Effects of sublethal application of Deepwater Horizon oil to bird eggs on embryonic heart and metabolic rate

Following large crude oil spills, oil from feathers of brooding birds and oiled nesting material can transfer to eggs, resulting in reduced embryonic viability for heavily oiled eggs. Eggs may also be subjected to trace or light oiling, but functional teratogenic effects from sublethal crude oil exposure have not been examined. We assessed whether sublethal application of weathered Deepwater Horizon crude oil to the eggshell surface alters heart rate and metabolic rate in Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) embryos. We first determined sublethal applications with a dosing experiment. Embryo viability for eggs exposed to 5 μL or more of crude oil decreased significantly. We conducted a second experiment to measure heart rate and metabolic rate (CO₂ production) 5 and 9 d after 1 sublethal application of crude oil to eggshells on day 3 of incubation. One application of 1.0 or 2.5 µL of crude oil reduced embryonic heart rate and metabolic rate on day 12 of incubation. Using unfertilized eggs, we measured the transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the eggshell surface to egg contents 9 d after a single application of sublethal crude oil. Our results suggest avian eggs externally exposed to small amounts of crude oil may exhibit protracted embryonic development and impaired postnatal cardiac performance.     

微囊藻毒素-LR对罗非鱼鳃组织活性氧自由基含量及相关抗氧化酶活性的影响

应用腹腔注射的方式,研究了微囊藻毒素MC-LR对罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）鳃组织活性氧自由基含量（ROS）及过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性的影响。结果表明：在MC-LR的胁迫下,罗非鱼鳃组织产生了大量的ROS,并引起了SOD和CAT 2种抗氧化酶活性的变化。SOD和CAT在清除过量的ROS时表现出的动态变化过程不同,SOD的变化曲线是多阶段的,而CAT则表现为先诱导后恢复的趋势。SOD和CAT在变化趋势上有所不同,但均表现为明显的时间与效应的正相关关系和剂量与效应的正相关关系。这也为将鳃组织中SOD和CAT作为抗氧化生物标志物来监测微囊藻毒素对罗非鱼胁迫作用提供了一定的参考。试验为研究微囊藻毒素对罗非鱼的生态毒理学作用提供相应的资料,并为罗非鱼质量安全问题的研究打下一定的基础。     

一种通用型水基消泡剂的毒理学安全性研究

为了探讨一种通用型水基消泡剂DREWPLUS 5350 EP的毒理学安全性,以昆明系小鼠为研究对象,依据毒理学中国试验标准,通过小鼠急性毒性试验、蓄积毒性试验、骨髓微核试验、亚急性毒性试验方法,研究了其对小鼠的毒性,并对其进行了评价.结果表明:急性毒性试验小鼠经口LD50>24414mg·kg-(1bw),属实际无毒级;蓄积毒性试验、小鼠微核试验为阴性;在高剂量大于等于5375mg·kg-(1bw)的试验条件下,亚急性毒性试验小鼠血清谷丙转氨酶与对照组相比差异极显著,肝脏系数差异极显著;其它检测指标均未观察到有毒理学意义的异常变化;小鼠经口摄入DREWPLUS 5350 EP消泡剂小于等于2688mg·kg-(1bw)是安全的.在使用过程中对环境不会造成二次污染.     

基于秀丽隐杆线虫的微量水样环境毒理学研究

目前,环境水样个体水平的毒理学检测成本较高、耗时长,且检测后的水样若处理不当易造成环境的二次污染。通过使用易于培养和观察、个体微小的模式生物—秀丽隐杆线虫作为实验对象,利用毛细玻璃管的虹吸原理将线虫暴露于微量的环境水样进行染毒培养,实现微量水样在个体水平的毒理学评价。为了验证该方法的可行性,检测了暴露组线虫与对照组线虫的生殖腺细胞损伤水平、活性氧自由基(ROS)产生量、氧化应激水平、脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)损伤水平等生物终点的差异性。研究结果有助于为微量环境水样在个体水平的毒理学分析提供一种快速、可行、廉价的评价手段。     

代谢组学技术在环境毒理学研究中的应用

代谢组学作为系统生物学的一部分,通过考察机体受刺激后体液或组织中内源性代谢物的动态变化规律,并结合生物信息统计方法,可系统全面地揭示内因和外因作用于机体的毒性效应和机制。代谢组学技术具有快速、灵敏度高、选择性强的特点,逐渐在低剂量环境污染物长期暴露的毒性效应评估方面发挥出优势。本文综述了代谢组学技术的主要研究手段,在毒理学研究中的发展历程和优点,以及在环境毒理学研究中的应用及前景展望。重点讨论了代谢组学技术在重金属和持久性有机污染物(POPs)毒性评估以及环境胁迫耐受性评价中的应用。     

基于QSAR模型的蒙特卡洛方法分析有机化学物质对大型蚤(Daphnia magna)的毒性

本文建立一系列758种有机化合物对大型蚤(Daphnia magna)毒性的定量结构-活性关系(QSARs)。用简化的分子线性输入系统(SMILES)代表分子结构。用CORAL(关联和逻辑)软件作为工具来开发QSAR模型。这些模型使用蒙特卡罗方法建立,依据的原理是QSAR是一个“随机事件”,假设检验一组随机数据分布在可见的训练集和不可见的验证集。检验了三组分布于可见的训练、校准、测试集中的数据以及不可见的验证集。最佳模型的预测潜能,也就是其不可见的验证集的统计特征如下:n = 87,r² = 0.8377,RMSE = 0.564。建议和讨论了所构建模型的机械解释和适用领域。
精选自Alla P. Toropova, Andrey A. Toropov, Aleksandar M. Veselinovi?, Jovana B. Veselinovi?, Danuta Leszczynska, Jerzy Leszczynski. Monte Carlo based QSAR models for toxicity of organic chemicals to Daphnia magna. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 11, pages 2691–2697, November 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3466
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3466/full
     

The effects of oil sands wetlands on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica)

Extraction of crude oil from oil sand produces solid (sand) and liquid (water with suspended fine particles) tailings materials, called oil sands process-affected materials (OSPM). These waste materials are stored on the mine site due to a “zero discharge” policy and must be reclaimed when operations end. The liquid tailings materials are known to contain naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and have high pH and salinity. One method of reclamation is the “wet landscape” approach, which involves using oil sands tailings materials to form wetlands that would mimic natural wetland ecological function. This study investigated the effects of wetlands formed with oil sands tailings materials on the survival and growth of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) larvae. In spring 2007, in-situ caging studies were completed in 14 wetlands that were of four different classes; young or old, reference or reclaimed. Tadpole survival was different between types of wetlands, with young tailings-affected wetlands (≤7 years old) having 41.5%, 62.6%, and 54.7% higher tadpole mortality than old tailings-affected (>7 years old), young reference, and old reference wetlands, respectively. Since old wetlands created from OSPM showed effects on tadpoles similar to those of reference wetlands, which had markedly lower toxicity than young tailings-affected wetlands, we provide evidence that wetlands, at least 7 years old, can sustain amphibian life.     

Ameliorated effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on biomarkers of subchronic acrylamide hepatotoxicity and brain toxicity in rats

Acrylamide (ACR) exerts its toxicity through stimulation of the oxidative stress; yet, its effect on neurotransmitter catabolic enzymes has not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of ACR exposure on brain and hepatic tissues antioxidant enzymes activities and different markers such as, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), nitric oxide (NO), monoamine oxidase (MAO), and lipid profile, and to evaluate the protective effects of garlic against ACR toxicity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ACR (1 mg kg^?1 body weight) with or without diet containing 1.5% of garlic powder for 40 days. ACR administration showed a decrease in AChE activity associated with an increase in MAO activity in both brain and hepatic tissues. In addition, ACR administration increased the lipid peroxidation and NO levels of both tissues while decreased the activities of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). On the other hand, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase activities increased as a consequence of GSH depletion after ACR exposure. Finally, ACR exposure increased the brain and liver lipid profile of cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipid, while phospholipids level was decreased. Coadministration of garlic powder with ACR significantly attenuated oxidative stress, MAO activity, and inflammation in brain and hepatic tissues but did not ameliorate AChE activity. In conclusion, our results emphasized the role of garlic as a potential adjuvant therapy to prevent ACR neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.     

Lead and copper in the sclerotium of the mushroom Pleurotus tuber-regium (Osu): assessment of contribution to dietary intake in southeastern Nigeria

The concentrations of lead and copper in sclerotium of the mushroom Pleurotus tuber-regium widely consumed in Southeastern Nigeria were determined. The specimens purchased from different markets were mineralized with H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂ and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentrations of Pb ranged from 0.2?±?0.1?mg?kg^?1 to 0.8?±?0.5?mg?kg^?1 with approximately 91% of the results being below 1?mg?kg^?1. The concentrations of Cu ranged from 0.5?±?0.2?mg?kg^?1 to 1.2?±?0.6?mg?kg^?1 with 78% of the results below 1?mg?kg^?1. The results were compared with the literature and levels set by regulatory authorities, with the conclusion that the consumption of sclerotium does not pose a toxicological risk. The low Pb content of the studied products would contribute to only about 1% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake of Pb. The Cu contents would contribute to nutritional intake of the metal in the general population. It is recommended that the outer layers of the sclerotia be properly scrapped before use to reduce metal contamination from exogenous sources.     

Analysis,accumulation and central effects of trihalomethanes. I. bromoform†

The paper presents the results obtained in a study on the effects of organic micropollutants on the central nervous system of the rat, used herein as a suitable model for neurotoxicologic work. Bromoform, a member of the trihalomethane (THM) family, was the pollutant selected since it becomes a characteristic marker in the Barcelona potable water supply.

Analytical data on the GC‐ECD separation of THMs from other volatile halocarbons is presented. A mixed packed column 10% SE‐30/PEG 20M (94:6) at 70°C provides an adequate separation. The distribution of bromoform in rat plasma and tissues showed an accumulation in brain, kidney and fat, increasing in this order and a rapid elimination after 30 min. The effect on the central aminergic metabolism is studied by HPLC. The increased metabolic activity detected could be attributed either to an increased nervous activity, stimulating the metabolism of serotonin, or to its greater degradation.