Effects of biosurfactants on assays of PCB congeners in transgenic arabidopsis plants carrying a recombinant guinea pig AhR-mediated GUS reporter gene expression system

The transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying a recombinant guinea pig (g) aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene expression system were generated for assays of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners. The selected transgenic Arabidopsis plant XgD2V11-6 exhibited a correlation between uptake of PCB126 and PCB126-induced GUS activity. Also, the plants showed induced GUS activity towards the supplemental indole 3-acetic acid (IAA). Thus, the GUS assay may reflect induction by both endogenous and exogenous AhR ligands. When biosurfactants, MEL-B, produced in the culture of yeast isolated from plants were used for assays of PCB congeners in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants, they showed marked PCB126 dose-dependent and toxic equivalency factor (TEF) dependent GUS activities. The effects of biosurfactants were clearer when the plants were cultivated on soils containing PCB congeners for 7 days as compared with on soils for 3 days as well as in the medium for 3 days. Threfore, it was estimated that biosurfactants form micellae with PCB congeners, which are easily uptaken by the plants in a mode of passive diffusion, transport into the aerial parts and then induce GUS activity.     

Dioxin-like activity in environmental and human samples from Greenland and Denmark

Dioxins and dioxin-like (DL) compounds are some of the most toxic chemicals being highly persistent in the environment. The toxicological effects of dioxins are mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Compounds of diverse structure and lipophility can bind and activate AhR. The AhR transactivation bioassay is utilized in an array of projects to study the AhR-mediated activities of individual chemicals and mixtures and for epidemiological purposes.This review summarizes a series of studies regarding the DL-activity of single compounds and complex compound mixtures in the environment and humans.We found that some pesticides, plasticizers and phytoestrogens can activate the AhR, and the combined effect of compounds with no or weak AhR potency cannot be ignored.The significant DL-activity in the wastewater effluent indicates the treatment is not sufficient to prevent contamination of surface waters with dioxins. Our results from human studies suggest that the serum DL-activity reflect the complex mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Greenlandic Inuit had lower serum DL-activity level compared to Europeans, probably due to long distance from the dioxin sources and UV degradation of the high potent dioxin and/or the inhibitory effect of the high level of non-DL POPs. Selective bioaccumulation of PCBs in the food chain may contribute to the negative correlation between serum POPs and DL-activity observed in Greenlandic Inuit.Hence the AhR transactivation bioassay provides a cost-effective and integrated screening tool for measurement of the DL-activity in human, environmental and commercial samples.     

Hydroxytyrosol, the phenolic compound of olive oil protects human PBMC against oxidative stress and DNA damage mediated by 2,3,7,8-TCDD

The protective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a strong antioxidant compound from extra virgin olive oil, against TCDD induced toxicity was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC (1 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹) were divided into four groups and were incubated in a CO₂ incubator (5% CO₂) for 12 h with vehicle, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD + HT (10 nM + 100 μM) and HT alone (100 μM) respectively. To clarify the role of HT against TCDD induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were assessed. Incubation of PBMC with TCDD significantly decreased cell viability, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation products (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Whereas, HT had an effective antioxidant property as observed by the increased cell viability, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and decreased levels of LPO, PCC and ROS in PBMC co-treated with HT and TCDD. Apoptosis detection and comet assay results shows that HT, by acting as an antioxidant, prevents the damage to DNA induced by TCDD. In addition light microscopic and histopathological observations revealed that the cells are apoptotic and degenerated during TCDD treatment, whereas cells showed intact morphology during co-treatment with HT. On the whole, the results reveal that HT exerts a promising antioxidant potential in protecting the PBMC against TCDD induced oxidative stress, which might be due to the presence of catechol moiety in its structure.     

Bioanalytical and instrumental analysis of thyroid hormone disrupting compounds in water sources along the Yangtze River

Thyroid hormone (TH) agonist and antagonist activities of water sources along the Yangtze River in China were surveyed by a green monkey kidney fibroblast (CV-1) cell-based TH reporter gene assay. Instrumental analysis was conducted to identify the responsible thyroid-active compounds. Instrumentally derived l-3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T₃) equivalents (T₃-EQs) and thyroid receptor (TR) antagonist activity equivalents referring to dibutyl phthalate (DBP-EQs) were calculated from the concentrations of individual congeners. The reporter gene assay demonstrated that three out of eleven water sources contained TR agonist activity equivalents (TR-EQs), ranging from 286 to 293 ng T₃/L. Anti-thyroid hormone activities were found in all water sources with the TR antagonist activity equivalents referring to DBP (Ant-TR-EQs), ranging from 51.5 to 555.3 μg/L. Comparisons of the equivalents from instrumental and biological assays suggested that high concentrations of DBP and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were responsible for the observed TR antagonist activities at some locations along the Yangtze River.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin promotes migration ability of primary cultured rat astrocytes via aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Emerging evidence showed that 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could induce expression of certain reactivation-associated genes in astrocytes, however, the consequent cellular effects and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. During the process of astrocyte reactivation, migration is a critical cellular event. In the present study, we employed wound-healing assay and Transwell® motility assay to explore the effects of TCDD on cell migration in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. We found that upon TCDD treatments at relative low concentrations (10^? 10 and/or 10^? 9?mol/L), the ability of primary astrocytes to migrate horizontally and vertically was promoted. In line with this cellular effect, the mRNA expression of two pro-migratory genes, including cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was induced by TCDD treatment. Dioxin exerts its toxic effects mainly through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. So the role of AhR pathway in the pro-migratory effects of TCDD was examined using an AhR antagonist, CH223191. We found that application of CH223191 significantly reversed the pro-migratory effects of TCDD. Interestingly, the basal ability of horizontal migration as well as basal levels of CDC42 and MMP2 expression were dramatically reduced suggesting a possible physiological role of AhR in maintaining the endogenous migration ability of the primary astrocytes. These findings support the notion that dioxin promotes astrocyte reactivation at molecular and cellular levels.     

新型溴代阻燃剂TBB和TBPH混合物对罗非鱼甲状腺激素和生理生化指标的影响

为了研究新型溴代阻燃剂FM550的生态风险,以罗非鱼为模式生物,配制添加不同浓度FM550(0、10、100和400ng·g~(-1))的饲料,将罗非鱼暴露56 d后,研究不同暴露剂量条件下FM550对罗非鱼甲状腺激素以及血清生理生化指标的影响。研究表明,经不同浓度的FM550暴露56 d后,罗非鱼的基础生长数据并无显著变化,但罗非鱼的甲状腺激素水平发生改变,具体表现为高剂量的FM550暴露可以使罗非鱼血清中的三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T3)、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)含量降低,四碘甲状腺原氨酸(T4)、游离四碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT4)含量升高。同时,FM550的暴露还可以导致罗非鱼的脂代谢改变,具体变化为血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)含量降低,高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)含量升高,低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)含量降低。不同剂量的FM550暴露对罗非鱼的全血生化指标并无影响。     

经饮水亚慢性铝染毒对大鼠血铁及相关蛋白水平的影响

为了探讨慢性铝暴露对大鼠铁代谢的影响,将100只4周龄清洁级雄性Wistar大鼠随机均分成摄铝组(430mg·L-1,以Al3+计)与对照组(蒸馏水),饮水染铝,每隔30d处死染铝大鼠和对照大鼠各10只,实验周期为150d.同时,在不同时间点(30d、60d、90d、120d、150d)测量大鼠体重,并进行协方差分析.最后,用火焰原子吸收分光光度法、固相竞争ELISA和比色法检测血浆Al、Fe、转铁蛋白(TF)、可溶性转铁蛋白受体(sTfR)含量及总铁结合力(TIBC).结果表明,在摄铝前期(90d前),染铝对大鼠体重无显著影响,而后期(120d后)染铝对大鼠体重抑制作用较大.在实验周期内,各时间点间对照组血浆中各指标均无显著差异,摄铝组随着时间的延长各指标变化较大.各时间点摄铝组血浆中Al含量及Al/Fe均显著高于对照组(p0.01);30d时摄铝组血浆中Fe含量与对照组相比无显著差异(p0.05),60、90、120d时均显著低于对照组(p0.01),150d时显著高于对照组(p0.01);30、60d时摄铝组血浆TF含量与对照组相比无显著差异(p0.05),90d后显著高于对照组(p0.05;p0.01);30、60d时摄铝组TIBC与对照组相比无显著差异(p0.05),其后各时间点均显著高于对照组(p0.01);30d时摄铝组sTfR含量与对照组相比无显著差异(p0.05),其后各时间点均显著低于对照组(p0.01).由此可见,铝可干扰大鼠体内铁的代谢,影响铁的生物学作用.     

Influence of rice straw burning on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural county, Taiwan

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铜陵市大气环境系统模拟与综合管控研究

为落实铜陵市环境总体规划中大气环境规划,首先,利用A值法计算铜陵市大气环境容量,得出各区域大气环境承载率;之后,采用CALPUFF模型对铜陵市气象、土地利用以及地形要素进行综合处理;最后,根据模型输出对受体点和市域面积结果并结合ARCGIS得出不同影响性划分结果,以划定铜陵市总体规划中大气红线,并对后续规划提出针对性建议。从铜陵市污染源影响区、污染物影响区以及受体影响区地理坐标及面积占比评价结果来看,以污染物年均浓度为基准,红线部分面积为234.07km~2,占比为19.49%。     

受体模型在大气颗粒物源解析中的应用和进展

综述用于大气颗粒物研究的受体模型在国内外的发展概况。对受体模型与扩散模型的特点,常用受体模型的技术内容,受体模型在城区尺度、区域尺度和全球尺度颗粒物源解析研究中的应用作了详细阐述。介绍了受体模型研究的一些热点问题,提出当前应开展的主要研究课题。