28-Homobrassinolide mitigates boron induced toxicity through enhanced antioxidant system in Vigna radiata plants

The objective of this study was to establish relationship between boron induced oxidative stress and antioxidant system in Vigna radiata plants and also to investigate whether brassinosteroids will enhance the level of antioxidant system that could confer tolerance to the plants from the boron induced oxidative stress. The mung bean (V. radiata cv. T-44) plants were administered with 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0 mM boron at 6 d stage for 7 d along with nutrient solution. At 13 d stage, the seedlings were sprayed with deionized water (control) or 10⁻⁸ M of 28-homobrassinolide and plants were harvested at 21 d stage to assess growth, leaf gas-exchange traits and biochemical parameters. The boron treatments diminished growth, water relations and photosynthetic attributes along with nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activity in the concentration dependent manner whereas, it enhanced lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, accumulation of H₂O₂ as well as proline, and various antioxidant enzymes in the leaves of mung bean which were more pronounced at higher concentrations of boron. However, the follow-up application of 28-homobrassinolide to the boron stressed plants improved growth, water relations and photosynthesis and further enhanced the various antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and content of proline. The elevated level of antioxidant enzymes as well as proline could have conferred tolerance to the B-stressed plants resulting in improved growth, water relations and photosynthetic attributes.     

Effects assessment: boron compounds in the aquatic environment

In previous studies, boron compounds were considered to be of comparatively low toxicity in the aquatic environment, with predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) values ranging around 1 mg B/L (expressed as boron equivalent). In the present study, we describe an evaluation of toxicity data for boron available for the aquatic environment by different methods.For substances with rich datasets, it is often possible to perform a species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The typical outcome of an SSD is the Hazardous Concentration 5% (HC₅), the concentration at which 95% of all species are protected with a probability of 95%. The data set currently available on the toxic effects of boron compounds to aquatic organisms is comprehensive, but a careful evaluation of these data revealed that chronic data for aquatic insects and plants are missing. In the present study both the standard assessment factor approach as well as the SSD approach were applied. The standard approach led to a PNEC of 0.18 mg B/L (equivalent to 1.03 mg boric acid/L), while the SSD approach resulted in a PNEC of 0.34 mg B/L (equivalent to 1.94 mg boric acid/L). These evaluations indicate that boron compounds could be hazardous to aquatic organisms at concentrations close to the natural environmental background in some European regions. This suggests a possible high sensitivity of some ecosystems for anthropogenic input of boron compounds. Another concern is that the anthropogenic input of boron could lead to toxic effects in organisms adapted to low boron concentration.     

再生水用于都市绿地灌溉的研究进展

污水再利用具有节水和治污双重功能,用于绿地灌溉意义重大。综述了再生水灌溉对绿地土壤、植物、地下水的影响。着重介绍了国外的研究情况,分析了其试验结果及影响因素,表明虽然再生水中的一些有害成分会发生积累,但由于处理工艺、降雨等因素影响,对绿地生态系统影响不大,使用再生水灌溉绿地是切实可行的。     

SHEDS-PM模型模拟杭州市人群PM10暴露水平

以杭州市为例,利用美国国家环境保护局(US EPA)国家暴露研究实验室(NERL)所开发的颗粒物人类暴露剂量随机模拟模型(SHEDS-PM),考察了人群在不同微环境中的PM₁₀暴露水平. 结合室外环境ρ(PM₁₀₎模拟结果、相关微环境参数和人群活动特征,对研究区域2004年不同季节室外环境、室内环境(住宅、办公室、学校、商店、餐馆)以及机动车内PM₁₀暴露水平进行了模拟. 结果表明:PM₁₀暴露量、吸入量和沉积量与ρ(PM₁₀₎日均值呈正相关;1月PM₁₀暴露量、吸入量和沉积量最大,分别为18.22,326.99和277.46 μg/m3>/sup>,三者在住宅环境中的剂量最大;不同微环境PM₁₀平均沉积速率有明显差异.      

Blood clinical-chemical parameters and feeding history in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) chicks exposed to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and Dechlorane Plus in ovo

Blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) are used to investigate physiological consequences attributed to exposure to anthropogenic stressors, such as exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and Dechlorane Plus (DP), which are flame retardants (FRs), on avian health. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used as a model species to investigate individual and mixture effects of both FRs by injecting different concentrations (5, 50, or 500 ng/µL) of either of these compounds as well as a 1:1 mixture of both into fertilized eggs. To estimate post-hatching effects, 18 BCCPs were evaluated from 101 chicks at day 14. Albumin levels were found to be significantly elevated in the groups exposed to high doses of TDCIPP alone as well as a mixture of TDCIPP and DP. However, during the course of the study, the initial corn-based feed had to be substituted by a fishmeal-based feed. The 8 days consuming the new feed played a significant role on 12 of 18 BCCPs measured. Consequently, it is recommended that dietary habits need to be considered when investigating the physiological impact of contaminants using BCCPs as biomarkers in growing nestlings both in controlled in vivo and field experiments.