Electron microscopy documenting the cellular metabolic fate of Zn IONS∗

In vertebrates and invertebrates Zn exist as complexed compounds with metallothioneins. However, its cellular level effects and metabolic fates are scantly documented. In the elucidation of this fact, EM results on hepatic cellular alterations in fish under lethal dose exposure at 4.0 ppm over a week is illustrated.

A large number of lysosomes in hepatic cells prevailed on exposure to Zn in its sulfate form. Evidently, due to metal compound stress and cellular damage lysosomal activity is augmented. The lysosomes harboured digestible material, presumably the aforementioned substrates. Contrary to it, fat droplets prevailed while glycogen depletion is noticeable. Unlike the effects of Hg, the nuclei were normal with granular chromatin and prominent nucleoli. However, the mitochondria contained some small intramitochondrial bodies. Similar to the effects of Hg, the cell membrane remained intact.

In vivo enzymatic studies indicated augmentation in catalase, acid‐ and alkaline‐phosphatases, while glucose‐6‐phosphatase is inhibited. However, only alkaline‐ and glucose‐6‐phosphatases are inhibited under in vitro conditions.

Thus, it is evident that Zn enhances cellular bioenergetic requirements culminating in glycogen depletion owing to stress, concomitantly envisaging inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport system.     

The effect of limiting nutrient on metal toxicity to selenastrum capricornutum

Metal toxicity on selenastrum capricornutum were examined by batch culture and chemostat culture system. EC₅₀ values under nutrient‐limited condition and saturated condition were compared. The two EC_5Os differed by a factor of 10.6 for Cd in batch test, and differed by a factor of 6.5 in continuous test. Both batch and continuous test results indicate that inhibition on algal growth is more severe under nutrient‐limited conditions compared to that under near saturation conditions.

Strong correlation, as characterized by the correlation coefficient ρ, were found between the activation level (nutrient requirement) and the tolerance of microorganisms to the toxicant. ρ is equal to 0.9 for the case of Cd in batch test and 0.6 in continuous test. The theory in this study provides generally good estimations to the dose‐response relationship at limiting nutrient conditions. The study indicate that nutrient conditions constitute an important factor in algal toxicity tests.     

Preliminary toxicity evaluation of water from rice fields using cost‐effective microbiotests

A study was performed in a Protected Area (Natural Reserve of Sado Estuary) in 1996, to evaluate the acute toxicity for aquatic life of surface water from rice fields treated with pesticides, particularly with molinate and quinclorac. As a preliminary assessment, the following rapid toxicity tests were used: “Rotoxkit F”;, “Thamnotoxkit F”; and the recently introduced “Daphtoxkit F magna”; and “Algaltoxkit F”;. Water samples were collected from: a water source for irrigating the rice fields, two rice plots, a drainage channel and from Sado river in which the water is discharged. The results showed that samples from the rice plot treated with molinate were more toxic than those obtained from rice plot treated with quinclorac. Water samples from the river were the most toxic, causing 100% of immobility in all organisms and a substantial inhibition in the algal growth. Water collected from the drainage channel in late July, was also found to be quite toxic. The results obtained until now indicate that some characteristics of these microbiotests, like their rapidity, simplicity and relatively low cost, make them a practical tool to evaluate acute effects of pesticides in freshwater ecosystems. They may also contribute to suggest some changes in pesticides use to promote agricultural practices with lower impact to aquatic life.     

Effect of agrochemicals on earthworms

This review describes the toxic effects of agrochemicals on earthworms. Carbamates are described as extremely toxic to earthworms in comparison to organophosphorus insecticides. Some pesticides have drastic effect on the nervous system of the earthworm. Earthworm can accumulate heavy metals from the soil in higher levels than any other animal. Mercury is twenty times more toxic than chromium.     

Biodegradation kinetics of cymoxanil in aquatic system

A potential method to detoxify pesticides in aquatic system is using bioremediation. In this study, four microorganisms (Pseudomonas sp (EB11), Streptomyces sp. (EB12), Aspergillus niger (EB13) and Trichoderma viride (EB14) were isolated from cucumber leaves previously treated with cymoxanil using enrichment technique. These strains were evaluated for their potential to detoxify cymoxanil in aquatic system at the concentration level of 5×10^?4M. The effect of pH and temperature on the growth ability of the tested strains was also investigated by measuring the intracellular protein and mycelia dry weight for bacterial and fungal strains, respectively. Moreover, the remaining toxicity of cymoxanil after 28 days of incubation with tested strains was evaluated to confirm the complete removal of any toxic materials (cymoxanil and its metabolites). The results showed that the optimum pH for the growth of cymoxanil degrading strains (bacteria and fungi) was 7. A temperature of 30°C appears to be the optimum for the growth of either fungal or bacterial strains. Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) was the most effective strain in cymoxanil degradation followed Streptomyces sp (EB12), Trichoderma viride (EB14) and Aspergillus niger (EB13), with half-lives of 4.33, 9.5, 17.3 and 24.7 days, respectively. The degradation of cymoxanil by bacterial strains was much faster than fungal one. There is no remaining toxicity of cymoxanil detected in aqueous media previously treated with Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) for 28 days. The results suggest that bioremediation by Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) are promising for the detoxification of cymoxanil in aqueous media.     

Bioaccumulation and toxic effects of copper on growth and oxygen consumption by the postlarvae of Penaeus indicus

The aim of this study was to assess the toxic impact of copper on postlarvae (PL) of the penaeid shrimp Penaeus indicus. Tolerance, growth, oxygen consumption and metal accumulation were investigated in these PL on exposure to copper. Tolerance studies were conducted for 96 h to assess the tolerance limits of P. indicus PL exposed to different concentrations of copper using static renewal bioassay tests. Using the Probit method, the regression equation was calculated as Y=0.4899+2.3562 X, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9707. The 96 h LC₅₀ was 0.8204 ppm. The effect of sublethal (one-fifth of 96 h LC₅₀) copper on PL for short- and long-term exposures revealed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the rate of oxygen consumption, metabolic rate, mean length, wet and dry weight of the exposed PL over their respective controls which can be attributed to a gradual and time-dependent accumulation of the metal, as noticed in the exposed PL through accumulation studies. Overall, the data suggest that on chronic exposure even sublethal concentrations of copper can reduce the metabolic rate and growth in P. indicus PL. This is perhaps the first attempt to use the wild P. indicus PL as a bioindicator of copper toxicity.     

Protein Metabolic Response to Carbon Tetrachloride in A Freshwater Fish,Sarotherodon Mossambicus

Exposure of a freshwater teleost, Sarotherodon mossambicus, to a sublethal concentration (26 ppm) of carbon tetrachloride for periods up to 30 days led to significant changes in the soluble protein fractions (albumin and globulins) and free amino acid content. the decrease in total protein content was greater in liver than in muscle. the protein loss was expected due to the impairement of protein synthetic activity during stress conditions.     

孕哺期全氟辛烷磺酸暴露对子代大鼠糖代谢的影响

探讨孕哺期全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)暴露对子代大鼠成年后糖代谢稳态的影响。Wistar孕鼠随机分组,自孕0天(GD0)起分别以0 mg·kg^-1(对照组)、4 mg·kg^-1(低剂量组)和8 mg·kg^-1 (高剂量组) PFOS(以饲料中PFOS计)经口染毒至仔鼠出生后21天(PND21)断乳为止。高效液相/质谱法检测PND1、PND21和PND42时仔鼠血清PFOS含量。检测仔鼠断乳后第8周和第18周时空腹血糖和胰岛素水平计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR);比较仔鼠口服糖耐量及肝脏糖代谢关键酶表达水平改变。结果显示：发育期PFOS暴露导致仔鼠出现血清中PFOS蓄积,以PND21时浓度最高,在低剂量组和高剂量组中分别为(7.77±1.45) μg·mL^-1和(5.09±0.57) μg·mL^-1。与对照组相比,不同剂量组仔鼠在断乳前后均出现明显体重降低,并在成年后出现高胰岛素血症,但PFOS仅在雄性仔鼠中引起了血糖升高。18周龄时口服糖耐量结果显示,PFOS暴露使雄性仔鼠在该阶段出现糖耐量受损,同时造成过氧化物酶体增殖物活化受体γ协同刺激因子(PGC-1)、磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)表达水平的显著增高以及葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6P)表达水平的显著降低。以上结果说明PFOS孕哺期暴露可引起子代成年后糖代谢失调,有增加糖尿病患病风险可能。     

印染废水处理过程及排放水对草履虫遗传毒性评价

草履虫作为指示生物评估印染废水处理过程及排放水的毒性效应。急性毒性结果显示,原水、厌氧工段印染废水、好氧工段印染废水对草履虫的半数致死浓度(24h-LC₅₀)分别为54%、41%、98%;遗传毒性结果显示,印染废水原水、经处理的排放水在6.25%、12.25%稀释梯度下对草履虫造成的DNA损伤较对照组呈显著升高(p<0.01),而排放水对草履虫的DNA损伤较原水无显著性差异;草履虫增殖速率结果显示,印染废水排放水50%稀释梯度下对草履虫增殖速率有抑制作用。暴露于印染废水排放水中10%的草履虫其游动行为发生改变。以上结果表明,印染废水在经过处理后,理化指标均达到国家印染废水行业排放标准,但排放水仍对草履虫产生急性毒性,且遗传毒性较原水没有显著降低。水生生物毒性测试能有效补充理化指标评价,为印染废水行业全面达标排放提供依据。