tests will be briefly reviewed.     

The cytotoxicity of nici2 for mammalian cells in culture†

The effects of NiCl₂ were studied in two human cell lines, HeLa and diploid embryonic fibroblasts as well as in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in L‐A mouse fibroblasts. NiCl₂ produces a dose‐dependent depression of proliferation, mitotic rate, and viability, accompanied by an increasing release of lactic dehydrogenase and stimulation of lactic acid production. The plating efficiency is reduced, as are DNA and protein synthesis and, to a lesser degree, RNA synthesis.

The cytotoxicity of NiCl₂ is comparable in degree to those of PbCl₂ and MnCl₂, but is weaker than those of HgCl₂ and CdCl₂. However, the different sensitivities of different cell lines must also be considered.

NiCl₂ effects are more severe in serum‐free medium than in medium containing serum or serum albumin indicating that serum constituents, notably albumin, bind the metal effectively and inhibit cellular uptake; this confirms earlier reports on the serum binding and slow uptake of NiCl₂.

Synchronized cells are most sensitive in the Gl and early S phases of the cell cycle. In the Painter test the depression of DNA synthesis persists following cessation of exposure to NiCI₂. These findings contribute an explanation for the known genotoxic effects of nickel.     

Genetic toxicology of metal compounds: An examination of appropriate cellular models †

Bacterial systems have not had success predicting metal carcinogenicity. Hypotheses explaining this failure are examined. Using a broad genetic endpoint, λ prophage induction, under sub‐toxic growing conditions, genotoxicity is seen for compounds of chromium, manganese, lead, molybdenum and tungsten. Copper, manganese, arsenic and molybdenum compounds enhanced UV mutagenesis in E. coli WP2.

The toxicity of metal compounds to cultured mammalian cells correlates well with rat oral LD₅₀ values. Whereas insolubility can present problems in bacterial studies, concentrations of metal compounds toxic to mammalian cells can be determined even in the presence of precipitate, and sometimes [Pb(NO₃)₂, BaCl₂ and BeCl₂] occurs only in its presence. PbS and MnS, which are insoluble, are much more toxic than the more soluble compounds Pb(NO₃)₂ and MnCl₂. These results demonstrate the importance of cellular phagocytosis of insoluble metal compounds as a factor in studying the toxicity and genotoxicity of metal compounds.     

Particulate and semivolatile associated aliphatic hydrocarbon exhaust emission from heavy duty diesel vehicles

The exhaust emissions from two heavy duty diesel vehicles running on eight different fuel compositions were investigated regarding their content of high molecular weight (≥ C₁₂) aliphatic/ olefinic hydrocarbons. It was concluded that the emitted amount of semi‐volatile associated aliphatic hydrocarbons (range C₁₂‐C₂₂) depend on the fuel used in the engines and that these emissions mainly consisted of uncombusted fuel components. It was also found that uncombusted engine lubrication oil was the main constituent of the emitted particulate associated aliphatic hydrocarbons (C₁₇‐C₄₀). These constituted between 58% and 95% of the total emissions of the high molecular weight aliphatic compounds. Emission factors for the total of high molecular aliphatic hydrocarbons (C₁₂‐C₄₀) were demonstrated to be in the range of 15–100 mg/km. Some individual aliphatic hydrocarbons with cocarcinogenic effects were identified and quantified in both particulate and semi‐volatile phases of the exhaust. Multivariate data analysis was used to investigate the relationship between fuel parameters and emission of semi‐volatile aliphatic emission.     

桉树叶水浸出液对2种海洋微藻生长和叶绿素荧光特性的影响

运用水样叶绿素荧光仪(Water-PAM)研究了桉树叶水浸出液胁迫下湛江叉鞭金藻(Dicrateria zhanjiangensis)和纤细角毛藻(Chaetoceros gracilis)2种海洋微藻叶绿素荧光特性〔包括PS(光系统)Ⅱ的F_v/F₀(潜在活性)、F_v/F_m(最大光能转化效率)、Yield(实际光能转化效率)、ETR(电子传递效率),其中F_m和F₀分别为最大荧光和基础荧光〕的变化,同时监测微藻的生长情况,以研究桉树叶水浸出液对海洋微藻的影响,从而为探讨华南沿海大量种植桉树所造成潜在的海洋生态问题提供一些依据. 结果表明:①低浓度(以φ计,0.4、0.8、1.2mL/L)胁迫在96h内对湛江叉鞭金藻的上述4项荧光参数均无显著影响(P>0.05);高浓度(2.0mL/L)胁迫下,24h时湛江叉鞭金藻的4项荧光参数都处于最低值,48h时处于次低值. 表明高浓度在胁迫早期(48h内)对湛江叉鞭金藻4项荧光参数有抑制作用,而后期(72、96h)这4项荧光参数又恢复到正常水平,抑制作用解除. ②低浓度(0.4、0.8mL/L)胁迫下纤细角毛藻的4项荧光参数在24、48h内均得到促进,而高浓度(2.0mL/L)胁迫下F_v/F_m在24h时为最小值,表现抑制作用;另外3项荧光参数则未受显著影响. 在胁迫后期(72、96h),纤细角毛藻的4项荧光参数均随着胁迫浓度的增大而增加,表现为促进作用. ③就生长情况而言,随着胁迫浓度的增大,2种海洋微藻细胞密度的增长明显变缓. 表明桉树叶水浸出液对2种海洋微藻的生长以及叶绿素荧光特性都有影响,从而将会对整个海洋生态系统产生影响.      

Build it,but will they come? Evidence from consumer choice between gasoline and sugarcane ethanol

How consumers might switch from gasoline and diesel to alternative energy sources is not known, since the availability of alternatives is currently very limited. To bridge this gap, we exploit exogenous variation in ethanol prices at Brazil's pumps and uncover substantial consumer heterogeneity in the choice between long-established gasoline and an alternative that is similarly available and usable: sugarcane ethanol. We observe roughly 20% of flexible-fuel motorists choosing gasoline when gasoline is priced 20% above ethanol in energy-adjusted terms ($/mile) and, similarly, 20% of motorists choosing ethanol when ethanol is priced 20% above gasoline. We use transaction-level data to explore “non-price” characteristics which differentiate the two goods in the minds of different groups of consumers. Our findings suggest—and a counterfactual illustrates—that switching away from gasoline en masse, should this be desired, would require considerable price discounts to boost voluntary adoption, in the US and elsewhere.     

Behaviour of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen in peanut field soil: effects on soil biological and biochemical activities

A field experiment was conducted to study the dissipation kinetics of herbicides pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen in black soil of peanut field at half recommended rate (HRE), recommended rate and double recommended rate as well as to assess their effects on soil microbial parameters and enzymatic activities. In addition, their role in the transformations and availability of some plant nutrients like nitrogen transformation (through ammonification and nitrification processes) and availability of phosphorous were also studied. Incorporation of these herbicides was found to stimulate the activity of soil microbial biomass carbon, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysing activity, alkaline phosphatase and ammonification rates, while dehydrogenase activity, acid phosphatase, nitrification rate and available phosphorous was adversely affected. However, urease remains almost unchanged except for little stimulation at later stages. Dissipation of pendimethalin and oxy?uorfen followed first-order reaction kinetics with half-life (T_1/2) of 13.7–20.1 and 21.5–27.4 days, respectively. Residues of both herbicides persisted up to 60 days in the soil at all the doses except 45 days for pendimethalin at HRE.     

Effects of sepiolite and biochar on microbial diversity in acid red soil from southern China

Sepiolite and biochar can immobilize heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil effectively, but their impact on the soil microbial community and diversity is still unclear. High-throughput Illumina MiSeq method was used to study the effects of sepiolite and biochar on the diversity of microbial communities in acid red soil amended with cadmium and atrazine. A total of 47,472 microbiological Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were found in all the treated soil samples. Sepiolite and biochar enriched the diversity of soil microbes at different classification levels and OTUs, but the effect of biochar was stronger than that of sepiolite. A Venn diagram showed that compared with other treatments, adding 2% biochar could promote the growth of specific microbes, which is better than the case for 5% biochar. The heat map of species abundance cluster showed that the dominant microbes in soil were different for different treatment doses of sepiolite and biochar. Among all the soil treatments, the top ten dominant bacterial phyla (from high to low dominance) were: Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria­, and Verrucomicrobia. The addition of sepiolite and biochar promoted the restoration of the microbial community diversity in contaminated soil.