Primary neuronal-astrocytic co-culture platform for neurotoxicity assessment of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

Plastics such as polyvinyl chlorides （PVC） are widely used in many indoor constructed environments; however, their unbound chemicals, such as di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalates （DEHP）, can leach into the surrounding environment. This study focused on DEHP＇s effect on the central nervous system by determining the precise DEHP content in mice brain tissue after exposure to the chemical, to evaluate the specific exposure range. Primary neuronal-astrocyte co-culture systems were used as in vitro models for chemical hazard identification of DEHP. Oxidative stress was hypothesized as a probable mechanism involved, and therefore the total reactive oxygen species （ROS） concentration was determined as a biomarker of oxidative stress. In addition, NeuriteTracer, a neurite tracing plugin with ImageJ, was used to develop an assay for neurotoxicity to provide quantitative measurements of neurological parameters, such as neuronal number, neuron count and neurite length, all of which could indicate neurotoxic effects. The results showed that with 1 nmol/L DEHP exposure, there was a significant increase in ROS concentrations, indicating that the neuronal-astrocyte cultures were injured due to exposure to DEHP. In response, astrocyte proliferation （gliosis） was initiated, serving as a mechanism to maintain a homeostatic environment for neurons and protect neurons from toxic chemicals. There is a need to assess the cumulative effects of DEHP in animals to evaluate the possible uotake and effects on the human neuronal system from exoosure to DEHP in the indoor environment.     

Genotoxicity removal of reclaimed water during ozonation

Genotoxicity in wastewater and reclaimed water now is gaining increased attention because of genotoxins' potential damage to the ecosystem and human health. The effect of ozonation on genotoxicity in reclaimed water was investigated. It was found that ozonation decreased the genotoxicy dramatically in three tertiary treatment plants. In the further batch ozonation experiment in laboratory,secondary effluent sample used exhibited the genotoxicity of(41.1 ± 4.1) μg 4NQO/L. Ozonation with a dose of 10 mg O3/L completely removed the genotoxicity in secondary effluent. However,after ozonation, the dissolved organic carbonvalue of the sample didn't change much but the specific ultraviolet absorbance(SUVA) value dropped sharply. With the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ozonation was found to change chemical aliphatic carbon and C–O of the dissolved arganic matter, which might be the reason of the significant decreases of SUVA and genotoxicity.     

Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - In vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity. Hence, determination of genetic mutation and cytotoxicity of each pesticide is unavoidable to legislate health and safety appraisal about pesticides. The objective of current investigation was to determine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan（EN） and Lambda-cyhalothrin（LC）; individually and in combination. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide（MTT） assay was utilized to determine cytotoxicity, while two mutant histidine dependent Salmonella strains（TA98, TA100） were used to determine the mutagenicity of EN and LC.Moreover, mutagenicity assay was conducted with and without S9 to evaluate the effects of metabolic activation on mutagenicity. Even though a dose dependent increase in the number of revertant colonies was detected with EN against both bacterial strains, a highly significant（p 〈 0.05） increase in the mutagenicity was detected in TA98 with S9. In comparison, data obtained from LC revealed less mutagenic potential than EN. Surprisingly,the non-mutagenic individual-concentrations of EN and LC showed dose dependent mutagenicity when combined. Combination of EN and LC synergistically induced mutagenicity both in TA98 and TA100. MTT assay spotlighted comparable dose dependent cytotoxicity effects of both pesticides. Interestingly, the combination of EN and LC produced increased reversion and cytotoxicity at lower doses as compared to each pesticide, concluding that pesticide exposure even at sub-lethal doses can produce cytotoxicity and genetic mutations, which could lead to carcinogenicity.     

Acute and chronic toxic effects of Pb2+ on polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis：Morphological changes and responses of the antioxidant system

Perinereis aibuhitensis was used to assess adverse biological effects caused by acute and chronic Pb2＋exposure in artificial seawater under controlled laboratory conditions. In 96-hr acute toxicity experiments,the morphological changes showed a positive time/dose-dependent tendency,and the 96-hr LC50 value of Pb2＋was 686.41 mg/L. The responses of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in tissues including catalase（CAT）,peroxidase（POD）,superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione peroxidase（GSH-PX）,malondialdehyde（MDA） and the content of total soluble protein（TSP）,were investigated on days 1,4,7 and 10 after Pb2＋exposure under chronic toxicity testing. Results showed that the activation of the antioxidant system in P. aibuhitensis depended on the Pb2＋concentration and the duration of exposure time.Specifically,POD and SOD activities were induced on the first day of the exposure and decreased to the control level on day 10 after exposure. Therefore,these two indexes could be used to indicate oxidative stress associated with P. aibuhitensis exposure to Pb2＋.     

高温自蔓延还原解毒固化铬渣技术研究

采用高温自蔓延技术处置铬渣,探讨了高温自蔓延技术还原解毒固化铬渣的机制。以铝粉和三氧化二铁作铝热剂,与铬渣充分混合,用镁条点燃引发自蔓延反应,最终得到铬渣固化体。实验结果表明:高温自蔓延技术能有效固化铬渣,铬渣的掺渣率高达44.94%。浸出实验结果表明:A组(铬渣原样)铬渣固化体总铬浸出浓度未检出;B组(铬渣原样+重铬酸钾)铬渣固化体总铬浸出浓度为0.117 76 mg/L,远远低于国标(GB 5085.3-2007)限值15 mg/L,六价铬浸出浓度未检出。XRD分析表明:铬渣还原解毒固化机制主要是六价铬在自蔓延反应中被还原为三价铬,再与其他金属化合物在高温熔融状态下生成含铬尖晶石,铬以离子键Cr—O的形式参与尖晶石的晶格形成。     

藻类水体Cd2+毒性快速监测新方法研究

采用藻类生长抑制试验和光合活性抑制试验两种方法对蛋白核小球藻受不同浓度Cd2+胁迫作用下叶绿素浓度及藻活性荧光参数进行测量,依据Sigmoidal曲线拟合及单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA)的方法对Cd2+不同胁迫时间下藻活性抑制率和96 h比生长率抑制率的相关性进行研究.结果表明,48、53、72、77和96 h的藻活性抑制率和96 h比生长率抑制率间具有较好的S函数关系(R2>0.95),因此可采用藻活性抑制率48 h-EC10和53 h-EC10来代替96 h的藻类半数比生长率抑制率EC50进行Cd2+藻类毒性实验评价.进一步分析了蛋白核小球藻受Cd2+胁迫48 h和53 h藻活性抑制率和Cd2+毒性当量的剂量-效应关系.该方法为实验室内单一Cd2+毒性的监测提供了一种快速有效的新方法,为水环境综合毒性预警提供了一种切实可行的方法依据.     

广州城市污泥中重金属形态特征及其生态风险评价

分析了广州市4个不同来源的城市污水处理污泥中重金属含量,考察了污泥样品中重金属形态分布和生物可利用性,并分别利用风险评价指数(RAC)和固废重金属毒性浸出方法评价了污泥中重金属生态危害风险和浸出毒性风险.结果表明,污泥样品中Cu、Cr、Pb和Zn含量较高,不同来源污水处理污泥中重金属含量差别较大.污泥样品中重金属绝大部分以非稳定态存在,酸性污泥中可迁移的酸溶态重金属比例较高.由单一萃取结果,1 mol·L-1NaOAc溶液(pH 5.0)和0.02 mol·L-1EDTA+0.5 mol·L-1NH4OAc溶液(pH 4.6)分别对酸性和碱性污泥中生物可利用态重金属具有较好的萃取能力.污泥酸性越强,其中生物可利用态重金属比例越大.污泥中重金属的迁移能力使其处于高生态危害风险程度;重金属的生物可利用性使酸性污泥大多处于极高危害风险程度,而使碱性污泥大多处于中等危害风险水平.除城市污水处理污泥外,污泥样品中重金属具有高的浸出毒性风险,萃取重金属生物可利用态后,污泥仍具有高浸出毒性风险,但由于浸出毒性风险降低使部分污泥可进行填埋处置.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的影响及其氧化应激作用

本研究以稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)为对象,研究了不同浓度CdSe/ZnS量子点(QDs)暴露下,稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育过程中自主运动频率、内心率和体长的变化,以及利用体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA)作为毒性指标,反映CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育的氧化应激作用.结果显示:CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎72 hpf(hours post fertilization)的半致死浓度(LC50)为319.629 nmol·L-1,96 hpf的半致畸浓度(EC50)为203.312 nmol·L-1.CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露不仅影响稀有鮈鲫胚胎死亡率、畸形率、自主运动频率、孵化时间和孵化率,而且使其内心率减缓、体长缩短,导致胚胎卵凝结,心包囊肿,出现脊椎弯曲等多种毒性现象.同时发现,CdSe/ZnS QDs暴露导致稀有鮈鲫体内MDA含量增加以及SOD活力的降低.这表明CdSe/ZnS QDs对稀有鮈鲫胚胎发育具有致畸、致死作用,而氧化应激可能是引起其胚胎致畸、致死的重要机制之一.     

2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚对赤子爱胜蚓的抗氧化酶、代谢酶及其基因表达的影响

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是广泛存在于环境中的一种新型持久性有机污染物.四溴联苯醚同分异构体中的BDE-47是多溴联苯醚中最重要的单体之一.试验采用人工土壤培养法,通过亚急性试验,研究了在不同暴露时间阶段下,不同BDE-47剂量对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)抗氧化酶(过氧化氢酶CAT)、代谢酶(谷胱甘肽转移酶GST)以及二者基因表达的影响.结果表明,在暴露14 d和28 d时,CAT活性被诱导上升并且差异显著;GST活性变化差异不显著;CAT基因表达水平在第14 d时呈现抑制效应,在后续的第28 d和第42 d基因表达水平上调;GST基因表达水平整体呈现诱导效应,并且差异显著,随着暴露时间的增加,低毒处理组(10、50 mg·kg-1)的基因表达水平逐渐下调至低于对照组的水平,高毒处理组(100、200 mg·kg-1)的基因表达量仍高于对照组水平;在BDE-47的暴露试验中,CAT与GST活性及其基因表达水平两项指标对低毒处理组较高毒处理组更为敏感.     

氯苯和间甲酚对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼联合毒理效应研究

方法:采用斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼发育技术,分别用不同浓度的氯苯和间甲酚混合液对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼进行暴露试验。结果:两种受试物联合对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼发育表现不同的联合毒性。0hpf染毒主要表现为:对24 h胚胎尾部延展为拮抗作用,48 h水肿、72 h孵化和畸形均为协同作用;48 h对仔鱼毒性为由相加作用向拮抗作用的转变,在24 h、72 h和96 h联合毒性均为协同作用。结论:氯苯和间甲酚联合作用对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼存在毒性。